Dark Guardian (Black Hoods MC #3) - Avelyn Paige Page 0,23
the children to me and allow us to investigate the matter further. If you are in fact their next of kin, the children will be returned to you immediately.”
“And if not?”
I’ll give her credit; she doesn’t miss a beat. “They will be placed in a home that can care for them until such a time that a relative comes forward or prospective adoptive parents can be legally vetted and approved.”
Is she listening to her own fucked-up words? “So you’re telling me you want to remove two orphan kids from a home they’re happy in, loved in, and are part of a family that doesn’t inject poison into their veins every fifteen minutes, taking them to some house where the parents are paid to keep them fed and clothed, but couldn’t care less about who they are and how they feel?”
She blinks back at me, and miracle of all miracles, actually seems to be at a loss for words.
“Nah. You’ll take these kids out of my house over my dead body.”
The way she shakes her head seems to reek of defeat, but I can tell by looking at her that she doesn’t give up easily.
Reaching into a folder, she pulls out a card. “Take this,” she says, her jaw set just as tight as mine. “It’s my number and email address. You know I can’t let this go, Mr. Grant. This isn’t over. But if you change your mind and want to cooperate, please call me, and we can hopefully work together. I want this process to be as painless as I can for both Kevin and Natalie.”
I snatch the card out of her hand. “If you take them away from me, it’ll be far from painless.”
“Have a good afternoon, Mr. Grant.”
She holds herself together as she makes her way to her sedan, but I can see a slight tremble to her slim frame. I’ve rattled her.
She doesn’t look back as she climbs into the vehicle, and she doesn’t linger. Starting the car, she pulls away from the curb, and I watch until she’s gone from sight.
“She’s going to put us in a foster home, isn’t she?”
I spin around and find Kevin and Natalie standing in the doorway to the garage, their eyes filled with worry. A tear escapes Nat’s eye, gliding lazily down her cheek.
“She isn’t putting you anywhere. This is your home.” They don’t look convinced, and quite frankly, I don’t blame them, because I’m not convinced either. “Come on,” I say, walking between them and draping an arm over their shoulders. “Let’s get inside and see what we can find for supper, okay?”
They both move with me, allowing me to assuage their fears for now, but it’s not until Natalie’s head rests against my chest as we walk that I make my decision. If Grace Halfpenny shows up here again, she and the case file she lords over us may just have to disappear.
Grace
Between Eugene Grant and Mr. Jackson’s incessant calls regarding the continuance of his case, I’m nearly at my wits’ end. Well, the end of the wits I still have left at my disposal. At this point, I’m sure my wits have flown the coop in search of a better brain to inhabit. Where Mr. Jackson is fighting for his rights, Mr. Grant seems to get off on frustrating me, enjoying the volley between us a bit too much.
At first, I thought his demeanor at the strip club was only because I took him by surprise, but really, it’s all him. It’s not a show of intimidation. His bulging muscles and height did that all on their own. It’s the way he carries himself that grinds at me. His confidence. His determination that those kids belong to him without a single shred of evidence to prove otherwise. The way he takes up all the air around him, leaving absolutely nothing for anyone else to breathe. The fact that I like it in an odd way, something I’ve never felt before in all the cases and men like him I’ve had to go toe-to-toe with over the years. Nothing makes sense when it comes to Eugene Grant.
A part of me notices just how much he seems to love those kids, even when he’s trying to press every aggravating button I have all at once.
On top of it all, Aaron hasn’t called. Not that I’m surprised with the way I left things at the restaurant. In such a lonely world, he’s been my only true friend, apart from