“Slade, you don’t know. He’ll do anything.” Her body slumps as her glossy eyes tip up to mine. “He . . .” She glances at the kids. “He fabricated stories that made everyone question whether Frankie was even his to cover himself,” she whispers, trying to blink the tears away.
“All my sponsors dropped me, and the organizations I worked with asked me to step down. He took everything. My dignity and reputation.”
Her bottom lip quivers, and she can’t hold it back. “They’re all I have left. The only thing that really matters, and he’ll win.” She can barely get the words out as tears roll down her cheeks.
I sweep my arms around her, wrapping her up as if I can protect her. I want to calm her panic and fears, but I can’t. It’s the one thing I can’t do because I don’t know this man. But from what Sarah just described, I’d sure as hell like to get to know him. Up close.
Her head rests against my chest, her body shaking with a hushed cry. I hold her tight, feeling completely helpless, and I hate it.
“It’s gonna be ok.” I don’t know how, but it has to be.
She shakes her head, not believing.
My jaw clenches tight with the only thing I know to do that might help. I force the words out. “You need to talk to Macavoy. He’ll help you.”
She pulls away, swiping at her cheeks. “He’s my boss. I can’t get him involved even if I could afford it.” Her frustration is apparent. “Miles knows I can’t fight this. It’s been his plan all along. He’s beensaving up for when he needs it. Using Ollie and Frankie because he knows I’ll doanythingfor them.”
She tears the envelope open and drops the paper to the side in defeat.
I move to her, wrapping my arms around her again, and she leans into me. “We’ll figure something out.”
She buries her head in my chest, her trembling body sagging against me.
I may not be good at many things, but I’ll do anything to protect the people I care about. There’s only one way I might be able to help Sarah, but it will require a visit to the man who never offeredme a damn thing.
Chapter 35
SLADE
I pull into the dark parking lot, hoping he’s here this early. I grip the steering wheel tightly, feeling the slick coating of sweat on my palms. I never wanted to do this again, but I will. The momentary discomfort and angst will be worth it.
I vowed long ago to never ask this man for anything, but I’ve resigned to the fact that sometimes we have to lay our pride aside to do what’s best for the ones we care about. And I care about Sarah and those kids more than I think I’m ready to admit.
I stayed with her the other night while she gave the kids baths. Once Ollie was finished, I read books to him when it was Frankie’s turn. Then I went home, carrying Sarah’s fear of losing her kids with me.
It can’t happen. She can’t lose them to a man who would throw his wife and kids to the wolves to protect himself and manipulate others. When Sarah told me he’d made people question whether Frankie was his, I wanted to hunt him down and help him forget he ever had a wife and kids. No child deserves to be used like that. I can hardly imagine what that did to Sarah.
My gut rolls as I pull open the glass door and head straight to the back, as I did long ago. I was just a kid watching life slip from my grasp.
I step into his office, and his head snaps up, his light eyes meeting mine.
I shove my sweaty hands into my coat pockets.
“This. . .is a surprise.” Macavoy sets his pen down and pulls off his reading glasses.
I clear my dry throat. “Yeah, for me, too.”
The tall man straightens in his chair. “Have a seat.” He extends a hand to one of the leather chairs.
“No thanks.” I stare at the aging man, who should mean something to me but doesn’t. “I want to pay a retainer.”
He frowns. “You need representation?” There’s a slight tinge of concern in his tone, but I ignore it.
This conversation is business. It needs to be brief and to the point.
“Not for me. A friend.”
He rests his arms on his desk, eyeing me. “I need specifics to determine if I can—”
