Saxon's Soul (Haven, Texas Book 5)

by Laylah Roberts

  “You know, just because the boss has a soft spot for you doesn’t mean you can be a fucking asshole to me and continue to get away with it.”

  There was silence, then he turned to look at her. “You threatening to tattle on me, girlie?”

  She smiled at him, showing her teeth. “I don’t need Saxon to fight my battles. I’m capable of doing it on my own.”

  “That so?”

  “It is so. And you know what? I am done baking what you want. From now on, I make the dessert menu, I decide what I’m going to bake each day, and I work the times I want to work.”

  “I’m in charge of the kitchen.”

  “You are. But unless you want to take over doing the desserts then you’re going to give me the autonomy to do what I want. You’ve got enough on your plate, excuse the pun. You take care of your part, I’ll do mine. Fair enough?”

  He watched her carefully. “I don’t want you making shit food and giving me a bad name.”

  “News flash, your reputation is already shit.”

  He waggled a finger at her. “Pretty sure Saxon doesn’t want you swearing.”

  “You threatening to tattle on me?”

  She thought for sure he was going to tell her to get lost then he broke into a grin. “Was starting to think you didn’t have a backbone. Fine, you do what you have to, and I won’t interfere so long as you hold up your share of the work.”

  She straightened her shoulders. “I’m not afraid of hard work.”

  “No, being with Saxon, I guess you’re used to that.” With a laugh, he turned back to his pot and ignored her. She blew out a breath in relief. One battle down. And she felt lighter. She just had to get through these next few days and then Joel would be home and everything could return to normal.

  She couldn’t wait.

  17

  Oh, no. No. No. No.

  She stared at the woman standing on the doorstep. Despite the heavy heat of the sun, she was dressed in a calf-length skirt, matching jacket, and high heels. Along with a wide-brimmed hat and a pearl necklace and earrings. She looked like the epitome of money and class.

  Too bad expensive clothes and money couldn’t turn you into a good person. A well-dressed, clean-shaved man with gray hair stood behind her.

  Winifred Hartfield looked her over with a sniff of disapproval. She glanced down at her tank top and shorts. Her hair was tied back in a messy bun. She’d been heading to the kitchen for a snack when she’d heard the doorbell.

  “Well, it seems the private investigator had his facts right. You really are living here in this den of inequity.”

  Den of inequity? What the hell?

  “Mrs. Hartfield, what are you doing here?” And how could she get her to leave? As quickly as possible?

  “I’m here because your mother saw fit to tell me about my grandsons.”

  Her grandsons? The one’s she hadn’t even known existed? What had her mother been thinking? How had she even gotten in touch with Winifred? Wasn’t she off somewhere with Rex?

  “Looks like you’ve moved up in the world,” Winifred glanced over her shoulder at the house beyond. “But at what cost to those darling grandsons of mine?”

  “Your grandsons? The same grandsons that you paid me to abort?”

  The older woman’s eyes narrowed as a flash of anger filled her face. The gray-haired man reached up to place his hand on the other woman’s arm. Brave. Wasn’t he worried that he’d develop a case of frostbite?

  “Winifred, perhaps you should tell Ms. Lane why we’re here.”

  Oh, Aspen knew why she was here. To make her life a living hell.

  “You misunderstood my earlier offer, Aspen,” Winifred said. “I know what a burden the boys must be to a single mother alone, I merely wish to offer my help by taking over as their guardian. Which would leave you free to engage in your sick, twisted fantasies with that man you are now living in sin with.”

  Aspen’s whole world dropped away with those words. “Wh-what are you talking about?”

  “After your mother told me about my grandsons, I sent a private investigator to check up on them since you never saw fit to keep in touch.” She sniffled as though upset.

  Aspen knew better. The devil didn’t have feelings.

  “Keep in touch? You gave me a thousand dollars, told me to get rid of those brats and to get out of town.”

  “I never said that.”

  “Really? It’s so sad when dementia strikes the elderly.” Obviously spending time with Molly was having an excellent effect on her.

  The older woman took in a shocked breath. “Excuse me?”

  “No, I won’t. Now, you listen to me. You’re having nothing to do with my sons. You are nothing to them. I don’t know why you’re pretending to be interested in them now, but I want nothing to do with you.”

  The other woman narrowed her gaze. “Is that so?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, proud she wasn’t backing down. She might be shaking on the inside but this bitch would never know. “It is.”

  “I was hoping we could be civil about this, I should have known better. Don’t think that you can spew insults at me and I’ll back off. We’re talking about my grandsons’ well-being and morality.”

  What?

  “I know who you’re living with. I know about the terrible, immoral things you engage in, and I will not allow my grandsons to be raised by a sexual deviant.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  Winifred sniffed. “Such language. I never knew what Aaron saw in you. I figured he was just going through a slumming phase. He would have gotten over it and dumped you as soon as he realized what trash you were.”

  She wouldn’t let her get to her. She would not.

  “You need to leave. I don’t know why you have any interest in Caleb and Jamie now, but you will have nothing to do with them.”

  The bitch smiled. “I do believe the courts may have a different opinion once I let them know that my grandsons are in danger.”

