Page 59 of No Fear

“Nothing. Just happy to be back here with my boys.” He gave Steve a light punch on the shoulder.

“I take it you sorted out your business in Toronto?”

“Yep. All good.”

“How was it driving a real car?” Ryan asked with a smile sitting opposite.

“The Mustang was cool. I’m not denying it. It was a sweet ride but not giving up my Bronco anytime soon.” Donnie stood to get more coffee.

“I cannot believe you prefer that to a Mustang. There’s something wrong with you.” Ryan shook his head.

“Not all of us need to drive a muscle car to prove we’re a man.” It was a joke and, as he’d hoped, the room erupted into laughter.

Ryan threw the baseball that had become an Onyx fixture, at him, which he caught easily.

“Ooh, did I touch a nerve?” He grinned and threw it back. Ryan caught it, then gave him the finger.

“Hey, you got a minute?” Mackie said quietly, coming up beside him.

“Yeah.” He followed Mackie out into the locker room where they could talk privately.

“What’s up?” Donnie asked as soon as the door closed.

“I found something else.”

“Simon?”

“Yeah.”

The way Mackie said the word made Donnie frown. Charlie had ended it, nothing really mattered now, but he still wanted to know just what skeletons that fucker had been hiding.

“I found some emails between him and his lawyer. He had a prenup prepared.”

“OK. I don’t like it, but it’s not unheard of. The guy is worth millions.”

“It’s not the prenup itself that’s a concern. The whole marriage is fake, only Charlie doesn't know it.”

Donnie tensed. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll forward you the emails so you can see for yourself. Looks like Daddy Radwell was not going to hand over the company without some conditions. Daddy seems like a stand-up guy. Does a lot for charity and is well known in the New York elite circles. He has had to bail his son out of some drug-related situations and pay money to avoid embarrassing pictures getting out. He was not handing over his company unless Simon put his partying ways behind him, settled down, married and gave him a grandchild.”

“Simon was using Charlie? To get his dad’s company?”

“Simon doesn't hold back in the emails with his lawyer. Read them. He plans to buy a house in Albany, get her knocked up as soon as possible. He’ll keep his apartment in Manhattan, and I imagine continue his partying without Daddy or Charlie knowing. Once he has the business, they’ll divorce, he’ll pay alimony for the child, and she’ll get a one-time payment and the house. It’s all been carefully planned out.”

“Donnie, Mackie, let’s get back at it.” Dex’s voice came through the door.

Donnie shook his head. “I swear to God I want to kill that fucking shithead. Thankfully Charlie ended it with him before I left Toronto.”

“She did? You told her about the girls?”

“No. Simon turned up and was a complete asshole. Long story for another day. Thanks for this, though. If he tries to come crawling back, he and I will have a chat.”

Now Donnie knew Simon’s intentions, he had a feeling the bastard might try and win Charlie back. There was a lot at stake for him. He didn't want to tell Charlie about this. It would only hurt her more, but he would intervene if he had to. No way was Simon getting close to her again.

“You care about this woman. It’s written all over your face,” Mackie said as they walked back toward the war room.

Yeah, he did but he wasn’t about to share how much.