Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,108

sure. Five males with a woman? Can you ever really be sure your kids will be yours?"

"I'm yours," I assured him, because we both know I was more like him than anyone else.

"And if you're not?" he countered.

I chuckled, realizing what he was trying to say. "Then it doesn't matter."

"Exactly. I won't say anything to Elena, and if you need to, use the family account. I'm sure Ashley wouldn't have a problem with it."

Which meant he wasn't just willing to go along with this. My father was completely on board. I left with a little extra spring in my step. I would've done this anyway, but having Dad's approval made me feel even better about it. Heading to my truck, I dropped both contracts onto the passenger seat and headed out, trusting my GPS to get me where I needed to be.

When I pulled up in front of Gerardo's house, the driveway was empty. The home was nice, about the size of where I was living now, but on a typical suburban street. The lawn was meticulously maintained, the shrubs pruned back for the winter, and the home looked like something worth being proud of.

But when I knocked on the front door, no one answered. I checked my watch, thought back to what Gabby had told me, then sat down on the front step to wait. Jaime liked to spend Saturdays shopping. Spending Gerardo's money, Gabby had called it. I had a feeling they wouldn't be out too late, so I opened up the first contract and finally read through all of it, making sure it was exactly what I wanted.

I was almost done with the second one when a car finally pulled into the drive. I glanced up, seeing two people inside it, and just kept reading. Gerardo and his little bimbo of a fianc茅 got out, headed to the trunk, and gathered up their bags. They didn't say anything to me until they were halfway across the yard.

"Can I help you?" Gerardo asked.

I stood, pausing to dust off my rump. "Ian Langdon," I said, offering him my hand. "We met at the parent meeting for Gabby's play. I'm dating Elena."

"Ah." He looked at Jaime. "Go put that away, sweetie. I'll see what Mr. Langdon wants."

Jaime held out her hand for the bags Gerardo carried. "I'll start supper too," she assured him.

The man passed over a group of logo-covered shopping bags - I had a feeling he would never shop at those particular stores for himself - then turned to face me. I waited until his fianc茅 was inside and the door closed. Then I offered him the divorce settlement paperwork.

"Elena says you're wanting to get remarried," I told him.

He eyed the paperwork but didn't read it. "I've already proposed. What's this about, boy?"

I just ignored his attempt to insult my age. "That's the current agreement for child support and visitation. It's steep, Gerardo, and her attorney is good enough to get it. I'd like to offer you a second option."

The man quickly flipped the pages until he got to the part that listed out what Elena expected. I watched at his brow furrowed and anger grew on his face, but he wasn't dumb enough to say anything. I had a feeling he also realized I had a point. We both knew how rarely he saw his daughter, which Elena was using as a reason for even more financial support - and rightfully so.

"Does she really think this will work?" he asked.

"Don't know," I assured him. "What I can offer is to take that payment from you. No alimony, no child support. No money out of pocket whatsoever. But, there is a catch."

"Uh huh." He didn't sound surprised.

"I want you to sign away your parental rights to Gabby. She'll no longer be your problem or responsibility."

He just handed back the paperwork. "This has to be some kind of a trick."

"It's not," I assured him. "You see, I've always wanted a family. I want an heir to my empire, which means I want to adopt your kid. I can't do that if you're still her legal guardian. Also, Elena doesn't know I'm here. She has no idea I'm doing this. All I know is that you're not that close to your daughter, you're starting a new family, and clearly the differences between you and Elena are irreconcilable. So, what will it take to make this happen?"

"I'm not a deadbeat," he snapped.

"No, sir, you're not," I said, even though I didn't