Just My Luck (The Kings)

I had thought an afternoon on the beach would be what Sloane needed. Something was off, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. My own thoughts had been consumed by the conversation with my father. I carried with me a sinking feeling that he had something to do with Jared not showing up for his friends of the court meeting.

In fact, Sloane’s ex hadn’t been spotted anywhere, and his disappearance was still under investigation.

I drove my truck past the marina, through town, and down a quiet road toward home. It amazed me how Sloane and the kids had turned a cold, empty house into a home.

Our home.

My eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. Ben was curled into his seat, the seat belt acting as a makeshift headrest as he dozed. Tillie’s head was back, mouth open, and already snoring.

Beside me, Sloane’s gaze floated dreamily over the passing buildings and blueberry fields as we made our way out of town.

I no longer felt tense and frazzled with them in the car. Behind the wheel I was in control. They were safe.

They would always be safe with me.

My right hand found Sloane’s arm, brushing down her soft skin to capture her hand. I pulled her knuckles to my lips and nestled her hand against my chest as I drove. Late-afternoon sunlight slanted through the window, highlighting the swirls of browns and greens in her eyes, but it didn’t hide the sadness. Just beyond the edges of her small smile, I could see it.

“I love you,” I whispered, kissing her knuckles once more.

I watched the small muscles of her neck work as she swallowed. “I love you too.”

I held her hand and focused on the drive. We would get through this. We had to. In my mind, there was no other option. I may have been content merely existing before Sloane and the kids, but now? I couldn’t fathom a world in which we weren’t together.

As I parked, I pressed a finger to my lips and gestured toward the quiet back seat. “I’ve got them.”

After opening the back door, I scooped Ben into my arms. His deadweight was heavy, but as I jostled him, he curled into my shoulder. “Hey, bud, we’re just going inside.”

He mumbled something but didn’t wake. Sloane moved toward Tillie’s door, and I shook my head. “I can get her if you grab the towels.”

She smiled and agreed. After carrying Ben to the living room and depositing him gently onto the couch, I returned for Tillie. She was still snoring when I reached across to unbuckle her seat belt.

Once she was secured in my arms, I straightened and turned toward the door. “Thanks, Dad.”

Pressure bloomed in my chest.

I stared down at her little freckled face. She was dreaming, but I held her closer, holding back tears. “No problem, kiddo.”

My heart raced. I had fallen for these damn kids before I even fell in love with their mother. It was too late now—I was sunk. I wouldn’t stand for a life without them in it, and it was about time I made that clear with Sloane.

Tillie had roused by the time I’d made it in the house with her, so I set her onto her feet. She dragged a hand across her tired eyes. “I think I’m going to relax in my room before dinner.”

Sloane smiled and guided her down the hallway. “That’s a good idea, hon.”

With Ben still sleeping on the couch, Sloane met me in the kitchen. Worry creased her forehead, and I moved to her. “Hey, are you okay?”

Unshed tears swam in her eyes as she looked up at me. I cupped her cheeks. “What is it?”

She could barely look at me as her chin wobbled and she finally crumpled. “He’s just so vindictive and cruel. He’ll use every penny he has to punish me.”

My nostrils flared. I hated that her ex-husband wielded his wealth to cause pain and instill fear in the woman I loved. The answer was clear, so I lifted my chin. “We sell.”

Her eyes searched mine. “What?”

I crossed my arms. “We can sell the brewery to my father and use that money to fight this. Whatever it takes.”

A pit opened in my stomach when a single tear slipped from under her lashes. “It’s not about the money, not really. I’m just so scared, Abel. I can’t lose them. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Hey, hey.” I softened and dotted light kisses across her face. “You aren’t going to lose them . . . or me.”

A silent sob racked out of her as she folded herself into my embrace. I held her tightly, unsure of where this flood of emotion was coming from.

“I have to choose,” she sobbed. “That’s the problem. Because he did this, I have to choose between you or them—between my calling as a mother and my heart’s desire as a woman.”

Her words cracked through my skull.

She thought she had to choose.

The hard callus that had been slowly peeling away because of their love re-formed in an instant. I held the woman I loved. “Look at me.”

Sloane’s head lifted. Her face was splotchy, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “There isn’t a choice. You already know that.”

Her eyes searched mine. “He’s using you against me. If I don’t agree to joint custody, the case will go in front of a judge. The judge could take them away forever. My attorney—she said that our relationship⁠—”

She could barely get the words out, but I understood.

I had known from the moment Jared tipped his hand that he would use my past to hurt Sloane. In the depths of my soul, I had already known it would come to this.

Though I didn’t anticipate how deeply it would hurt.

My back ached and my chest burned. My jaw clenched tightly as I swallowed past the lump that had expanded in my throat. “Sloane,” I ground out, holding her precious face and willing her to listen to the words I needed to say. “There isn’t a choice.”

Her lip quivered. “I know.”

She knew, just as I have always known.

A shuddered breath coursed through me. I was going to fall apart in front of her if she kept looking at me with those soft, sad eyes.

“There isn’t a choice,” I said again, more firmly. “When it comes down to it, it’s them.”

Her grip on my shirt tightened as she whispered, “I don’t want this to end.”

I stared over her head at a spot on the wall to keep from crumpling. “I know. You’re doing this for them. It’s the right call.”

She stepped back, finding her resolve and lifting her chin. “Where does that leave us?”

My hands rubbed down her arms. “Right now, nothing changes. We can cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“Nothing changes?” She looked at me with hopeful eyes, and I wanted to hold her and reassure her.

Instead, I cleared my throat. “Maybe a few things need to change.” I dragged a hand across the back of my head, sinking lower as the reality of our situation became clearer. “I should probably leave . . . stay with one of my brothers, or hell . . . maybe Bax will let me rent the other room in the cabin.”

Her hazel eyes searched mine. “You want to go?”

I held her shoulders. “Hell no, I don’t want to go, but the less ammunition we give Jared, the better. If I’m not around or involved in your life, he can’t use that against you.”

“Isn’t there any other way?” she pleaded.

I shook my head. I wish there was literally anything I could do, but that was it. “I can’t erase my past, and you can’t pick a different ex-husband. For now it’s all we have.”

Her eyes swept over Ben, sleeping on the couch. “They’re going to be so heartbroken.”

I steeled my spine. I’d made my mistakes—this was the bed I’d made. I knew the entire time I didn’t deserve a life with Sloane and the twins.

It was always going to have to come to this.

For long, heavy moments, I silently held Sloane in our kitchen. I had no words to reassure her that didn’t feel like a lie. Instead, my resolve hardened, and I made a silent promise.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

I will always love you and do what needs to be done to keep my family safe.