Chapter 3
“You don’t have permission to pick him up.” I shook my head adamantly. It was five days later, on a Wednesday that had gone surprisingly smoothly—until the estranged father of one of my students had shown up.
“He’s my kid,” the man snarled, getting into my face. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
“Call the police,” I instructed my aid, Lindsey, as I pulled Gavin and Hudson, who were closest to me, in behind me. I could hear some of the children whimpering in fear. “You’re scaring your son and the other children. You need to leave,” I told him firmly.
He reached out and grabbed my upper arm roughly, yanking me toward him. “You don’t tell me what to do, bitch,” he sneered.
“Let her go, now.” Travis’s guttural command was like a clap of thunder from the doorway. Any shock I felt at seeing him was mired in relief as he crossed the room and wrapped an arm around the man’s neck in a painful-looking hold. “Now,” he clipped.
“Who the hell are you?” the man choked, finally releasing my arm.
Travis had him on the ground, flat on his belly with a knee to his back, so fast that it was just a blur of motion. A reply wasn’t necessary, his authority spoke for itself. He looked up at me, his eyes dark with intensity. “You okay?”
I managed a nod, the children still huddled behind me.
“You call the cops?”
I nodded again.
“Get off me!” The man grunted.
“I’ll get off you when the cops get here to cuff you.”
“Uncle Travis?” Hudson’s voice was fearful as he peered around my legs to look at his uncle.
“Hey, bud,” Travis replied. “Everything’s okay. I need you to stay with Teacher Emerly right now, okay?”
“Okay,” Hudson replied quietly. I could feel his little fingers grasping my pant leg.
It was only moments before we heard sirens in the distance, growing louder by the second.
Lindsey ran out to meet them and returned moments later followed by two uniformed officers.
“McAllister,” one of them greeted Travis in surprise.
“Hey, Pete,” Travis replied with a chin lift. “This assh—jerk,” he amended quickly, “assaulted one of the teachers.” He nodded toward me.
“He was trying to take his son. He doesn’t have custody or permission to do so,” I put in shakily, the intensity of the situation hitting me full force now that the police had arrived.
The officer nodded as Travis got up off the man, who was then cuffed and hauled to his feet a second later by the other officer.
Travis walked toward me and Hudson ran to him, breaking into heartbreaking sobs.
Travis scooped him up, holding him close. “You’re okay, bud.”
“I want my mommy,” he whimpered as he clutched his uncle.
“I’ll take you straight home,” Travis assured him as his eyes turned to me. “You okay?” he asked again, his gaze sliding to my arm.
I bit my lip, knowing my eyes were wide. “Y-yeah,” I stammered.
“We’ll need a statement, miss,” one of the officers broke in.
I nodded. “You should take him home,” I told Travis, my eyes on Hudson. “He’s scared.”
After a moment of indecision, Travis nodded. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
