Jaxon’s POV:
I watched her walk away, my heart clenching as the greatest thing in my life tried to escape, my nephew resting securely on her hip. She carried him so naturally, so protectively, as though he were her own child. I wondered if she even realized she still had BJ with her or if her mind was too overwhelmed to notice. I had no doubt where she was heading—the lake that bordered the back of our parents’ property, a place of solace and quiet reflection. It seemed to call to her now, offering a brief escape from everything pressing down on her.
Behind me, Mason’s voice broke through my thoughts, sharp and angry. “Why did you do that?” His words were more of a growl than a question, his protectiveness over Stella flaring up yet again. It was a role he had embraced so completely, ens