  Her eyes widened. “They’re not in danger.”

  “Living here? I do believe there is a very real possibility they could be harmed irrevocably. They are so impressionable. The only safe place for them is under my tender care.”

  Tender care? She didn’t even know how to be a semi-decent human being. She wasn’t getting her hands on Jamie and Caleb. But while Aspen knew her charges had no foundation, she could cause trouble, bring Child Protection Services in, have them examine her life and Saxon’s.

  “You need to leave before I call the police.”

  “We’ll be back. Come Marcus.” The man nodded at her then helped escort the old bitch down to the car waiting in the driveway.

  Aspen stumbled back, shutting the door. Her breath seized in her lungs. She couldn’t breathe. Panic held her captive as she slid to the floor with a thump.

  She was going to take her boys. She couldn’t. She couldn’t. Aspen would run before she let that happen. She didn’t know why she wanted them now, but she wasn’t getting her hands on them.

  No. No. She needed to go.

  She couldn’t go. Joel. She needed to talk to Joel.

  Oh, God. What was she going to do? She ran up the stairs to grab her cell phone and quickly searched for his number. It went immediately to voicemail.

  Shit. Shit.

  Her stomach churned, and, knowing she was going to vomit, she raced into the bathroom and heaved into the toilet. When her stomach had rid itself of its contents, she slid to the floor, leaning back against the wall.

  She took a deep breath. Then another. This wasn’t helping. This is what the old bitch wanted—for her to panic and just give in. Well, Aspen was built tougher than that. And Winifred Hartfield was not getting Jamie and Caleb.

  But what to do?

  Joel couldn’t help her. Even if she did get hold of him, he’d be torn between helping his friends and her. He wouldn’t be happy that she kept it from him but she’d deal with that later. R
ight now, she needed to do something about Winifred.

  She glanced down at her phone. Joel was always telling her that she had friends who would help her in a heartbeat. Time to see if that was true. She searched for another number, waiting impatiently for the other person to pick up.

  “Hello, Molly? It’s Aspen. I need help.”

  She was in a state of shock. It was the only explanation for the way she stood there, staring around the room, her mouth half-open. Where had all these people come from?

  “Aspen, sit down before you fall down. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “More like the devil in disguise.” But she followed Molly over to the couch. “What’s everyone doing here?”

  “We’re here to help you,” Hannah said from where she sat at the other end of the couch. She held a clipboard, pen, and phone.

  “We’re going to teach that old crone not to mess with one of our own,” Molly said cheerfully. “Now, Jake said he would be here soon with more reinforcements, but can you tell us anything more that will help?”

  There were ten other people sitting or standing around. Most were on cell phones. It was bizarre.

  “I didn’t expect all of this.” In truth, she hadn’t been certain what to expect.

  Molly sat on the coffee table in front of her and leaned over and took her hand. “Lots of people care about you, Aspen. Do you think we’d let you fight this on your own?”

  “Of course, she didn’t. She knows how much we all care about her and there’s no way she’d think we wouldn’t have her back,” Hannah said.

  “She’s threatening to take them. I can’t let that happen.”

  “She can’t take them from their mother. Not without good cause,” Laken told them as she put her phone in her pocket. “I was just talking to Duncan. He said CPS will need evidence that the boys are in danger to get a court order to remove them.”

  That would make her feel better if she weren’t dealing with Winifred Hartfield.

  “She’ll bribe someone. She had everyone in the police force in her pocket back in Alabaster. She’s probably going to bribe a judge to sign a court order.”

  “Then we’ll just have to get one step ahead of her,” a deep voice said.

  She looked up as Jake entered the room, beside him walked Jardin Malone. He was dressed in a shirt and jeans and boots.

  “Oh, good.” Molly clapped her hands and stood. “You found him. Jardin, fix this.”

  Jardin’s lips actually twitched, and he nodded his head. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Uh, Molly?” she whispered.

  “Yes?”

  “How’s a cowboy going to fix this?”

  Jardin stared down at her coolly, and she felt bad about doubting him. In fact, she felt the urge to get on her knees and grovel. The man was terrifying.

  “Oh, Jardin isn’t a cowboy. Well, I guess he looks like one and he probably knows how to ride—”

  “I’m a lawyer,” Jardin told her. “I specialize in family law.”

  “He’s your secret weapon,” Molly told her happily.

  Molly had cleared everyone out of the room so she was alone with Jardin. She wasn’t certain that was a good thing. Jake had left after giving his wife an indulgent look and a command to behave. She’d just laughed. Aspen wished she could be as confident as Molly. So self-assured.

  He’d told Aspen to call him if she needed anything but he was stepping away from the battlefield as he didn’t want to hear anything that might lead him to have to arrest someone. Especially his wife.

  Aspen didn’t know what he thought they were going to do, but then knowing Molly it could be anything.

  “So she paid you to abort your sons, but instead you took off and you haven’t heard from her since?”

  She shook her head. Jardin was taking notes and hadn’t looked up at her once. It was unnerving.

  “All right, did anyone hear her tell you to abort them?”

  “No, but she did.” It was hard not to be defensive.

