Jack (The Family Simon 2)

“You haven’t heard from Jack, I take it?”

“No.”

Silence. “Shit, I gotta go, Donnie. I’ll be out of town for a few days. A business meeting with some foreign distributors for this indie film. Beau will be there, and we want to get this nailed down now.”

“I’m okay. Don’t worry about me, really.”

“I’ll come see you when I get back.”

Donovan hung up the phone, eyes on the second pregnancy test she’d taken the day before. The one that told her without a doubt s

he was pregnant.

She sat in her oversized comfy chair for hours, only getting up to grab some food and then slide right back into her spot. She sat there until the shadows grew long and her bedroom was so dark it was hard for her to see. Until all the chaotic thoughts in her head went away, and she was finally left with a clarity that she needed.

She was going to have a baby. A baby she’d made with the man that she loved. She might not have much, but she did have that. It was time for her to stop feeling sorry for herself and start acting like an adult.

She picked up the phone from beside her bed and made an appointment to see her personal doctor. After a few moments, she dialed another number. It was time to face a few ghosts from the past and do what she’d always done. Just get the hell on with it.

“Mama? We need to talk.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

* * *

Jack flew into Florida two days after his buddy Brett’s funeral. He picked up his Mercedes from valet parking and didn’t bother driving to the beach or his house. Grace had taken Coco home with her, so at least the little ball of fur didn’t need looking after.

That was good. He had someone to see first.

He drove in silence. The anger that boiled beneath his skin told him he was alive, even if he felt as if he’d been through the ringer. He was sick of the press. Sick of the media circus that had landed in his lap. And he sure as fuck was sick of Derek McKenzie calling his cell.

He was about to put that puppy to rest.

He drove through the familiar streets of Cypress Hill, giving a mental finger to a bunch of paparazzi near the entrance to the gated community. It boasted one of the nicest golf courses around, and when he parked in the driveway of 101 Cypress Lane, Jack hopped out of the car, tossed his ball cap onto the passenger seat and ran up the steps without pause.

His body was full of adrenaline and he clenched his fists as a fresh wave of anger rolled over him. He banged on the door. Once. Twice. And was just about to beat the hell out of the heavy oak panels when it swung open.

Derek McKenzie looked like shit and smelled worse.

“Hitting it pretty hard aren’t you?” Jack said roughly, pushing past Derek.

“Well hello to you,” Derek said, bloodshot eyes following Jack as he strode through the foyer.

“Where’s Janice?” Jack asked.

“She’s been gone for days.” Derek slurred his words and took another swig of whatever the hell was in his glass.

“Good.” Jack was guessing his wife wasn’t coming back.

Jack took a moment because right now he was overloading on emotion. This guy right here…this guy used to be like family to him. Those kinds of ties didn’t just disappear. Even when adulthood brought new perspective.

“Jack, I…buddy—“

“Shut the fuck up, Derek. I don’t want to hear it. Don’t apologize to me, because I’m not here for that. I just want to know the truth. Did you screw Donovan?”

Derek thrust his chin forward and attempted a smile, but he was so wasted it came off more like a sneer. “She wanted it.”

Red hot fury momentarily blinded Jack, but he got his shit together. He needed to do this.