Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Liam takes my hand and leads the way back to the condo. The cameras were held back by the guards.
Questions begin to roll off their tongues. “Aren’t you angry about her keeping the baby a secret?” Liam holds me tightly, protecting me from the massive gathering.
We’re on the verge of getting on the elevator when another shouts, “Are you getting married for the baby’s sake?”
“For mine,” Liam answers with a grin on his face as the elevator door closes.
Chapter 11
Liam
I rang the doorbell, catching her by surprise because I left my car around the corner. “Hello, dear stepmother,” I snidely bit out.
“Liam, what are you doing here?”
“You know exactly why I’m here. You pawned your son off on me, claiming I’m the father.”
“Well, I didn’t want the boy anymore. He’s your brother. I got all I wanted from your decrepit father.”
“You know it’s illegal. You can’t give away your son like that.”
“I don’t give a fuck. You’re his brother. Take him, or I’ll fucking dump him in the trash. I don’t want him. He shouldn’t have been born. If I thought he was…”
“What? My father’s? You would have aborted him?”
“Well. Your father wasn’t here to take care of him.”
“Yes, so who’s little blowback did you think he belonged to?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Actually it is. I’ve already called the cops on the fact that you and my dad’s lawyer have been married for three years. Right before you married my father?”
“Where did you get that information?”
“Some things are a matter of public record. You just have to know what you’re looking for.”
“If you say anything, I’ll ruin you.”
“Keep believing that, you bigamist. By the way, I’ll be taking every dime you have, and you’ll be spending a long time behind bars.”
“You won’t make it to testify.”
“Whoa, put down that gun.”
“Ooh, look who’s afraid now.” She has the gun aimed at my chest. Flashes of never seeing Renee send pangs of regret through my head. I can’t believe I thought she was just a whore. The bitch is certifiably homicidal.
“And I’m going to deal with that stupid girl you’re banging. Maybe I’ll just take your fortune too. Wouldn’t that be nice? You hand over your money to me, and I’ll let you live.”
I know the police are around here, but I don’t know how close or if they can get a shot off before she blasts one in me. Before she gets to shoot me, one of the cops hits the megaphone. “Mrs. Hart put down the gun, and no one gets hurt.”
She starts looking around. “You brought the cops?”
“Did you think I’d come alone?” I say with a smirk. I know I’m playing with fire, but I have a feeling she isn’t as nuts as she seems to be.
“Well, since I’m going down anyway, I might as well take you with me.”
That’s when I hear the electrical jolts zip through the air. I’m pushed aside by one of my guards, and the cops rush to the scene. By the time I’m standing back up, they’ve got her in cuffs.
I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Thanks, Owen.” I shake my security’s hand. I’m grateful to be alive and just want to go home to my woman, but I’m betting they’re not going to let me go any time soon.
Three hours pass before they’re done with their questioning and congratulating. Now, I’m off to see my woman.
Chapter 12
Renee
Liam has been insanely possessive of me since he came home last night. I wasn’t sure why until I heard reports on the news that he had been part of a sting operation.
I held out the kitchen knife that I was using to cut the veggies. “Is there something you forgot to tell me about, say, in the past twenty-four hours?”
“Yeah, I may have left that part out. Please put the knife down, and I’ll get to that.”
“You better. Trust is a big deal. You want me to trust you, then you can’t be hiding shit from me.”
“Sorry, Renee. I didn’t want to upset you.” I twist my lips at him, waiting for him to continue. “I went to the police like I told you with the information Duke was able to gather for me. He managed to find out that Cherry had been married to my father’s lawyer only months before she ‘met’ my dad. It was a scam from the start. I guess that neither of them expected my father to be potent at his age.”
“That’s dumb,” I remark offhandedly, going back to my chopping.
“Well, they weren’t the best of criminals. Apparently, my dad wasn’t the first to be swindled, but he was the first to demand marriage before handing over his life savings. So I took it to the cops. They suggested I confront her about Max and see if she’ll incriminate herself in just the abandonment issue, but things got out of hand pretty quickly. She was apprehended, and I got it all on tape.”