This Game Called Life (Kingdom Book 4)

The smile MacKenzie offered cut through Jake and lodged in his heart. The foolish woman actually thought that he would allow her to leave and go through her vigil alone. The idea was of course, out of the question. His only dilemma was how to ensure she remain exactly where she was.

Although there was nothing even remotely amusing about their current situation, Jake attempted to inject a degree of humor as a means of convincing her to stay with them. “Please don’t place me in the position of having to deal with the wrath of Aviva if I let you go home alone? Don’t even get me started on Jason. If she gets mad at me, he gets mad at me, and you know my delicate disposition can’t cope with that type of intimidation.”

Jake tried for the puppy dog eyes but since he’d never attempted anything of the kind before, he didn’t know if he had pulled it off.

“You have got to be kidding me,” MacKenzie sighed with a roll of her eyes. “My advice to you; do not try that again. You look as though you’re constipated.”

“Constipated!” Jake barked, surprised at her interpretation of his look. “Jesus you’re a tough sell.”

Jake saw that she almost smiled. When her eyes clouded again, he knew thoughts of Noelle had surfaced. The look on her face was all the confirmation he needed to drop all attempts at subterfuge. She would remain exactly where she was, with him until her child was back where she belonged. Anything else was unacceptable to him.

“I’m not about to call you a cab, nor am I driving you home. You’re exactly where you need to be.”

“You don’t understand; I need to be at home in case he calls.”

“I think I do understand. You want to go home so you can cry alone. Well, you’re not alone. You have us. You have me.”

Jake watched as she fought an internal battle that he didn’t understand, but he would. In time, he would know all there was to know about her.

“Okay, I’ll stay,” MacKenzie said ducking her head.

That she so readily agreed to stay alerted him to the fact that he had been right. She didn’t want him to see her cry again, and that thought broke his heart. That at a time like this, she thought her tears were a sign of weakness, was just another fragmented section of her personality that he hoped to piece together.

Reclining into the supple softness of the couch, Jake waited a few moments until MacKenzie looked at him. Without saying a word, he opened his arms and invited her in. MacKenzie’s eyes travelled from his face to his extended arms and back again. Throughout her internal struggle, he didn’t move a muscle. If she wanted his comfort, he would give it freely, but it would be her decision.

As though in slow motion MacKenzie inched her way towards him. When she was settled against his side, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Running his large hands up and down her back, Jake attempted to give her the comfort he thought she needed. He didn’t know if he was doing it correctly, but having her in his arms felt right. Being the one to comfort her felt right.

Pulling her even closer, he placed a soft kiss against her forehead. The first sob that passed from her pulled at his heart. He didn’t know what words of comfort to offer so he remained quiet. All he knew was Carlos Ernesto was going to be one sorry son-of-a-bitch for making her shed a single tear.





Chapter 14

It hadn’t taken MacKenzie long to fall into a fitful sleep. When Jake was certain she wouldn’t wake up, he lifted her into his arms and took her to his room.

Returning downstairs, he entered his office to find his brothers waiting for him. “What the hell is he playing at?” Jake stormed, pleased that he could finally voice the thought that had been running through his mind.

“I take it you didn’t get much information from MacKenzie?” Josh asked.

“Not really. One of the only things she said that I found questionable was that this was the first time Carlos has kept the baby overnight.”

“This is significant because...?” Jason trailed off, a look of enquiry on his face.

“I don’t know if it has any significance, all I know is that I don’t like coincidences. If I were in his position, there is no way on earth I would go running over there to babysit, while the mother of my child was having dinner with another man.”

“I agree,” Jason said. “However you would have to give a damn about said woman for there to be that kind of reaction. From what I can tell, Carlos doesn’t feel that way about MacKenzie. Plus, Aviva and I should have been there, remember.”

“Yes you were, but MacKenzie and I ended up having dinner alone, and while we were at the restaurant and again at her place, I was sure we were being watched.”

Jason and Josh shared speculative looks but remained quiet, waiting for their brother to continue.

“The first time I met Carlos, he was chasing after Aviva, and by then, he knew MacKenzie was pregnant. The next time I met him was at that farce of a party in LA, and he was chasing after a producer. That man doesn’t give a damn about MacKenzie. He probably had ulterior motives for his babysitting stint,” Jason told his twin.

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