“What if Gabby or DJ need us?” he returned. “Or even Mam?”
My heart twisted, the disappointment hitting me deep. The last thing I wanted to do was answer the phone, but he was right.
I huffed loudly and stretched my torso, grabbing my cell from my pocket. Glancing at the display, I announced, “It’s Gabby,” before clicking to accept the call. “Hey!” I greeted brightly. “Everything okay?”
“Mom?” she cried. “Dad’s here and he’s really mad. DJ went outside to tell him to back off, and now they’re arguing. Can you come home?”
My eyes snapped to Donovan’s. “Your dad’s at the house?”
Donny’s lip curled slightly, and he patted his pocket, checking for his keys.
“He banged on the door really hard, shouting for you, and DJ got mad.”
My heart plummeted.
“I’ll be there in ten, Gabby. Stay inside and don’t let your dad in. When DJ comes back, tell him I said to stay put until we get there.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “But please hurry.”
Donovan was already helping me down from the desk as I ended the call. “What the fuck’s goin’ on?”
“Evan turned up at the house, banging the door and yelling that he wanted to talk to me. I guess DJ went out there to tell him to lay off, and they started fighting. Gabby sounds terrified.”
He grabbed my elbow, propelling me through the door, and we hurried down the stairs. “Would he get physical?”
“I don’t think so; he never has before. But DJ’s almost as tall as him, and my boy’s pissed at his dad right now. It doesn’t bode well.”
We hit the bottom step, and Arrow, who was on the treadmill next to Karma, peered over at us, his eyebrows pulling together questioningly. He turned the speed down and called over, “Everything okay?”
“Rosie’s ex is at her house fighting with DJ,” Donny informed them. “Can you two keep an eye on this place while we sort it? Gael’s due in soon; he’ll take over until I get back.”
“Go,” Karma instructed, jumping down from the machine and heading for his gym bag. “I’ll call Atlas. You may need backup.”
“I won’t,” Donovan assured him, propelling me toward the door. “But the ex will fucking need some if he touches DJ.”
“Keep your cool,” Karma called after us. “Rosie’s in a custody battle. You laying the fuckwit out won’t help her in court.”
Donovan ignored him and pulled me toward his truck, beeping the key fob as we approached. I headed for thepassenger door, while he hauled himself up into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“Seat belt, baby,” he instructed.
I reached behind me to pull the belt over my lap. “I know. Hurry, please.”
Despite his olive-toned skin, Donovan’s knuckles were white as we sped through Main Street and hit the road that took us to the outskirts of town and into the quiet, rural area where I lived.
Gazing out the window, my mind buzzed and my belly filled with a familiar nausea.
This was exactly what I’d tried to protect my kids from. Their dad could be an asshole and turned aggressive when he didn’t get his own way. He’d never laid a finger on me—he wouldn’t dare—but I’d been at the wrong end of his temper before, and it wasn’t a nice place to be.
Kids should never have to play peacekeeper between their parents, but there was DJ, not even seventeen, and already having to be a protector and against his own father, no less. It wasn’t right, and I couldn’t believe Evan had put us in this position.
“What’s going on with the custody case?” Donovan prompted.
“Kennedy sent a letter to Evan’s attorney with my demands. She told me the guy was on summer vacation, but I guess he’s back now.”
“No shit,” Donny muttered, his eyes slicing to me and then back to the windshield. “Does your ex do this a lot? Do I need to prepare to take him down? I’ll put the asshole in a goddamned hospital bed if I have to, but I don’t wanna overstep any boundaries or fuck up your case.”
“He can be aggressive,” I advised. “But he’s never hurt the kids or me.”
