LINDEN
The officer opened the door to the room. Skyla wasn’t there yet.
“We can leave if you feel uncomfortable around her,” I told Estelle.
“I’m fine. I wish I could slap her. I was really nice and genuine to her, and she exploited my kindness. If we didn’t find out, I’m afraid she would do something to tear us apart, maybe create a story and make me look like the bad guy or a jealous wife. Or maybe drug you and pretend you sleep with her.”
“What the fuck? Where did that idea come from?” My eyebrows furrowed. I wanted to throw up just thinking of waking up next to Skyla. “Don’t ever think like that. Nothing can tear us apart, okay?”
“Well, you don’t know that, and you once trusted her. Given that she’s a bitch who has been obsessed with you, it’s possible and could be a part of her failed plan.”
“That’s not going to happen, baby. I know you won’t do anything to hurt me. And I trust you with everything. And you know that I would never do something to hurt you.”
Skyla walked in with her cuffs and let her sit across us. She looked terrified, and at the same time, I didn’t feel anything towards her anymore, even sympathy, but disgust.
“What happened?”
“Is my son okay?” Her eyes widened with hope as she saw us. I didn’t know if she was still acting or if she thought we hadn’t figured out her secrets.
“Yes. He’s with your neighbor.”
“You have to get me out of here.” She reached out her hands in cuffs.
“Your case. How did that happen?”
“When Jake started looking for us.” There you go, the lie again, the manipulation. “I changed my name. I swear, it was only to keep us safe.”
“Did you falsify your documents when you applied for the job?”
“It was to—”
“What about your son?”
“Emery has to go to school.” Of course, she always had answers to every question. She did stalk me and studied who she would be before we met.
“You mean Everette Boyd.”
Her face was ashen. Her eyes widened as she realized now that I knew everything.
“I have a multi-million dollar company that partners with Hover Defense and Security. Do you think I wouldn’t find out?”
“It’s not like that.” She began crying.
Surprisingly, I was calm, maybe because the truth had set me free. “Stop lying into my face, Skyla, or is it Jenna Brand? I know the truth. I know everything that you did.”
“So you did this to me? I thought you cared about me. I know you still care about me, Gabe.”
“I did not do anything. I merely found out your lies. You did this to yourself.”
“I did not to you. I swear.”
“You lied to my face multiple times. I can forget about that, but using me to ruin a man’s life, accusing him of rape? That’s below the belt, Skyla. I have evidence. Jake presented me with the birth certificate—”
“He’s a liar. He lied to you. That’s what he does.” Even if she cried a river, I would not feel guilty, and she had to pay for her crimes.
“Yeah, did he also lie about the scar on his abdomen? He stabbed himself, right? To make it look believable, that makes you the bad guy.”
Her eyes bulged as she shook her head in denial. “No, no, no.”
“No, what? Did he also lie about your obsessions over me? So, almost running me over with your car was your plan, after all. You gave me your number at the party and pretended to be my wife while I fought for my life. It’s fine by me, but hurting my wife’s feelings, you came into my life, manipulating my family? I can’t let that one go. Jake will have full custody of his son. I’ll make sure of that.” I rose to my feet and helped my wife.
“Gabe, please?” She tried to reach out, but she was handcuffed to the table. “You can’t do this to me.”
Before we walked out of the door, she called my name again. “I still love you, Gabe. You have to believe me.”
I couldn’t listen to her lies. It made me sick. I shook my head in disbelief as we walked out of that room.
At the Osmium, Sax had the boy with him. “I called Jake. He’s on the way.”
“That’s great news. I went to see Skyla.”
“Why the fuck did you do that?” Sax narrowed his eyes at me.
“I wanted to see if she would still lie.”
“And she never disappoints?” His expression quickly changed, smirking at me.
“Yeah. She’s sick in the head if she thinks she can still lie to me.” I breathed deeply. “I’m glad it’s over.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Hey, Everette. That’s your name, right?” Estelle talked to the kid.
“Yes.”
“You’re free now. You can be Everette, who isn’t afraid of anything.”
“I’m scared of Mommy.” His words made us share looks with Sax and Estelle.
“Hey, bud.” I held his arm. “Your mommy will go to a place—”
“The cops took her.” So he talked and understood. I felt terrible for this little guy. For a young age, he’d been through a lot. When I looked at his arm, I now saw the scar.
“Yeah. She needs to stay with the cops for a while to learn something.”
“I know what does it means.”
“Good. So you will be with your daddy. Is not okay?”
“Daddy? I will see Daddy today?” Those innocent eyes lit up, dancing with excitement.
“Bad hormones.” My wife sobbed beside me.
“Yes. He will be here in a few minutes.”
“I missed Daddy. Mommy didn’t want me to see Daddy. She said Daddy hurt us, and he’s a bad guy.”
“Buddy, listen to me.” I rubbed his arms. “Mommy and Daddy fought each other, and they are not friends, but it doesn’t mean Daddy is a bad guy, okay?”
“I know.” He shrugged his little shoulders. “Dad used to take me fishing, and we watched baseball games together. We can do that again, right?”
“Of course.”
“Well, look at you.” Sax gripped Linden’s shoulder. “Now you just become a father.”
“Thanks, Sax. That’s kind of you.” I wanted to roll my eyes, but I was in front of a kid.
“He actually talks a lot.” Even Estelle noticed it, hugging Everette.
The door swung open. Jake walked in, searching for the boy. “Where’s my son?”
“Daddy!” Once in Estelle’s arms, the boy threw himself at his father, proving that Jake was the good guy.
“After all the stress, that’s the best thing that happened today.” Estelle cried on my shoulder as she watched the father and son reunite.
With Everette still in Jake’s arms, he turned to me. “Thank you. This wouldn’t have happened without your help.”
“On the other hand, even if Skyla used me and my family, something happened right. You got your son back.”
“I’m sorry for what she did. You could have just walked away. Instead, you helped me after what I did to you. You’re a good man, Linden.”
“Just spend time with your son. Everette missed you. You should take him to a baseball game.”
“That’s the plan.”
“Thank you, sir,” Everette said.
“Aw. I’m glad you’re back with your dad, Everette.” Estelle touched the boy’s head, smiling down at him.
“Thank you, too, Estelle.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Rider, thank you.” Jake shook hands with Sax and with me. Then he turned to my wife. “He’s a good man. Treasure him.”