Chapter 30 #2
I had offered to fly out to meet them, but they wanted to see Bourbon Canyon and the Bailey place. A quick flight is all it’d take, they had each said.
Wynn waved out the door just like her mom right as my phone rang. I wiggled my phone so she could see. She nodded and disappeared inside.
I wanted to ditch the call and go lift Wynn into my arms, but I didn’t want another call to intrude on my time with her. Might as well get it done with.
My resistance sent up a red flag. I had issues with my family. Were they due to being raised by Gianna or for a legitimate reason? Their incessant calls and questions about my childhood and my state of living were complicating things.
I answered. “Foster.”
“Hey, Myles,” Nicolas said with what was becoming his standard greeting. “Have you gotten the go-ahead yet?”
I had told them I’d talk to Mae about a visit, but I hadn’t.
Nor had I told Wynn about their request. My lips had been sealed each time I’d had the opportunity to bring it up.
“It’s winter, Nicolas.” I wasn’t calling them Grandma or Grandpa.
I’d reached out, but I was aware he was still a stranger.
Other than saying Gianna had cut off contact, they hadn’t spoken about the years I had lived with them.
They hadn’t talked about my dad at all. “It’s not a good time to travel, and getting out to the ranch can be tricky even during good weather. ”
I was playing the snowfall up, but my grandparents wanted to move faster than I was comfortable. Three weeks to introducing them to people I’d been historically protective of? No. I wasn’t ready, and I wasn’t putting the Baileys in that position.
A deep voice growled in the background. Junior. A quick online search showed a guy with piercing blue eyes like my dad’s and a permanent scowl. Would I look perpetually cranky like that when I was his age?
“We can fly,” Nicolas said.
“Give me time,” I replied evenly. “It’s only been a few weeks since we opened communication.”
“Myles, we’re excited to have you back in our life. We tried so hard, but that mother of yours took you away from us.”
Hair prickled along the back of my neck. The tone. The slightly pleading notes in his statement. The redirection of blame. I was more than familiar with this game.
“Why do you want to meet the Baileys so badly? Why Bourbon Canyon? And while we’re at it, why don’t you tell me why you don’t want me coming to visit you?” My questions hit rapid fire, and I made sure I sounded like I wasn’t continuing without answers.
“W-well, it’s not fair for you to travel.”
Bullshit. “I’m thirty-eight years younger than you.”
A click sounded over the line. “Now, Myles,” Ella said, joining the call. “We don’t want to upset you.”
Junior’s deep timbre could be heard but I couldn’t make out his words.
“Yes, right. We just really want to meet you.” Ella’s soothing tone rang with false sincerity.
Fuck.
Had Gianna been truthful about them?
“Do you want to meet me or my wallet? Do you want to see the family that did so much for me, or do you want to know what the Baileys can do for you?”
“Now, Myles—”
Ella was cut off by more rustling. Then Junior’s growl came over the line. “Listen, my parents have been through enough, thanks to your mother.”
“I’m starting to wonder if the tales of your behavior and treatment of Gianna were the only true things she ever told me.”
“That bitch mother of yours—”
“This conversation can end now if you call her that again.” I’d never thought I’d defend Gianna like this, but here I was, understanding her villain story.
“She took Devon’s life insurance. That should’ve been ours for all the help we gave them.”
My sympathy was new and deserved. Gianna had been a young, widowed mother, and they’d been after the life insurance. She’d had no support. No love. No understanding. I could regret calling my Foster grandparents, but I wouldn’t regret getting a deeper understanding behind my mother’s addiction.
“You owe us,” Junior demanded.
I laughed. In this, I could thank my mother. She’d prepared me to deal with people like my family. “Fuck off, Junior. You’re nothing to me, and it’s going to stay that way.”
“My parents have no retirement, no financial support. That money should’ve been theirs.”
“Life insurance doesn’t work like that, dickwad.” And I was done with them. Forever.
“We’ll get it from you. From that rich fucking family who raised you, or from Foster House—you owe us, and I’m going to make sure you pay us what we deserve—plus interest.”
Junior was delusional. No wonder my parents had moved out as soon as they were legally able. No wonder they’d gone to a different state. What had life been like for them under the same roof as these three narcissistic users?
“I looked them up,” Junior continued. “They have some tasty daughters, and that Mae is widowed now. She in that big house all alone?”
My blood went cold, icicles piling up in my veins, thawed only by my ever-growing rage. “You stay the hell away from them, or I will ruin you.”
His wicked chuckle pumped my anger harder and hotter. “They mean a lot to you.”
I could leave. Forever cut myself out of the Baileys’ lives so no taint from my last name could harm them. I could do what I’d always done and leave. I’d spend one more night in Wynn’s arms and be gone in the morning. Junior and my grandparents wouldn’t get money or satisfaction.
Or I could pay them off. Whatever dismal life insurance payout my dad had gotten wouldn’t be a problem to cover.
But the thing with people like Junior? They were never satisfied.
Gianna had turned into them, and I’d seen firsthand how what she was given was never enough.
She’d scrabbled for more and more until she’d destroyed herself.
My brothers and I could’ve gone down with her, but we were resilient—no thanks to the people I was on the phone with.
I wasn’t willing to give up Wynn for this asshat.
I wasn’t ditching her for someone else’s greed again.
Gianna had shown me leaving wouldn’t work.
This time, I’d make sure I was around if there was trouble.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to leave the Baileys alone.
You’re going to stay far away from Montana and Colorado.
I have no issues kicking your ass back to the shithole you deserve.
I’m richer than you, asshole, and I don’t owe you one shiny penny. I don’t owe you a damn thing.”
I hung up, tossed the phone on the passenger seat, and got out. The fucking thing could freeze. I didn’t bother with my luggage. My chest was heaving by the time I got to the door.
Wynn was at the table, a new floral bouquet I’d had sent earlier in the middle. I had a standing order with the florist in town, along with a monthly arrangement for Mae.
Wynn rose when her gaze landed on my expression. “What’s wrong?”
I didn’t stop until I was in front of her.
I didn’t explain but captured her mouth, swiping my tongue inside.
The sweet flavor of coffee danced from her tongue to mine.
She wrapped her arms around me, and I tipped her backward with the force of my kiss.
I plundered her mouth, and when she whimpered and molded herself to me, I broke the kiss and righted her on her feet.
“My grandparents and uncle are toxic pieces of shit. My mother was right, and I’ll tell you all of it, but I really need to be inside you.”
Her nod was shaky. “Mama’s in town, and the guys are outside working.”
“Your room?” When she nodded, I swooped her off her feet. “Hang on.”
We were in her room within minutes. The blinds were cracked, but no one could spy on us unless they had their nose to the glass. The light in the room was enough that I could see every damn part of her. Perfect.
I laid her on the bed and ripped my sweater off. The undershirt followed. Then my pants. She licked her bottom lip, watching me strip.
“I don’t want anything between us, Wynn.”
Understanding flickered in her eyes. “I’m not on—”