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-HUNTER’S POV-
The pool hall smelled of whiskey and smoke, that particr Vegas brand of sin disguised as rxation.
Neon signs buzzed overhead, casting blue and red glows across worn felt tables. The sound of balls cracking echoed, mingling with low hums of drunkenughter.
Caesar sat at the corner booth, legs swinging as he munched on a mountain of fries and sipped apple juice from a stic cup.
Every so often, he would p when someone sank a ball, like this was the grandest show on earth.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him. My son. My boy. Watching himugh in a room full of men and smoke should have unsettled me.
Instead, it grounded me. Like he belonged here, tucked under my protection even in the roughest ces.
“Of all people, you beat me to the altar?” Frederick’s booming voice cut across the table. He pped me hard on the shoulder, nearly spilling my drink. “On my bachelor weekend? You’re insane, Reid.”
The others roared withughter.
I smirked, taking a slow sip of bourbon. “Guess I was done waiting for perfect timing.”
Frederick shook his head in mock disbelief. “You’re certifiable. But hell–congrattions, man.”
The sincerity in his eyes almost undid me. I nodded, voice low. “Thanks.”
Vincent was leaning on his cue stick, grinning like a wolf, clearly three drinks past his limit. “Hunter Reid,” he drawled. “Still figuring his way out of a woman’s legs, and suddenly he’s a husband. What’s next, PTA meetings?”
The men snorted.
My jaw tightened instantly. Caesar’s head lifted, curious eyes trained on us. I shot Vincent a re sharp enough to slice ss.
Vincent’s grin only widened–until Caesar piped up.
“Daddy… what’s a woman’s between?”
The world stopped.
I choked on my drink, coughing so hard bourbon burned up my nose. The table erupted in howlingughter. Frederick nearly fell off his stool. Even ncey cracked a rare grin
“Christ, I muttered under my breath, setting my ss down before I dropped it. “Vincent.”
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Vincent held his hands up, stillughing. “Rx, rx, I’ll fix it.” He turned to Caesar, who blinked at him expectantly. <b>“</b>Uh… <b>it’s</b><b>… </b>like… where… babiese from?”
Theughter tripled. My re could have killed him on the spot.
“Are you out of your mind?” I hissed.
Caesar tilted his head. “Where babiese from? Like Mommy’s belly?”
Vincent went red, stammering. “Yeah–uh–something like…..”
ncey saved him, stepping in smoothly, cue resting over his shoulder like he’d been waiting for this exact moment. “It’s like a treasure chest, Caesar. Special, locked, and only talked about by pirates.”
Caesar’s eyes widened. His little hands pped the table in delight. “Pirates?!<b>” </b>
The room broke into another fit ofughter, lighter this time. Caesar was glowing, giggling to himself as if he’d just learned a great secret.
I exhaled, shaking my head. “Thanks,” I muttered to ncey.
He shrugged. “Couldn’t let Vincent destroy your kid’s brain cells before kindergarten.”
Vincent raised his ss in mock salute. “You’re wee for the entertainment.”
I ignored him, ruffling Caesar’s hair instead. “Don’t listen to Uncle Vincent. Ever.”
“Okay, Daddy.” Caesar stuffed another fry in his mouth, content.
The night softened after that. The game continued, balls cracking across green felt whileughter ebbed and flowed like a tide.
Caesar dozed eventually, curled against the booth, his juice straw still in his mouth.
I leaned against the pool table, watching him sleep, and for once felt the kind of peace I hadn’t known in years. <fndbde> Newest update provided by </fndbde>
“Hunter”
ncey’s voice pulled me back. He stood across the table, cue in hand, eyes steady
“All jokes aside,” he said quietly, “you did the right thing.”
I studied him<b>, </b>waiting.
“Celine’s<b>… </b>rare. His tone <b>was </b>careful, but sincere. “She’s not like the women we grew up with, not like the ones <b>who </b>circle us now. She’s solid. Real. You’d be a fool not to hold on to her
Something in my chest clenched. I nodded once. ‘I know. Trust me–<b>I </b>know.”
ncey smiled faintly and lined up his next shot. “Then you’re a lucky man, Reid”
The click of the cue ball <b>was </b>the only sound between us for a moment.
Then the door mmed open.
Theughter cut off instantly.
Mia strode inside, heels striking like gunshots, eyes zing wild. Her hair was a tangled mess, her chest rising and falling with sharp breaths. Mascara streaked down her cheeks like war paint.
Every man in the room froze. My body reacted before my brain did—I stepped in front of Caesar, who stirred at the noise, my hand braced against the booth.
“Mia,” I said, my voice like ice.
Her gazended on me–and then on the sleeping child behind me. Something dangerous flickered in her expression. Something that made every instinct I had scream a warning.
She looked unhinged. Broken. Like a beautiful thing that had finally shatteredpletely.
“There you are,” she breathed, taking a step forward. “Hunter Reid. The happy groom.”
The sarcasm in her voice was stuffy enough to choke on. Vincent straightened, his hand moving subtly toward the pool cue. Frederick stepped closer, forming a cold wall between her and Caesar.
“What do you want, Mia?” I kept my voice level, controlled.
Sheughed, the sound sharp and bitter. “What do I want? I want to understand how this happened. How you went from telling me I was exactly your type to marrying her in some tacky chapel.”
“You need to leave.”
