He slowly nods as he draws the same conclusion. “They were banking on me fighting for full custody and going to use that as leverage.”
“They were going to trade their baby for cash, and you’d have raised a baby who wasn’t your own.”
“Sounds about right,” Xavier says, looking thoroughly disgusted.
I dig my nails into my thighs as sheer rage filters through me. “She doesn’t deserve to be pregnant. They both deserve to die.” A red haze coats my vision. “All that pretending to not eat, faking being sick, and everything else she pulled is clearly an act, meant to keep you tied to her, stressed out, and concerned so you’d give in and pay her more.”
“John was right. I never should have offered her anything.”
Jared’s shock has transformed to anger, and he looks downright murderous. I can relate to the feeling. I’m actually a little worried he might take it out on Herman. I’ve spent the past two weeks trying to talk him off that particular ledge. It’s not that I care what happens to my father. I only care about Jared not going to prison.
“I’m glad she was a greedy bitch. Now the only thing she’ll get is a prison sentence.” I lock eyes with Sawyer. “I want that stupid cunt to pay for this. Please tell me she can be charged and locked up for this?”
“You can go after her for paternity fraud for sure, but they don’t tend to send women to prison,” Sawyer says. “More than likely, she’d have to pay you compensation for stress and emotional trauma. You could probably tack on damage to your reputation and brand.”
“I don’t want her fucking money.” Jared releases his hold on me, clenching and unclenching his fists. “I want her to pay a different price.”
“There are ways we could help make that happen,” Sawyer coolly says, sending shivers down my spine.
I could call my cousin. Ashley knows dangerous people. If we wanted them to die, we have the contacts to make it happen. After the innocent baby is born and given to decent humans who will appreciate the precious gift he is and not try to use him to extort money.
But I already know Jared won’t do it. This is just anger speaking. The baby may not be his, but there’s an emotional investment, and he would never hurt an innocent by depriving him of his mother. Personally, I’d be tempted. What kind of life will that child have being raised by those two lowlife bloodsuckers? We’d probably be doing the boy a favor eradicating those two, but it’s not our job to play God.
“If we wanted their visas retracted and them kicked out of the country forever, could you make that happen?” I ask, churning other ideas in my mind.
“In a heartbeat,” Xavier confirms.
“Let us think about it for a few days,” I say, watching Jared with concern. He’s staring out the window, his jaw tensing and his hands balled into tight fists. He’s a live wire fit to explode, and it doesn’t bode well for the rest of our meetings today.
“J.” I softly touch his cheek, turning his head to meet my face. “Do you want to reschedule the meetings today? This is a lot to take in.”
“No. Absolutely not. We came here to get all the answers, and I’m not leaving until we have them.”
“We could stay here for a few days and—”
“I’m okay, baby.” He takes my hands and kisses my knuckles. “I mean, I’m not.” A wry laugh filters from his mouth. “But I can do this. I want to get this over and done with and then get the fuck out of this city.”
“Okay.” Tears fill my eyes. “I’m so sorry, J. I know how much you wanted that baby.”
“I did, but I also didn’t want to be tied to that crazy cunt for life. I dodged a bullet.” He kisses my knuckles again. “Wedodged a bullet. I’m still in shock, and I won’t deny I’m upset, but I’m also relieved. She’s gone from our lives now. When the public finds out, we’ll garner sympathy, and all the online abuse will stop. We can move forward without the stress of having to deal with her.” His face crumples. “Fuck, that’s really selfish, isn’t it?”
“No, dude,” Xavier says. “It’s a natural human reaction.”
“We both have a lot to unpack.”
“But it’ll have to wait,” Sawyer says as the car stops at two wrought iron gates. “We’re here.”
ChapterThirty-Seven
Sydney
“Sweet pea.” Herman Shaw gets up from the leather tub chair he’s sitting in as the four of us enter the large living room in the lavish house Sawyer and Xavier’s friend owns. His face dissolves with emotion as he drinks me in while I stare in shock at the man standing before me.
I saw him last year at Doug’s funeral, and he didn’t look like this. He’s thinner than I’ve ever seen him with spindly limbs and clothes hanging off his skeletal frame. He looks way older than sixty-eight, and I have a sinking feel I know why. His hair is fully gray and receding. Brown patches cover his hands, arms, and his face. Saggy skin droops from his neck and underneath his tired-looking eyes, and he’s so pale.
“It’s so good to see you.” My father walks toward me as Jared slings his arm around my back and keeps me close.
“What’s wrong with you?” I ask.
