... and Forever (Next Generation: Chaos Bleeds 1)

Devil stepped away, kissed Lexie’s cheek, and moved toward his bike.

Did his father know he was in town?

Devil was always two steps ahead of the game. Simon had watched him closely and he expected him to strike any minute, but he didn’t.

“Do you want to meet him?” Dean asked.

“My dad?”

“No, your son. Or not your son.”

“He’s my son,” Simon said.

“You don’t know that.”

“What is Tabby’s is mine. She loves him and that’s all I need to know, and I love him as well.” Simon fired up the van and pulled out from the curb.

“Well, do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Want to meet him? He’s your son.”

“Yeah, I want to meet him.”

“Simon, I can’t help you here if you don’t talk to me.”

“There’s not a whole lot to do right now. Make sure the boys lay low for the time being.”

“You’re going to make this last longer?” Dean asked. “Don’t you think that’s a little stupid?”

“My parents know Tabby’s missing. I imagine they’ll check where she lives if she’s not staying with them. It won’t be long for my dad to figure out I’m in town.”

“You sure they’re going to naturally assume it’s you?”

“You don’t know them like I do.”

“Si, hate to break it to you, but five years changes a lot of people. You could be overthinking this shit. For all they know, Tabby might have run off. Had a life of her own. She’s young and she doesn’t want to be with a kid.” Dean clucked his tongue.

Simon pulled the van to a stop near where Dean was camping out now that the cabin had Tabby inside.

“You’re right. Five years is a long time. It can change a lot of people. You don’t know Tabby. If she was going to do that, she’d have done it already. When he was born, she’d have made sure there was no memory of her for him. I know her. She hasn’t changed.”

“This is the same woman who wants to divorce your ass.”

While he’d been tying her to a chair in the basement, Dean had arrived, hearing her swear at him, threatening the divorce.

“I didn’t marry a weak woman. She’s fierce and right now, she’s hurting. I’ve just got to prove to her I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to stay. I’m going to love her forever.”

Dean sighed. “You’re still as pussy-whipped as you always were. You know the guys think you’re some kind of saint?”

“I’m not a saint.”

“No, shit. We all know that.” Dean laughed. “I think the guys are shocked that you were never once tempted by the pussy that threw themselves at us. It was always available, and not one chick could make you stray.”

“It doesn’t make me a saint.”

“To men who don’t give a shit, I guess it does. Try not to get yourself killed,” Dean said, climbing out of the car.

“I won’t die.”

Dean closed the door and Simon waited for him to get inside his place before taking off, going to the cabin. The drive didn’t help to clear his mind. Normally, being on the road, either on a bike or in a car, had the power to settle his thoughts.

Nothing was helping.

Nathan.

Tabby.

Both were playing in his mind on replay. Tabby telling him she wanted a divorce and the little boy smiling up at Devil as his dad said something funny. Anthony hadn’t told him about a kid.

That was where he’d gotten updates. Anthony had given him enough to get by but clearly not the truth.

What had Tabby been going through?

Arriving back at the cabin, he looked toward the door. Tabby was going to be so pissed at him. Not a day went by when he didn’t think about her. She had to understand that he tried to be a better man for her.

Running a hand across his face, he took several deep breaths, trying to calm his nerves, but nothing was happening.

He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to a beat inside his head. The right thing to do would be to let her go. It was what any sane person would do.

Simon hadn’t claimed to be sane.

He climbed out of the car and headed toward the cabin. Closing the door behind him, he went straight toward the basement.

No sound.

Had she gotten out?

He’d tied her up really good. It would be next to impossible for her to get out. After flicking the switch, he walked down the stairs, taking his time.

She still sat in the chair and glared at him across the room.

Lowering down onto the step, he rested his elbows on his knees and looked at her. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Fuck you.”

He smiled. “I see you’ve still got your sense of humor.”

“I don’t see anything amusing about this. I can’t even believe I opted to come here rather than let you get killed. Next time, your ass is on the cutting block.”