“Do I?” She took another step, and I saw the tremor in her hands, the way her pupils were dted. She’d been drinking. Or worse. “Because I think we need to talk, Hunter. About what you said to mest night.”
Every muscle in my body tensed. Caesar stirred behind me, and I prayed he wouldn’t wake up. Not for this.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Isn’t there?” Her voice rose<b>, </b>cracking. “You told me I was perfect for you. You said I was exactly what you needed. And then…..” She gestured wildly, nearly losing her bnce.
“Then you married that little nobody. That maid.”
The insult hit like a match to gasoline. My vision narrowed to a pinpoint, rage flooding my system so fast l could <b>taste </b>copper.
“Watch. Your, Mouth
The words came out deadly quiet, but they carried across the room like a threat. Mia actually took a step back. <b>eyes </b>widening slightly.
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The click of the cue ball was the only sound between us for a moment.
Then the door mmed open.
Theughter cut off instantly.
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Mia strode inside, heels striking like gunshots, eyes zing wild. Her hair was a tangled mess, her chest rising and falling with sharp breaths. Mascara streaked down her cheeks like war paint.
Every man in the room froze. My body reacted before my brain did–I stepped in front of Caesar, who stirred at the noise, my hand braced against the booth.
“Mia,” I said, my voice like ice.
Her
gazended on me—and then on the sleeping child behind me. Something dangerous flickered in her expression. Something that made every instinct I had scream a warning.
She looked unhinged. Broken. Like a beautiful thing that had finally shatteredpletely.
“There you are,” she breathed, taking a step forward. “Hunter Reid. The happy groom.”
The sarcasm in her voice was stuffy enough to choke on. Vincent straightened, his hand moving subtly toward the pool cue. Frederick stepped closer, forming a cold wall between her and Caesar.
“What do you want, Mia?” I kept my voice level, controlled.
Sheughed, the sound sharp and bitter. “What do I want? I want to understand how this happened. How you went from telling me I was exactly your type to marrying her in some tacky chapel.”
“You need to leave.”
“Do I?” She took another step, and I saw the tremor in her hands, the way her pupils were dted. She’d been drinking. <i>Or </i>worse. “Because <b>I </b>think we need to talk, Hunter. About what you said to mest night.”
Every muscle in my body tensed. Caesar stirred behind me, and I prayed he wouldn’t wake up. Not for this.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Isn’t there?” Her voice rose, cracking. “You told me I was perfect for you. You said I was exactly what you needed. And then She gestured wildly, nearly losing her bnce.
“Then you married that linle nobody. That maid.”
The insult hit like a match to gasoline. My vision narrowed to a pinpoint, rage flooching my system so fast, I could taste copper.
“Watch. Your Mouth”
The words came out deadly quiet, but they carried across the room like a threat Mia actually took a step back, eyes widening slightly.
<b>9:49 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>5 </b>
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But then she snapped back, that twisted smile returning. “Or what? You’ll divorce her? We both know that’s inevitable anyway.”
“Get out.” I moved forward, not caring that she was a woman, not caring about anything except getting her away from my son. “Now.”
“Hunter…..” Vincent started, but I held up a hand.
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Mia’s eyes flicked to Caesar again, and something cold settled in my stomach. The way she was looking at him -like he was a problem to be solved.
“He’s beautiful,” she said softly. “Your son. It’s a shame he’ll have to grow up with all this… instability. Divorced parents, scandal, his father’s reputation in ruins.”
The threat was subtle but unmistakable. I felt something dark and primal rise in my chest, something that had nothing to do with sophistication or restraint.
“If you ever–and I mean ever–threaten my family again,” I said, my voice <i>so </i>low the others had to strain <b>to </b>hear it, “I will destroy you. Not your reputation, not your family’s money, not your little social circle. You. Personally. Completely.”
For the first time since she’d walked in, real fear flickered across her face.
“Hunter…..”
“No.” I stepped closer, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet my eyes. Close enough that she could <i>see </i>exactly what I was capable of.
“You’ve yed your games. You’ve had your tantrum. But if youe near my wife or my son again. I will make sure you regret ever being born.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Even the background noise of the bar seemed to fade away
Mia stared at me for a long moment, her chest heaving. Then, without another word, she turned and stumbled toward the door, her heels clicking erratically against the floor
Through the ss, I caught sight of Jessica–wide–eyed, pale–hovering just outside.
She reached for Mia, whispering something frantic before shooting a horrified nce towart me. Then they vanished into the night together
The door mmed behind her with enough force to rattle the window
The air rushed back in
Behind me, a soft voice pierced the quiet
“Daddy ?” Caesar stirred, rubbing lus eyes culs mussed, voice unall
Every ounce of fury bled out of me in an instant. I crou best, brushing his hair back. “Cu back to sleep, buddy. Daddy’s here”
<b>9:49 </b>Fri<b>, </b>Sep 5
He tugged at my shirt with a tiny fist before copsing against me, out again.
<b>I </b>exhaled, holding him close, my pulse finally slowing.
“Jesus Christ,” Vincent whispered. “That woman ispletely unhinged.”
Frederick nodded grimly. “She’s dangerous, Hunter. You need to be careful.”
I looked down at my son, at his peaceful face and innocent dreams, and felt something settle into ce. A certainty that I’d protect this. Protect them. No matter what it costs.
“I know,” I said quietly. “But so am I.”