My Cruel Lover (Wicked Poison #3) - T.L. Smith Page 0,27

get out?” Rylee states. Her history with him is much deeper than mine, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have one with him as well. He is, after all, Oliver’s father.

“I don’t know,” I manage to say.

“I wouldn’t recommend coming any closer,” Rylee says.

“I’m not here to see you.” His eyes fall to me. He looks bigger, different, but still Anderson. I’m not even sure what I saw in him all those years ago. Maybe I had too much to drink, I’m not sure, but I was stupid. I know that much. “I came to see our son.”

“You can’t just turn up to her house demanding to see your son,” Rylee butts in.

I grab her arm and squeeze it. She is visibly shaking, and I don’t blame her, considering all the things he’s done to her. How he tried to control and hurt her so badly she ended up in the hospital.

“Can you please go in and make sure Oliver stays inside?” I ask Rylee.

Her gaze bounces from him to me, then back to him. “I don’t want to leave you alone with him.”

“I’ll be fine. Please. All I care about is Oliver.”

She nods as if she understands, then walks inside, and I shut the door behind her. I step down until I’m closer but not within reach, and I glare at him.

“You can’t see him,” I say firmly.

He grinds his teeth. “I understand I have issues. I’ve taken classes. But I am also that kid’s father, so I should get to know him.”

“You signed away your rights,” I tell him.

“I’m contesting that … it won’t hold up in court.”

“You never cared about him before, so why start now?” I bite back.

Anderson shakes his head. “Because I’ve come to realize he’s all I have. And I will fight for him, Jacinta. No matter how far you run, this time, I will fight for him.”

“Maybe you should leave. This is most definitely not the way to go about this.” I take a step back, and he looks to the house. “I know I have fucked up, but I want to be a part of his life.”

“You’ve come to this conclusion after what … a few months in prison?” I laugh at him, but my laughter is forced. “No, it takes longer than that.”

“My father sees him, does he not?”

“Maybe you should ask him that. I will not discuss your father with you.”

Anderson smirks. “He’s an ass and tells me to grow up and fuck off.”

“Well, he’s right. You have always had everything handed to you, so it’s about time you tried to grow up and do things on your own.”

Just as he’s about to say something else, August pulls up with a screech. He jumps straight out of the car and walks to me, his hand coming in front of me to block me from Anderson as he pushes me back.

Anderson holds his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t come to cause harm.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?” barks August.

“I came to see my son. You should know what it’s like not being able to see your child.” August does, but that’s because he wasn’t aware he had a child because back then, he moved away and cut all contact with Rylee. Until one day, he came back, found her, and the rest is history for them.

That will not be Anderson and me.

We will not get a happily ever after.

It’s not in our cards.

“Glenn lives down the road. Should I call him and tell him you’re in the vicinity of Rylee when you know you aren’t meant to be?” August growls.

“How the fuck was I meant to know she was here?” Anderson says to August, then looks at me. “I came to be civil and talk to you. I’ll be back.” He turns and heads for his car.

“You aren’t welcome here, Anderson. Don’t ever show up like that again.”

Anderson stops with his hand on the door then turns back to me. “Do you think you can keep me away from my son, Jacinta?” The way he speaks, it’s like a threat, and August touches my shoulder because he knows it as well. I watch as he starts toward Anderson, but I grab his arm and pull him back.

“I can. It’s my right as a mother to protect him from those who would cause him harm, and you will, Anderson. Fuck, you absolutely will. Maybe not physically, but if he turns out anything like you, that will be the same way