“What the fuck was that?” I demand, releasing her hand.
Celeste joins us once again and sighs. “It’s nothing—”
“Bullshit!” I interrupt her, making Austin jump. “Why the hell were they here and what were they promised?” I know it has to be money. The question is why? Did Bruce plan on sending her back? He can’t. She’s eighteen now.
Celeste looks at Austin and then down at the floor.
She can move out of here. Stay with me. They can’t stop her now …
“I don’t want to know,” Austin says softly.
I look at her, and I hate the look of sadness on her face. How her mother, once again, showed her that she didn’t matter. It was all about the sorry bastard of a husband. “Austin …”
“I don’t care, Cole. Don’t you see? She got what she wanted. She got rid of me, and she got him to marry her.” She turns and walks out of the room, leaving me alone with Celeste.
“What did you do?” I growl, turning to her.
She places her hands up. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit!” I snap and advance on her. “What the fuck did you do, Celeste?”
She swallows nervously. “Her mother called me the other day …”
“And?” I demand when she trails off.
“And she said that Bruce promised her twenty thousand dollars.”
“That was if he sent her back!” I bark. “And that isn’t happening.” Bruce better not go back on our deal or I’ll do more than just steal his precious car. I’ll break both of his fucking legs. It didn’t look like her mother even wanted her back. Hell, she didn’t want her in the first place.
I yank my phone out of my pocket and send a quick text.
Me: You busy?
Deke reads it and responds right away.
Deke: I’m with Becky. What’s up?
Me: I have something that needs to be taken care of.
Deke: I can be ready whenever.
Me: Give me five.
I turn and go to exit the living room when Celeste grabs my arm and pulls me to a stop. “What are you gonna do?” she asks wide-eyed.
Something Bruce should have done a long fucking time ago. But I growl, “Nothing.” I’m not gonna tell her anything about what I have planned.
I open Austin’s bedroom door to find her sitting on the end of her bed. I kneel in front of her. “I gotta go,” I tell her, pushing some hair from her face.
“Where are you going?” she asks softly. “I thought we were gonna take Lilly to the zoo?”
I nod. “Later. I got something I have to go do.” Standing up to my full height, I lean over and kiss her on the forehead. My phone starts to ring, and I pull it out of my pocket.Dekeflashes across it, but I silence the call. “Why don’t you go and get Lilly and then meet me at the clubhouse,” I offer, and she nods.
“Here.” She stands and unzips my hoodie, exposing her naked chest to me.
My eyes fall to her tits, and my hands grab her hips. “Are you trying to distract me?” My voice is rough and my cock now hard. It’s working.
“No,” she answers. “Just thought you would want it back.”
