This Game Called Life (Kingdom Book 4) by Theresa L. Henry Page A

please,”
MacKenzie said, holding it out to him.
    With a second
glass filled and deposited, Jake sat down beside her. “Talk to me, tell me what’s
going on, and I’ll do whatever’s needed to help.”
    The sincerity of
his words had the desired effect. Within minutes, MacKenzie had relayed the
somewhat peculiar conversation she and Carlos had shared before his departure.
    Jake knew pieces
of the puzzle were missing. However, he was almost certain she wasn’t the one
who could put all the pieces into their rightful place. Carlos was playing a
game. That he was prepared to use their child as a means of gaining the upper
hand was distasteful to Jake.
     “Is it usual for
him to take the baby for overnight visits?”
    “No, this is the
first time she’s spent the night with him.”
    “Did you ask him
to take her, or did he volunteer?”
    “He volunteered
when I told him I was going to ask my sister to babysit.”
    “Did he know where
you were going and who you were having dinner with?”
    “He knew that I
was having dinner with you guys, but I didn’t tell him where we were going.
What are you getting at?”
    “I’m not getting
at anything,” Jake said ensuring his face showed nothing of his thoughts as he
recalled the feeling of being watched the night before. “I’m just trying to
understand what could be going on with Carlos.”
    “He can’t keep
her!”
    “No, he can’t,”
Jake agreed, recognizing a cry for help when he heard one.
    “I know he’s her
father, and I want them to have a relationship, so I’m going to give him the
benefit of the doubt,” MacKenzie said with a sharp nod; as though attempting to
convince herself of her words.
    “That’s a good
idea. We know Noelle is okay, so as soon as we locate Carlos, we’ll go and get
her.” Jake hoped his tone was reassuring and hid his deep rooted fury. He found
it impossible to fathom why Carlos would do something he knew would obviously
distress his child’s mother.
    “Thank you for all
that you’ve done but this isn’t your concern. If you call me that cab now; I’ll
get out of here and allow you to get on with your evening.”
    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