Page 74 of Off Limits Daddies
At home, I help the twins brush their teeth and change into pajamas. They're still buzzing with excitement about meeting their grandfather, asking when they can visit again, and whether Grandpa Robert will teach them about firefighting.
"Soon," I promise, tucking them into their beds. "Now sleep. School tomorrow."
"Love you, Mom," Corey murmurs, already half asleep.
"Love you too, baby."
Rory's eyes are still open when I lean down to kiss his forehead. "Mom? Are you okay?"
The question catches me off guard. "Of course, sweetheart. Why?"
"You seem sad. And scared." His hazel eyes, so like Jack's, study my face with concern no nine-year-old should have to feel. "Is it because of Grandpa being sick?"
"I'm fine, Rory. Just tired." I smooth his dark hair back from his forehead. "Get some sleep."
I close their bedroom door and lean against it, pressing my palms against my eyes. The exhaustion crashes over me like a wave, pulling me under. I stumble to the couch and collapse onto it, still wearing my clothes from dinner.
Jack suspects the truth. Marcus is circling like a shark. My father has questions I can't answer. And I'm drowning in secrets that are finally catching up with me.
A sharp knock at my door makes me jump. My heart lurches into my throat. It's nearly ten o'clock. Who would be here this late?
I move to the door on unsteady legs and peer through the peephole.
Jessica Martinez stands in the hallway, her young face streaked with tears. She's wearing an oversized hoodie and clutching a backpack to her chest. Even through the distorted view of thepeephole, I can see the bruise blooming across her left cheek, dark purple against her olive skin.
30
BLAKE
I arrive at Mia's apartment around seven. Jack's sedan is already parked in the lot, and Noah's beat-up Honda pulls in right behind me.
We meet at her door, exchanging glances that communicate our shared concern. Noah knocks, and Mia opens it almost immediately. She looks exhausted. Dark circles shadow her blue eyes, and her hair is pulled back in a messy ponytail. She's wearing yoga pants and an oversized sweater that slips off one shoulder, revealing smooth skin I want to kiss.
"Thanks for coming," she says, stepping aside. "The twins are with Marcus tonight."
Jack frowns at the mention of Marcus, but settles onto the couch without saying anything about Mia's ex. "What's going on?"
Mia perches on the edge of the armchair, her hands twisting in her lap. "It's about Jessica Martinez. One of my students."
"The quiet girl in your third period?" Noah asks.
"Yeah." Mia takes a shaky breath. "She came to my apartment last night. Her boyfriend hit her when she told him she's pregnant."
The words hang in the air like a bomb.
"Jesus," Jack says, sitting forward. "How old is she?"
"Sixteen." Mia's voice cracks, and Jack and Noah exchange a glance. I can see the wheels turning in Jack's head already. "You called us because you need advice on handling this properly," Jack says. "Professional advice."
"She has nowhere to go. Her parents kicked her out. I got her into a women's shelter for the night, but she needs more than that." Mia looks at each of us in turn. "I want to help her, but I don't know how without crossing professional boundaries."
I move to the arm of her chair. "Where's the boyfriend now?"
"I don't know. Jessica's terrified he'll find her."
Jack's jaw tightens. "First thing Monday morning, you connect her with the school counselor. That's the appropriate channel for this."
"But what if that's not enough?" Mia's voice rises. "What if the counselor is overloaded and Jessica becomes just another case file? I see her every day. I can tell when she's struggling."
