Page 81 of Timeless

Tae scoffed. “You’re joking, right? You aren’t seriously letting him near Jack! After everything he said!”

I rolled my eyes. Tae hated me. Always had. I hated him right back. But he had been in Amber’s life when I hadn’t. Well, I was going to make sure that if Amber wanted to keep him in her life, it would be a long-distance phone call and that’s it.

“Jax is Jack’s father. Whether he yells at me, treats me like shit, or abuses me, it doesn’t change the fact. Jax is Jack’s father. And you know my one rule.”

Tae shook his head and then looked at her bitterly. “Let me guess, Jack comes first.”

“Exactly.” Amber nodded. “So, how I feel toward Jax doesn’t matter. Or how he feels about me. Jack comes first.”

Wait a sec, what did that mean? I thought I had made myself clear on how I feel about her.

“So, the three of you are going to live in some fucking deluded planet where you are a family?” Tae was staring directly at Amber. “You really going to let Jackson Johnston back in your life?”

“You said that Jackson will get Jack off the list. You said between Jackson and you, nothing will happen to Jack. So, don’t stand there making me feel guilty!”

“You knew what I was implying when I said that.” Tae pointed a finger at her. “You knew I was meaning me!”

“Tae Neal Smith. I am not marrying you! You are not Jack’s father!” Amber yelled at him. I’d never heard her yell at Tae. She always respected him too much to yell at him. “You can’t change who Jack’s father is.”

“We both know I should be his father! We both know it! I love you more than him! I always have, Amber!”

“I’m not having this argument with you. Nope. Not again.” Amber shook her head. “You always bring it back to this! I have had one long fucking night, Tae! I will not yell with you over who loves me more!”

So, Tae saying he should be Jack’s father wasn’t new? I was already glaring at him but I glared a bit harder. I was going to make sure once Tae flew out of my country, he wouldn’t be getting back in. Not even on a private plane. I was going to make sure all his planes were banned.

“Why won’t you leave Jackson behind, Amber? He left you for six fucking years!” Tae still wanted to argue with her.

She groaned and threw her hands up in the air. “I can’t have this argument. I am not having this argument with you!”

Amber was getting upset. I think she was close to tears again.

“Tae, drop it. Amber’s had a long night.” I wasn’t letting him upset her, when I had been trying my best to calm her down.

“Oh, fuck off, Johnston! She would be dead if I hadn’t called you!” Tae slammed the driver’s car door shut.

He wanted to get into it now? “She wouldn’t be heading to her execution if you hadn’t fucking called her telling her to go!” I moved around Amber, pushing her behind me. “You really want to get into who will be and who won’t be in Amber’s life from now on?”

He laughed. “You think you are going to determine who is and who isn’t in Amber’s life?”

“Fucking oath I will.”

“Jax, stop,” Amber said behind me. “Please, both of you, stop.” Amber went to step around me, sounding like the stress of the night was catching up to her. “I can’t handle this argument.”

“Him or me Amber, pick now.” Tae was not backing down. “Who do you think Jack wants more? Me or him? Come on, you always put Jack first. So, who is better for Jack’s life? The man who has been at his every birthday, every Christmas? Who gave him that teddy bear he has to sleep with every night?”

Tae walked around the car.

Amber was frozen at my side.

“Jack always comes first right, Amber. Right? So, tell me right now, how Jack’s life is going to be better with Jackson in it than me? Pick, Amber, me and or him.”

“Stop pressuring her!” I snapped at him. “She has had a long fucking night!”

“Amber, him or me.” He stood in front of her. “Him or me!”

“Don’t do this to me, Tae.” Amber was physically shaking. “Jack loves you; we both know that.”

“So, it’s me then?” Tae shot a smirk at me. “Jack was always my son to begin with.” He gripped Amber’s arm and started to pull her away from me. “We will go get my son.”

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