“I’m back, sweetheart. The doc…” he starts, but the words die the second his eyes land on me.
My jaw grinds tightly. “Who the hell is he?”
Anna shoots me an annoyed look. “Landon, don’t you—”
“Answer me.” My voice cuts through the air, ignoring her annoyed glance.
“Name’s Mick,” the guy replies evenly as he steps up beside her. “I’m her roommate.”
My eyes narrow to slits, glaring at him before I drag my gaze back to Anna. “We need to talk.” The steel in my tone makes it clear this isn’t a request.
Anna rises to her feet. “Not here. Not in front of her.” She grits the words out, then turns to Mick, her tone softening. “Take care of Liala. I’ll be back.”
The jerk nods, sliding into the chair she just vacated, his hand brushing a stray curl from my daughter’s forehead with a familiarity that makes my gut twist.
Before I can explode, Anna grips my wrist and yanks me out of the room. The door clicks shut behind us, leaving just the two of us in the stark, empty corridor.
“You kept my daughter from me?” I hiss the second the door shuts. “And I have to watch some dumb roommate of yours sitting by her as if he belongs with her.”
Her eyes blaze. “Because he does belong. He’s been there for her when you weren’t. He’s supported us. He’s helped me raise her while you were off building your empire.”
“Don’t twist this,” I snap, stepping closer, the heat in my chest ripping my control. “That’s my daughter in there.Mine. Not his. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone else stand in my place.”
Her laugh is bitter, jagged at the edges. “Your place? You couldn’t even be a husband, Landon. How the hell are you claiming you could be a father?”
“I admit I wasn’t a good husband. But don’t you dare decide what kind of a father I would have been,” I grind out. “None of it gave you the right to hide my daughter from me. I deserved to know about her.”
“You fucking deserve nothing, Landon. You didn’t give me any answers when you handed me those divorce papers, and I sure as hell am not answerable to you for why I kept her from you. I spent years wondering why you left me, and now, you needto taste the same medicine as to why I didn’t tell you about your daughter,” she spits, daring me to push her further. “And you sure as hell don’t get to walk in here and demand answers from me.”
I stay mute, the words hitting me like a punch to the chest. I don’t know how long I stand there, stunned, only just registering her hand on the door handle as she looks over her shoulder.
“Go home, Landon. Leave us alone,” she says.
Before I can even reply, she slips back into the room and shuts the door with a final, decisive click, leaving me in the corridor, my eyes locked on the closed door that now holds my entire world.
Minutes drag by before I force myself back into my car. Slamming the door shut, I sit there for a moment, letting the weight of it all settle over me. My hands shake as I pull out my phone from my pocket, scroll to the name I need, and hit dial.
“Hello, Mr. Hayes,” a male voice greets me.
“I need to file for custody of my daughter,” I bite out, without much courtesy or preamble.
There’s a pause before the man begins to explain that he needs details, a time to meet, but I don’t let him finish.
“I don’t care how you do it. I want every loophole, every statute, every precedent on my side. And I want the papers before the day ends.”
Before he can form a response, I end the call, shoving the phone back into my pocket.
My gaze snaps back to the hospital building, and a dark vow coils in my chest.
Anna… you can try to keep me out of my daughter’s life all you want. But make no mistake, I will get my daughter back.
Chapter 13
Anna
Sitting across from the doctor’s desk, I press my palms to my thighs, willing my fingers to be still. After flipping through a few pages in the file, he finally looks up with a small, reassuring smile, letting me know I can stop holding my breath now.
“Her fever has settled, Ms. Delgado,” he says, sliding the file toward me. “Your daughter responded well to the medication. We’ll keep her for observation for a few more hours, and then she can be discharged today. There’s nothing to worry about as long as you manage her diet, keep her hydrated, and let her rest. And if anything feels off, like a fever returning, weakness, or loss of appetite, then bring her straight back to me. But for now, she’s good to go.”
