the best mother, too. She loves Holden and she’s sacrificed so much for him. How she could even go through what she did. She’s strong. So fucking strong.”
Hansen stands, he leans forward and I see the determination in his gaze. “Don’t worry. If Susan is in any contact at all with him, I’ll figure it out and fast.”
“Wednesday we’re meeting for dinner with my attorney, do you think you can have your report by then?”
“I won’t sleep until I have everything that I need.”
I want to tell him not to do that, but I don’t, because I need everything that I can get. Every piece of damning information and evidence as humanly possible. Holden will never know that this man is his father and he is damn sure not going to be subjected to him. Not if I have anything to say or do about it.
Hansen leaves, clearly focused on his new mission and I spend the rest of the afternoon in meetings about the new building and trying to secure it without using my money or name. It isn’t easy, and I’m sure it’s probably not legal, but Susan can’t find out.
If she wants to play hardball—it’s on. The problem is that she’s at a disadvantage, being drunk for the past two-and-a-half decades and I’ve been working every day, building relationships and clients, doing my fucking job and working my ass off.
If she thinks that I’ll continue to lie down and take whatever she throws my way, it’s fucking on. She’s not just screwing with me anymore, she’s screwing with my children’s livelihood and inheritance, my woman’s life and Holden’s.
That’s something that I will not tolerate.
Not to-fucking-day. Not ever.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
TENNESSEE
Something is wrong. I can feel it. Landry is acting off. Once we shop for dinner at the grocery store, along with a few more essentials, we all three head back to his place… our place… home. It’s so weird thinking of it as home, but that’s what it is now—our home.
We eat dinner, the awkwardness and tension still hovering above us like a gigantic elephant in the room, but he doesn’t say anything. He isn’t mean or unpleasant, he gives me and Holden the same doting attention as ever.
Once Holden is bathed and tucked in and we’re alone in the bedroom, that’s when he tells me that we need to talk.
My stomach twists. I met with Lydia today, talked with her about Landry’s style and mine and hopefully the house will be completely decorated and furnished within the next six weeks. She did admit to me that her ex-husband and Susan had an illicit affair years ago.
She decorated Landry’s penthouse for free when he moved out as a thank you when his private detective gave him pictures that he shared with her of them together. I don’t think that’s what this is about though, judging by the serious expression on Landry’s face, this isn’t about that, this is about something a lot bigger.
“Just tell me,” I rasp, standing a few feet away from him.
I don’t know what he wants to say to me, I’m not sure if this is going to be really bad or not, but I don’t know what this is about and if I need to run, then I don’t want him holding me or anything. I just, it feels really uncomfortable.
“Susan…” He begins and my stomach drops.
He’s sitting on the edge of the bed, his head tipped and his gaze lifted to mine. He looks so defeated and I hate it. Landry is strong, he’s all man and right now he looks almost broken. Then an ugly thought flashes in my head, oh god, what if he goes back to her?
“She’s found Holden’s biological father. She’s somehow convinced him to file for a paternity test and sue for visitation if he is proven to be his father.”
Those were not the words that I could have ever imagined leaving his mouth. My knees give out beneath me. I fall to the floor, or at least I’m on my way down, when Landry wraps his arms around me and together, we slowly float down to the floor.
My body shakes and loud sobs fill the air. It’s then that I realize it’s me who is sobbing loud and uncontrollably. Landry’s hand moves soothingly down my back, but nothing can soothe me, nothing at all.
If that man, that abuser, that rapist, if he is alone with my child? If I’m forced to allow him to be alone with him