  This time he did glance up. “Easy, girl. I’m not saying I don’t believe you.”

  A knot inside her unraveled.

  “I just can’t understand her motivation for coming to you now.”

  “She said my mother told her about the boys. She wouldn’t have known otherwise. Apparently, she sent a private detective here, learned where I was living and decided I was abusing the boys because I-I—”

  “Engage in BDSM? Live with a Dom who owns a BDSM club?”

  “Well, she said it was a den of inequity, but, yes, I guess that’s it.”

  “Nothing illegal about being into BDSM, and she has no proof of abuse.” He studied her with a steady gaze.

  “I would never abuse my boys.”

  “I know that. And you have lots of witnesses who would attest to what a good parent you are.”

  She let out a deep breath.

  “So she wanted you to abort them and now she finds out they’re alive and she wants guardianship of them. Why? Something is motivating her.”

  “I don’t know what.”

  “I’m going to have to do some digging. Don’t worry, with no proof she won’t get a court order and CPS won’t get involved.”

  “I’m afraid she’ll bribe someone.”

  He looked thoughtful. “I know a few judges of my own. We could try for a restraining order but I doubt that we’ll get it after just one visit. If you talk to her again, make sure you turn on the recorder on your phone.”

  “Oh, God, she’s really going to try and take my boys.” Panic threatened to overwhelm her.

  He leaned forward and to her surprise reached out to touch her shoulder. “Listen, she has no evidence of abuse. Even if she bribes a judge to get a court order, we’ll fight. We won’t let her get them, all right?”

  “O-okay. Thank you. I . . . um . . . it might take me a while to pay you,” she blurted out.

  He raised his eyebrows, looked around the room which was filled with expensive pieces of art and furniture.

  Red filled her cheeks. “This is Joel’s house.”

  “If you don’t think this is your house then you’re under some sort of delusion. Don’t worry about payment. I’ll settle up later. For now, your only job is to try not to worry.”

  She snorted. “Fat chance of that. Anytime someone tells you not to worry it means you worry more.”

  He stared at her assessingly until she grew nervous. She swallowed heavily.

  “I understand. But you start to worry too much, and I will step in. And I don’t think either of us wants that.”

  Well, she knew she certainly didn’t.

  “All right, we’ve started the ball rolling.” Molly walked into the room, followed by Hannah and Laken.

  “What?” she asked, looking up at them tiredly. She felt like she’d aged a hundred years in a day.

  “Operation, ‘Ditch the Bitch,’” Hannah told her.

  Aspen gaped at her and was aware the other two women were doing the same.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear,” Aspen said.

  “I can swear.” She blushed. “Besides she’s a bitch, right?”

  “Can’t argue with that.” She rubbed her eyes. “The boys will be up soon.”

  “Gwen went up to check on them,” Laken told her. She came and sat beside her. “Molly, she’s overwhelmed. How about you tell her the plan?”

  “Plan? What plan?”

  Molly smiled. “The plan to make that cow’s life such a living hell that she’ll snap and reveal her true colors.”

  “Huh?”

  “She checked into Meg’s B &B,” Molly told her. “We figure she’s sticking close to try and find any dirt she can to use against you.”

  “Not that she’ll find anything,” Hannah told her loyally.

  She smiled at her. “Thanks.” Somehow, it didn’t make her feel any better.

  “So we thought, why should we make her life easy w
hile she’s here?”

  “What do you mean?” She shook her head. “Guys, I don’t know what you’re planning, but Jardin says she hasn’t got a leg to stand on. He’s going to take care of things.”

  “Well, Jardin has his way of fighting back,” Molly told her. “We have ours. And by the time we’re through, she’ll run out of town like her ass is on fire.”

  She looked up at the three of them and felt tears fill her eyes.

  “Oh, honey, you’re not supposed to cry,” Hannah said in distress.

  “These aren’t sad tears,” she told them. “It’s just that you guys are the best friends I could ever hope for.”

  Molly grinned. “Honey, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  18

  It was the middle of the night when he got home.

  He was exhausted. Physically and emotionally spent. These last few days had put him through the wringer. Not only was he suffering from lack of sleep, but he’d been worried the whole time that he’d get there too late to help.

  And, on top of everything else, he’d missed Aspen. Missed Caleb and Jamie. He’d only managed to speak to Aspen twice. He needed to see them, to know they were all right.

  He looked over at the two people he’d taken responsibility for and wondered what Aspen would think. He knew he didn’t need to worry. Once she knew the full story, she’d take the two lost and wounded subs into her heart. She’d take care of them just like she looked after him.

  God, he couldn’t wait to see her.

  He got Keira and Julian settled in the guest bedroom on the ground floor. It had its own private bathroom, which would make it easier for Julian to help Keira. There was no way she could go up and down stairs right now.

  “Sleep in as long as you can,” he told them. “Rest. Recuperate. You don’t need to worry about anything except getting better.” He studied them both. Wounded, and not just physically. Both were too thin. Pale and fragile. They needed to know they were safe. To have time to heal their physical wounds. The emotional ones would take far longer, and he made a mental note to get in touch with Molly. They’d need her help to recover from this.