Page 87 of Contentious

“Love you, too, Romy.”

The more time Cresley spent with the Remingtons, the more she liked them and appreciated the way they supported one another. But could they forgive her for what’d nearly happened to Carson? Would they understand if Carson chose to be with her the way Julian was with Isla? In between bouts of tears, she’d noticed the chill directed at Isla during the night. They’d circled her like she was some unknown species come to life to take their brother away from them.

And the dynamic with their parents had been interesting, too. Other than to provide some perfunctory comfort as they waited hours for word on whether Carson would survive his injuries, the siblings had mostly avoided them.

Observing the family had given her something to do other than dwell in the dread.

Her nervous system was still trying to accommodate the news that he would survive, albeit with a difficult recovery ahead of him. Hopefully, he’d let her help him through that, but she wouldn’t be surprised if he told her to steer clear after her ex had nearly killed him.

Speaking of her ex…

“Julian, have there been any updates from the police about the search for Marlon?”

“I haven’t heard anything yet, but my LAPD contact promised to keep me posted. I’ll text anything I hear to you.”

“Thank you. I’m worried about Marlene going to the house while he’s still on the run.”

“I doubt he’s anywhere near there, but I’ll let the LAPD know she’s on her way.”

“How did Marlon get past the guy watching my house?”

“He could’ve come in the back way and scaled the fence. You know how dense it is in the Hills with houses and brush. And if he’d been watching the house, he knew how to avoid the security. Even the best security isn’t foolproof.”

“Was he coming to kill me and Ty?” Now that the immediate crisis with Carson had passed, the full impact of what’d happened—and what could’ve happened—was settling in on her. The thought of Carson taking a knife that was meant for her and/or Ty made her blood run cold.

“What would he gain from that? He wants money. If he kills you or Ty, that doesn’t achieve his overall goal. Perhaps he was planning to threaten you into giving him what he wants.”

“I should’ve paid him off. None of this would’ve happened if I’d just given him the money.”

Julian glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “You can’t use logic with people like him, Cresley. Even if we made him sign something that said this was it, he’d still be back for more because he knows you’d do anything to protect Ty. He’d continue to weaponize that fact against you. You were handling it the proper way—through the courts. He’s the one who decided to become a criminal.”

She glanced over at her sleeping son. He had the face of an angel and the soul of a poet. He was the best thing to ever happen to her. “I don’t know how I’ll ever explain this to Ty. He adores Carson and knows his father is the one who hurt him.”

“At this point, you tell him the truth,” Isla said gently. “He’s old enough to understand that you take no pleasure in telling him what his father has done.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

A few minutes later, they pulled into the driveway of a ranch-style house.

“Fun fact,” Julian said. “Once upon a time, this was the home of Mama Cass Elliot from the Mamas and the Papas.”

“That’s so cool.”

“It’s been a peaceful retreat for the kids and me,” Isla said. “I hope it will be for you and Ty as well.”

“I hope so, too.”

Julian collected Ty from the back seat, carried him inside and put him down in the room where Isla’s children had been staying.

Normally, Ty would be getting up for school at this hour, but nothing about this day was normal. She hoped he’d sleep for a while longer.

“Help yourself to anything in the fridge and cabinets,” Isla said.

Cresley hugged her, feeling as if she’d become a friend during this horrendous ordeal.

“Is there anything we can do for you right now?” Julian asked.

“No, thank you. You guys have been great. I so appreciate you letting me stay here, Isla, and for your support through an awful night.”