K I E R O N

Chapter |15| Haunted

J A C O B ' S P. O. V

"Then what did you do?" Ripley jumps over another puddle, refraining from splashing in it like last time so he doesn't get me all wet.

Truthfully, it's my fault. I told him if he was wearing wellies then he could jump in all the muddy puddles he wants to, just like peppa pig.

But I have a meeting later today with a prospective client and this suit is Dolci.

"I saw some gooses and they were making some funny sounds like honk! Honky! Then they were flying in the sky!" I laugh as he runs ahead a little, mimicking the geese as he spirals around and around with his arms flayed out.

It's only been a week since the k********g but somehow he's become louder and more energetic then ever.

I swallow a gulp of desolation at the reminder that my relationship is still hanging by threads.

Kieron has called me once, but it was brief and more him apologising to me rather than telling me that he wants us over his fears. It hurt how easy he gave up on us.

Like we were mere flecks in his universe that he could just forget.

"Ripley wait," I call out when he gets too far for comfort. Patiently, he stands by the apartment building until I reach him, and then I swing him onto my back.

He hates the stairs but I hate the elevator so here's a nice compromise that's quickly becoming my favourite routine tradition of ours.

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the key to unlock the door but somehow it just creaks open.

I pause, setting Ripley down. "Daddy-" He's silenced when I press my finger to my lips, and gently move him so he's shielded behind the door.

"If I say run, go straight down the stairs and find Danny, the doorman. Tell me to call the police. Got it." Swallowing visibly, he nods, but tries to teeter closer to me when I move in. "No Rip, stay here."

I step inside, observing the kitchen first to see if anything is misplaced. There's nothing out of the ordinary, the tv is still planted on the wall and Ripley's iPad is laid flat on the table.

It's possible I forget to lock the door but- something crashes onto the floor in my bedroom.

My first thought is Scooter, but he's out with the dog walker until four so... "s**t," I hear a familiar voice mutter and I almost sigh in relief until I realise what this f*****g means.

Fear is replaced with anger instead, but I turn to my son first. He's peeking behind the doorway, and runs into my arms when I signal to come in.

"Go play on your iPad okay, I'll be in soon." This time I make sure the door is shut, bolted with the lock before heading to my room.

A quick glance over my shoulder ensures he's safe, switching onto a paw patrol game. I grit my teeth, trying to suppress the building rage, when I push my bedroom door open and see her, it floods every rational thought.

Shutting the door behind me, it scares her, causing her to yell out in surprise. "What the f**k are you doing here?"

"Jesus Jacob, you scared the s**t out of me."

"Oh I'm sorry, you see I wasn't really expecting to find my apartment broken into, especially by someone who I have a restraining order against."

"In England." She states bluntly, and I wonder how I actually fell for a woman like this years ago

"Lola, what are doing here?" My ex has a known shopping addiction so the fact she's wearing plain joggers and a ratty old t shirt is a warning sign in my eyes.

"I miss him. Ripley, I...I really miss him." She gives me this sickly sweet smile that honestly makes me feel sorry for the crazy b***h.

"You're lying. I know you don't care about him, so just tell me what you want. Or I could just phone the police and they'll get it out of you."

I start to pull my phone out when she lunges forward and tries to grab it. "No stop!"

"Quiet, he's in the other room." I doubt that Ripley remembers her but I know I don't want him to suffer through any of her bullshit.

"Sorry, okay just don't call them."

"Then tell me the f*****g truth." Sighing, she takes a seat on my bed, tugging at her hair that's dyed a bleached blonde from its usual brown.

"I ran out of money, everything you sent it's gone and I took out some loans but I can't pay them back and...if I don't give them anything by next week, they said they'll come for my family."

"Good job you don't have any then." She scowls at the low dig but its f*****g true.

Her parents abandoned her a while ago, just like she left Ripley, and she drove away any close friends or other relatives with her scams that always end in the other losing out.

"They know I have a son. They found my medical records, look, Jacob I'm doing this for him. Just give me some money and I can pay them, protect Ripley."

"The moment I put money in your hands it'll disappear and don't f*****g think I believe for a second you'll spend it on him. If anything you'll go out and buy yourself a Mulberry purse."

"Jacob, this is serious. I'm scared, really scared and I know I did f****d up s**t in the past but I did love Ripley. I do, and I loved you too."

"f****d up s**t?" I laugh void of humour. "You almost killed him, you wouldn't let me take care of him when you couldn't and you let strangers around him all the time. Remember that night you went out clubbing, leaving him at home, until he cried so hard that he damaged his voice cords. It took two operations to heal him, and still whenever he gets a sore throat he's in excruciating pain because of you."

