Victoria ended up spending the evening with the group until well past nine. When it was finally time to go, Stein offered to drive her home while the rest dispersed.


    Jimmy, who''d never been one for socializing, surprised everyone-including Stein -by enthusiastically agreeing to join Lyndon and the others for the next rally race. "Big brother, you can trust Jimmy with them," Victoria reassured Stein as he nced at her, still mildly incredulous.


    "They''re all decent guys. Straightforward, genuine people."


    Despite what others might assume about a woman who spent so much time with men, Victoria had always held her own; Stein could see that clearly.


    "Yeah. Next time, I''ll take Jimmy to the race myself. But you-" he looked at Victoria''s pregnant belly, "try not to run around too much. Be careful, okay?"


    He insisted on walking her upstairs, and even had Jimmye along. As soon as the car rolled to a stop, the three of them got out together. Waiting by the entrance, McNeil stood under the porch light, arms folded.


    The moment Stein came into view, something sharp flickered in McNeil''s eyes—a cold glint, almost feral.


    He strode over, all confidence and barely contained possessiveness, and without


    so much as a word to Victoria, wrapped an arm firmly around her waist.


    "Thanks for bringing her back, Stein," he said, voice edged with warning.


    His eyes were bloodshot, wild. Like a wolf scenting a rival.


    Stein just looked amused. "Mr. Langford, you and Victoria are already divorced. You never hovered this close when you two were married."


    He smirked, deliberately goading him. “Now that she''s single, she''s free to make her own choices."


    McNeil''sugh was cold and brittle. "Not if her only choice is a twice-divorced man with baggage."


    Victoria pped McNeil''s hand away, ring daggers. "Who are you calling baggage?"


    If she weren''t so heavily pregnant, she''d have pped him, too. Only McNeil had the guts to be this reckless in front of Stein-anyone else would be trembling from three yards away.


    Stein could let it slide; Victoria couldn''t.


    McNeil, green with jealousy, shot her a look. "You want to remarry? Fine. But not him."


    Victoria''s patience snapped. "Why not? Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?"


    "You think I can''t?" McNeil retorted, jaw clenched. "The baby''s mine. Doesn''t that give me a say in who gets to be his dad?"


    Victoria was so angry her stomach ached. She let out a humorlessugh. "Fine. You pick, then. Who do you want me to marry?"


    He didn''t hesitate. "Me. Only me."


    Stein checked his watch-nearly ten o''clock. He had to get Jimmy to school in the morning and had no intention of getting dragged into McNeil''s theatrics.


    Whatever McNeil''s issues, Stein was confident he''d never actually hurt Victoria. The man was just... unwell.


    "I''ll leave you two to it. Get some rest, Vicky."


    McNeil kept a possessive hold on her, ring at Stein until he disappeared from view.


    "Are you done yet?" Victoria finally snapped.


    "Not even close. Did you not notice he already has a kid? You really think he''ll ept our son?"


    Victoria deliberately needled him. "Does it matter? If you''re so worried, take the baby after he''s born-I''ll help Stein raise his kid instead."


    McNeil froze, Stunned. Victoria took advantage, putting distance


    between them as she hurried toward the elevator. As the doors began to close a hand shot in at thest


    second, and McNeil slipped inside


    with her.


    "I don''t like the idea of you going up alone. Besides, I''m heading home too-same direction."


    Victoria rolled her eyes. She said nothing.


    Sure, “same direction." He''d probably shadowed her the whole night. Such dedication.


    McNeil, undeterred by her silence,


    kept talking. You were worried


    Gwyn would bother you, so I sent him to stay at Grandpa''s. He''s got


    Victoria''s lips curled slightly, but she didn''t answer. It wasn''t her concern. The court had granted custody to McNeil; what he did now was his business.


    When they reached her apartment, Victoria unlocked the door with the fingerprint sensor. McNeil tried to follow, but she blocked his way.


    "It''ste. Go home, Mr. Langford," she said tly, shutting the door in his face.


    Just as she was about to close it, she remembered something. "By the way, your father-inw called me. Said your wife was arrested for theft, wanted me to bail her out.


    Funny-why call me instead of you? Maybe you should visit Starfall City."


    A look of pain shed across McNeil''s face. He stared at Victoria, as though trying


    to read her mind, to see if her words were meant to wound.


    "I have nothing to do with Violet. She''s not my wife. I only have one wife—


    Victoria."


    Victoria''s smile was all sarcasm. "Ex-wife. Goodnight, ex-husband."


    And with that, she mmed the door in his face.