Page 138 of Fierce-Baker

He wasn’t here to threaten. Wasn’t here to posture either.

He was here to make one thing clear.

He knocked and waited, then knocked again, the door opening.

Shane frowned, confusion flickering into recognition. “Do I know you?” As if he remembered Baker from being on the bench in the park. Or maybe the guy had done his homework and found out who Tasha was dating also.

None of that mattered to him though.

He met Shane’s gaze. “Yeah,” he said evenly. “You do. And we need to talk.”

Shane’s mouth twisted like he already didn’t like where this was headed. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

He took a step closer, keeping his voice low, controlled, and dangerously calm. “You don’t get to opt out. Not anymore.”

Shane scoffed. “This is between me and Tasha.”

“No,” he said flatly. “It’s between you and yourson. And that’s the part you don’t get to screw up just because it’s inconvenient. That’s the part you don’t get to make everyone wait on because you need time to figure it out.”

Shane’s posture stiffened. The guy straightened to his full height, still several inches shorter than Baker, and a few dozen pounds lighter. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I know exactly what I’m talking about,” he shot back. “I know there’s a little boy who didn’t ask to be born into your mess. I know his mother has been doing this alone while you’ve been off living a life that didn’t include him. And now you’re just going to sit back and wait whileyoudecide to stay or go?”

Shane’s jaw flexed. “I didn’t say I was walking away.”

“You didn’t say you were staying either,” he said. Which was what he was hoping the guy wouldn’t do. “And that’s the problem. You don’t get to hover on the edges of his life.” He leaned in just enough to make the point land. “I don’t care how you feel about Tasha. That ship sailed the moment she caught you in your web of lies. But she’s not the one on trial here, you are. So here’s how this works.”

“You don’t tell me how anything works.” Shane bristled and went to shut the door in his face, but he slapped his hand to the wood and held it.

He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t have to.

“Decide,” he said. “Completely. Don’t drag your feet. Don’t make promises you won’t keep. Don’t give a child hope you’re too selfish to follow through on.” A second of silence stretched between them. Shane was either at a loss for words, or had nothing to say. “He deserves better than a man who only wants to be a father when it’s convenient,” he finished. “So decide who you’re going to be, because one way or another, Micah’s future doesn’t revolve around your comfort.”

“You’ve got no right to come here and say that,” Shane said. “If Tasha wants me gone, then she should tell me, but she’s done nothing but make empty threats. Just like you’re doing.”

He straightened, stepping back. “I’m not here to threaten you,” he said. “I’m here to make sure you understand what’s at stake.”

Then he turned and walked away.

If Tasha told him he stepped out of his lane, he wouldn’t argue, but he sure the hell wasn’t going to sit back when it came to Micah.

41

MIXED MESSAGES

“It took you long enough to reach out again,” Tasha said Friday afternoon after work.

Not a single word from Shane since he’d walked out of her attorney’s office three days earlier. No text. No call. No mention of wanting to meet Micah, as if her son were something to be evaluated before Shane decided whether to move forward.

As much as she’d wanted to reach out herself, Madeline had advised her to wait. To have Shane make the next move and let it be documented.

And now here they were again.

The same park as last week. Just not the same bench.

This time, she was alone.

No Baker nearby. No quiet presence watching her back.