She woke up crying and shaking some nights. Sometimes it was about the abduction, sometimes it was about Andrei or what Calin had done to her. Sometimes it was about her uncle and the crimes he’d made her witness, or her mother dying. Slowly I was coaxing her to talk about her memories with me. It was a big step for her; to let me hold her pain for her, with her.
I ached with love for my brave Catnip. Enduring beyond what was expected of most people, just like the character she was nicknamed after.
“Let’s go get ice cream,” I suggested, helping her to her feet.
Her eyes lit up. “With sprinkles?”
I grinned. “Whatever you and the tiny human are craving.”
“Daddy’s little girl … or boy.” She shrugged. “I have the weirdest feeling she’s a girl.”
“Whatever they are, they will be loved.” A flush of joy crept up my neck at the way she said ‘daddy’. Of course she noticed, and her fingers traced the spreading blush, her smile widening.
My phone rang. I frowned when I saw the name that flashed on the screen.
“Speaking of daddies …”
Ri gaped. “Warren?”
I shook my head. “It’s Atlas’s father.” I answered the phone, anxiety casting a pall over my joyous mood.
“Before you start to hyperventilate, Henry,” Paul Prideaux the Second greeted me. “I’m not calling to demand you reinstate Atlas. The boy needs to feel the consequences of his actions. He came home sulking, with a broken nose and his tail between his legs, and while he won’t tell me what went on between you two, given his behaviour leading up to the announcement, I’m guessing he did something irrevocably idiotic.”
“More than one thing,” I muttered. Ri’s eyes were wide—Paul’s voice was so loud she could hear every word.
“It’s high time we stopped bailing him out whenever he oversteps. He needs to start being accountable.”
“Agreed.” I had no desire to discuss the man any further. “So, why are you calling?”
“I’ve been approached by a man claiming to be your father. He says he knows what Atlas did, and he’ll go public with it unless I pay off his gambling debts.”
My fingers curled into a fist and out again. I let out a long, slow breath, refusing to let my emotions overwhelm me at this news. If Warren was trying to blackmail others, his situation must be more dire than I could imagine.
“I’ve suggested that it would be in his best interests not to release information about Atlas, given it could hurt you, but that doesn’t seem to have had any impact on his decision.”
“No. It wouldn’t.” My throat constricted. Ri gripped my hand, twined our fingers together and squeezed. My next breath came easier. “There’s no way he would have any details. He’s bluffing.”
“Should I send him on his way?” Paul asked.
I glanced at Ri, my glowing, pregnant wife. If Warren found out she was pregnant, would he try to use that against us? Was he desperate enough to hurt my wife and our unborn child?
A few weeks ago, I would have said no. But now, after seeing what Atlas had been prepared to do, I wasn’t taking any chances.
“I’ll pay the debts,” I said firmly. Ri’s eyebrows shot up, her lips parting into an O of shock. “On the proviso that he attends gambling rehabilitation. Somewhere that accepts inpatients.”
“Are you sure you want to give in to blackmail, Henry?” Paul asked. Ri’s face was ghostly pale. I pulled her closer, wrapping my free arm around her.
“I’m not giving into him. I’m investing in protecting my mental health and the safety of my family.”
Paul sighed noisily. “I can appreciate that. I’ll get the details from him of his debts and pass them on. You don’t have to engage with him.”
“Tell him the debts will remain unpaid until he’s checked in, so there’s no point trying to disappear.”
I ended the call, and Ri nuzzled her nose against my chest. “I hate that you have to waste money on that man.”
I tucked my fingers under her chin, lifting her face until our gazes locked.
“Catnip, I have stupid amounts of money. And I’m not averse to using some of it to keep my father out of the casinos, and more importantly, locked up in a mental health facility where he can’t hurt you.”
