Mercury frowned. “No. I’m not marrying anyone. Her claiming that I was her fiancé was just a temporary fix. She knows she has to come up with a permanent solution...but in the meantime, this is what I propose.”
His brothers all leaned toward him. “What?” Tyson asked.
“I need to call Quade to find out every single thing I need to know about Sloan’s father.”
Quade Westmoreland was married to their cousin, the former Cheyenne Steele, and lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. For years Quade worked with the PSF, the Presidential Security Forces, dual branches of the Secret Service and CIA. Now he owned an elite PI firm, in addition to a network of security companies around the country and abroad. “We need to know everything about the man we’re dealing with.”
Everyone nodded their agreement. Quade would leave no stone unturned and his report would be thorough. Mercury then said, “I also need to find out more about Sloan’s trust fund. You heard what she told us tonight. She honestly doesn’t know much about it. All she knew was that she would get it whenever she turned thirty.”
Mercury looked over at Eli. “Since Sloan hired you as her attorney tonight, what do you plan on doing?”
“I’m meeting with Sloan here in the morning to get more information,” he said. “Specifically, I need the name of her grandfather’s attorney. Then I’ll be contacting him and go from there.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Mercury said.
“When is Sloan moving into her apartment?” Jonas asked. “Will it be safe for her to do that? I hate to say it but her parents sound like a pair of loonies.”
Gannon laughed. “You can go ahead and say it because they do.”
Mercury smiled and shook his head, but Gannon was right. They did. “Sloan’s moving into her apartment tomorrow. The place is already furnished, so all she has to do is move in. Just to be on the safe side, I’ll hang around her more often.”
“More often than you do now?” Gannon asked with a smirk on his face.
Ignoring his youngest brother’s comment, Mercury said, “I’ll contact Quade first thing in the morning.”
Fifteen
Sloan glanced across the breakfast table at Eli with an apologetic look on her face. “I’m sorry, Eli, but I don’t have the answer to any of those questions. The only reason I know the name of my grandfather’s attorney is because I met him a few times.”
Eli nodded, pushing his folder aside. “And you don’t think he’s been corresponding with your parents on your behalf?”
“I would think not. Charles Rivers and my grandfather were close. I recall his father was my grandfather’s friend for years, and when Mr. Rivers finished law school, he became Pop’s private attorney. He knew how my grandfather felt about my parents meddling in his affairs.”
“Did your grandfather know the Cunninghams?”
Sloan shrugged her shoulders. “Not that I know of. At least he never mentioned them to me. In fact, I’m almost sure he didn’t. If I recall, the Cunninghams and my parents became friends after my grandfather passed away, when they moved their company to Cincinnati.”
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to reach out to Charles Rivers today,” Eli said, standing. “I understand you’re moving into your own place today.”
Sloan couldn’t help the bright smile that touched her lips. “Yes, I am. And my new car is being delivered today, as well. I am so excited. Mercury is arriving around noon and I’m all packed and ready to go.”
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything from Rivers.”
“Thanks.”
A few hours later, Sloan was prepared to leave when Mercury arrived. Giving both Drew and Eden hugs, she thanked them for their generous hospitality and told them she would be inviting them to her place when she got settled. “When will my car be delivered?” she asked Mercury excitedly, as they drove away from his parents’ home.
“It should be there by the time we arrive at your apartment.”