She's crying, but this time I know they're real, not the fake crocodile bullshit she used to pull on me all the time so I would forgive her. Like an i***t, I did only to end up stung.

"I know. I'm so sorry, I can't change what I dit but I can help him now. Protect him."

"From your mistakes, damn it Lola." Again, it's my son's life at risk but this time I'm going to f*****g take charge.

"Tell me who it is and I'll make sure the money is sent but that's it. Then you're gone."

She bites her lip for a moment, before passing me her phone. My fingers move on automate, her password the same four numbers as before and I get hit by a fresh wave of nostalgia that threatens to knock me back.

"Never change, do you?" She laughs, mindlessly walking around my room. I find her bank app, turning the screen so it can scan her face.

"Two thousand?" Pocket change to me, and for a moment I feel bad but then I realise how many thousands of pounds I've spent on her

The twenty thousand I entrusted her with to help pay the mortgage and instead she spent it on designer clothes.

"There's more..." Scrolling down, I hold my breath noting the way the zeros begin to mount up. Way more than twenty thousand.

"Who are they?" I note her bank details into my phone, knowing Kiara will likely be able to help.

"I don't know the specifics. My friend recommended me to them for a loan, he's the one who got it for me I only ever contacted them through text and then..."

"Do you have the messages?"

She leans over me, gently touching my shoulder as she taps on the screen. I try to ignore the strong whiff of Dior that enters my nose, the same scent I would buy her every Christmas.

"They automatically delete. That was the last one."

It'll be your little boy that ends up hurt at the end of this. Payday is this Sunday.

Fucking ace. I naturally glance towards the closed door, my son, once again the innocent victim.

"Can I keep this?" Before she can dispute, I bend down and find my old iPhone at the bottom of the dresser door.

"Here, it's one of the new ones." I switched to Samsung because Kieron was convinced it's better for security.

Like a true expert with fakes, she meticulously observes the device for the slightest c***k.

One satisfied, she nods. "Keep it." Rolling my eyes, I stuff it into my pocket, that one question still itching at my mine. "How did you get in?"

"I've sort of been watching you for a while, so I told the doorman I was your dog walker and had to get the leash from your apartment." f*****g great. Maybe it really is time to move out of this place for good? "Oh and I'm sorry but I broke this."

She picks up the shattered photo frame, a clear picture of Kieron and me. I remember that night so vividly, Kai had taken it during one of our double date nights. After the date, I let Kieron f**k me senseless in the shower. The entire frame broke and we fell flat on our asses but I can never remember laughing as hard as I did that night.

I reach up to rub at my chest, a deep pain spreading through my chest.

"Is he your..."

"He's none of your concern." Snatching the picture, I slam it on the dresser, the glass crunching further. "You need to leave now. I'll make sure they don't contact you."

"Wait-" She's curiosity gripping to my arm, as I yank the door open.

My mind is consumed by pure rage, that I let all sane thoughts dissipate. I'm dragging her down the hallway, her weight light as I'm driven by the strength of the pain this woman inflicted upon me.

"Daddy?" f**k.

Lola twists in my grip, attempting to see him, but I keep with my pace, wrenching the door open from its hinges and shoving her out. "Let me see him. Just once."

Her desperation grips my heart furiously. I can't deny that Ripley has her lips, the same soft pout that breaks down all my resilience, and her lightened eyes that well with thick tears.

"You're not his mother anymore Lola. You gave that up, and if you truly want the best for him, you'll leave us both the hell alone."

"Fine. Just...just take care of him for me." Nodding, I let the door shut softly this time. A huge breath exhales from my throat, thick with clogged emotion.

I turn, back hitting the door, and slump down as tears leak from my eyes. Ripley leaves his iPad, sprinting towards me. I let out a groan when he jumps, a small bout of laughter leaving my throat.

When he's nestled against my chest, I finally feel able to breathe again. "Who was that daddy? I think I remember her but..."

"Remember how at school some kids as a daddy and a mummy."

"Tula has two mommies!"

Smiling, I touch his nose. "Right, well you also had a mummy. Once, but she had to leave, not because of you but because she's sick."

"Sick? Daddy we should call a doctor."

"Not that kind of sick bud, it's the kind of sickness that's in your head. It made her do not very nice things so she signed a piece of paper which means she's not your mummy anymore."

His bottom lip starts to tremble. "But what if I want her to be my mommy?"

"She doesn't know you bud. She can't be your mum, and I know it hurts right now, but hopefully one day you'll realise that I'm enough for you."

His arms hug me tighter, our tears mingling so the salty taste lingers in the air. "I want Kieron, daddy."

My eyes screw shut, heart hurting all over. "Me too buddy, me too."

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A/N: The epilogue is next. Can't believe it has come so fast!