Page 47 of Finding You
“No one’s doing anything,” Christopher said with authority. “You shouldn’t have grabbed Raven like that, and if I ever see you put your hands on another woman, you’re going to haveto deal with me.” Then he turned to Raven. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said, sliding her hand into Zion’s.
He squeezed it, hoping it would help settle them both. He hadn’t been thinking straight when he attacked Maximus, but he wasn’t sorry. What he was sorry for was embarrassing her and letting her and Christopher see that side of him. Priding himself on keeping a leveled head, he rarely lost control, but apparently when it came to protecting Raven, he had none. He didn’t want anyone’s hands on her.
“No way, Granddad. I’m not letting this barbarian get away with this.”
“I’ve heard enough,” Christopher said, his eerily calm voice was a big contradiction from the tone he’d used a moment ago. “You claiming to be the father of Raven’s twins is what I want to talk about.”
“You meanourtwins. She has you believing that they aren’t mine,” Maximus ground out as his gaze shot daggers at Raven. “But I have proof that they are.”
Unease clawed through Zion, and Raven stiffened next to him. He was fairly sure she didn’t realize just how hard she was squeezing his hand while looking like she wanted to murder her ex.
“You’re lying you worthless piece of—”
“Careful, Raven,” Maximus sneered. “Otherwise, my grandfather will see the real you. You make everyone think you’re some kind ofgood girl,” he said with air quotes, “but I know differently. You are a conniving little gold-digger who’s been trying to turn my grandfather against me since I introduced you to him.”
She gasped, her free hand going to her chest. “You. Are. A. Liar! Everything you’ve said from the moment you walked in here is a lie.” She turned to face Christopher. “I have never liedto you, and I’m not going to start now. Zion is the father of my children. Not Maximus.”
“I can prove I’m the father,” Maximus said, holding up his phone.
Zion knew the man was lying, but if he hadn’t taken a paternity test and saw his own face whenever he looked at Andrew, he might believe Maximus. That’s just how believing he sounded. Clearly the man was delusional, but Zion wanted to see this proof he claimed to have.
“I had a paternity test done a month after the twins were born.”
“How? How’d you get my kids’ DNA?” Raven snapped, her body trembling with anger. One of them needed to remain calm. Otherwise, they wouldn’t get the answers they needed.
“The paternity tests say I’m the father,” Maximus said as if Raven hadn’t spoken, and the smug look on the man’s face was grating on Zion’s nerves.
Raven released Zion’s hand before he realized what she was doing. She approached Maximus. “Let me see this proof,” she demanded.
“No. You can see it when I take you to court for full custody. I’m done with you trying to keep my kids away from me.”
Zion growled under his breath and balled his fists at his sides. He didn’t know what type of proof this guy thought he had, but the guy was in for the fight of his life if he thought he would ever have access to Drew and NayNay.
“Give me the phone so I can see this proof,” Christopher said.
Maximus hesitated, and surprise showed on his face at his grandfather’s request, but then he schooled his features. “I already know you care about Raven more than you care about me, and there’s nothing you can say that’ll change my mind about me taking her to court. I’ve asked her to marry me more than once, and I’ve done everything I can to be in my kids’ life.She’s kept them away from me long enough, and I’m done trying to reason with her.”
“Give. Me. The. Phone,” Christopher said again with more force as he put his glasses on.
Maximus shook his head. “Granddad, I’m not letting you talk me out of this. I have every right to—”
“Boy, pull up the document and give me the damn phone.Now!”
To Zion’s surprise, Maximus obeyed and shoved his phone at his grandfather.
“Those are the results of the paternity tests,” Maximus said, still looking sure of himself. “That’s all the proof I need.”
“Whatever you have is a fake because you’re not their father!” Raven shot back and rejoined Zion who was standing near the foot of the bed.
When she started to say more, Zion squeezed her hand, and Raven glanced at him. He gave a slight shake of his head. They knew the truth, and it would all come out soon. In the meantime, they needed to find out how Maximus got the tests done. The documents had to be fake.
Zion’s attention settled on Christopher as the man studied the cell phone screen. Every so often, he’d scroll up and keep reading. His facial expression gave nothing away, and that made Zion a little uneasy. Whatever was in the document was enough to keep the old man’s attention, and that wasn’t good.
Christopher eventually looked up and his gaze zoned in on Raven. “These results are from a clinic here in Houston. The documents are dated for two months ago, and it says the probability of Maximus being the father is 99.9%.”
Zion remained silent. He sure as hell didn’t trust Maximus, and he was still feeling out Christopher. Right now, his only concern was Raven and how her face had turned ashen at the news. She was squeezing his hand hard enough to break it, butin a flash, she charged toward Maximus. Zion barely caught her around the waist before she could attack. He practically had to lift her off the ground to keep her from breaking free from him.
