Chapter 63
Itake just a moment to digest Royce standing in front of me telling me that Debbie followed me to my doctor’s office but only for a minute, if that. I’m done with emotions. I’m ready to fight. “Where is she now?” I ask.
“The man I had following her stopped her from entering the building. He’s presently working on setting up a meeting with her.”
“I want to talk to her,” I say.
“You are not talking to her,” Lauren states. “She’s crazy. She’s stalking you now.”
“Or she’s trying to freak me out and get a fast payout,” I say. “I’m not letting her think it’s working. It’s not.” I look at Royce. “Do not tell Reese until after court tonight.”
Royce’s jaw sets hard. “He needs to know.”
“A woman is on trial to go to jail for the rest of her life,” I remind him. “Reese needs to focus on her. He knows you’ll protect me. You did protect me.”
“Negotiation time,” he says. “You do exactly what I say, and I’ll wait to tell Reese.”
“What is that you want me to do?”
“Stay away from her. Savage is at the courthouse. Once I drop you there, you go nowhere without him, not even to pee.”
“I’m fine with that,” I say. “My brother Gabe is supposed to be in court today, too. What else?”
“Reid called me,” he announces.
“My brother called you?”
“He wants to deal with Debbie instead of Lauren.” He pulls his wife to him. “Don’t argue. Debbie’s crazy. She proved that this morning. I don’t want you in this.”
“He’s right,” I quickly agree. “He’s right, Lauren. She is crazy. And Reid’s good looking, intelligent, and brutal. He’ll grab her attention and lure her into a trap that’ll let the police take over.”
“Then I’m coming to court with you today as well,” Lauren says. “I have time today. I want you well-insulated.”
“Good,” I say. “I’d like to have you there.” I look at Royce. “I really want to get to court and watch my husband work his magic, please.”
He nods and we head to the elevator. By the time we enter the lobby, he’s gotten a call. “Debbie agreed to a meeting,” he says. “Reid’s meeting her at his office.”
“If I know my brother, this could end today,” I say, as we cross the lobby. “Any idea who the father of her baby is?”
“No obvious candidate at this point,” he says, ushering us out to his SUV.
I’m just settling into the backseat when my cellphone rings. I dig it from my purse to find Reid’s number. “Cat,” he says urgently. “Are you okay?”
He sounds genuinely concerned in a way I’d forgotten Reid capable of being concerned. “Royce is taking good care of me. I don’t want Reece to know about this until after court is adjourned today. Promise me you won’t tell him.”
“I’m not going to tell him,” he says. “I’m going to end this. I got this and you. Understand?”
“I believe you,” I say. “Thank you, Reid.”
He’s silent a beat before he says, “Whatever was between us, I was always protecting you. I’m going to protect you now.” He hangs up and before I can even begin to deal with the knot of emotion in my chest, my phone rings again, this time with Reese’s number.
“Reese?” I answer, surprised he called. “How are you calling me?”
“We got into court and the prosecution called for an immediate fifteen-minute recess.”
“Waiting on a witness?”
“That’s what they said. A medical examiner. What did the doctor say?”
“I have a prescription for anti-nausea medication I need to fill. I want to get to court before I miss something.”
“I can fill it for you,” Lauren says and leans forward to talk to Royce who’s behind the wheel of the car and pulling us into traffic. “Drop me at the pharmacy by the courthouse.”
“Lauren’s going to get my meds,” I say, mouthing, “thank you” to her.
“But what did the doctor say?” he presses. “Is this something serious?”
“Serious?” I ask, glancing at Lauren who gives me a big grin and mouths “yes,” before I continue with Reese by adding, “More like lingering,” I reply to Reese. “It could take a while for the nausea to pass.” I quickly change the subject because I’m not going to lie to Reese. That’s not who we are and talking in circles is becoming uncomfortable. “How’s Dana?”
“She spent the night simmering. She’s angry this morning about being in this position. She said she read your column this morning and it just drove home how much she needs to fight back.”
“Is that good or bad? I’d say good but you’re the one in the heat of battle.”
“It’s good, Cat. I’m glad you wrote it. I gotta go. I’ll see you at lunch.”
“Yes. See you at lunch.”
His voice softens, “About that birthday surprise.”
“I’m not telling you what it is,” I say, smiling.
“I’m telling you that it can’t be ruined. Nothing ruins us. I love you, sweetheart.” He disconnects and I sigh, that smile lingering on my lips.
I glance at Lauren and she smiles. “I don’t know what he said,” she says. “But I’m glad he said it.”
“Me, too,” I whisper. “Me, too.” I grab my MacBook from my briefcase I’d left in the SUV when we were in the doctor’s office. “I want to write in my baby journal for Reese. There’s so much about this morning I want Reese to know.”
Lauren squeezes my arm. “Do that. Focus on him, not Debbie.”
“I am,” I say, but mentally I’m prepared to do whatever I have to do to end this. I want to just go public, I do, but that could hurt the firm. “But really, what power does she have?” I ask.
“What does that mean?” Lauren asks.
I grab my phone and dial Reid. He answers on the first ring. “She’s here. What do I need to know?”
“I just want to make sure you know where I stand on Debbie,” I say. “If she goes public, if Reese and Cole agree, I’ll embrace it and turn it into columns and a book with a big payout, probably a million dollars, that I’ll invest right back into the firm to offset the damage. Use that to strip her power.”
“Did Reese and Cole agree to this?”
“No, and this doesn’t mean I’ll do it. It just means I could. Use it. Take her power.”
“We’ll see. Call me at recess. We both know if you get up and call me Reese will know and be distracted.”
“Yes. It would, but waiting is going to kill me. Can you just text me everything you can?”
“I will. I’m going to make her sit in the conference room to stew which means it will be a while.”
A voice sounds in the background. “Reid. She just threw something at the receptionist.”
“Fuck,” he murmurs. “I need to go.”
“She threw something at the receptionist?”
“I need to go, Cat.” He hangs up.
“Royce, Debbie is—”
“One of my men is there,” he says. “He’ll handle it and update me.”
Everyone is handling my problem but me. “I want to go to Reid’s office. I need to go to his office now.”
“You need to let Reid handle this,” Royce says, eyeing me in the rearview mirror. “You need to be in court where your husband knows you’re safe.”
“I know,” I say. “But there’s a crazy woman raising hell in my brother’s office because of me.”
“Trust your brother to handle this.”
Trust my brother. He doesn’t know what a loaded statement that is but he’s right again. I have to trust Reid, the way Reid has never trusted me. The way I trust Reese and Reese trusts me. I’m back to Royce being right. I need to be with my husband and since the SUV is currently pulling up to the side door of the courthouse that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Be with my husband.
I grab my bags and I’m about to exit when Lauren catches my arm. “Prescription?”
“Yes. Thanks.” I pull it from my purse and hand it to her. “I really appreciate this and everything.”
“Of course. I’ll bring it to you so you can at least take it at the lunch break.”
I nod and my phone rings with Gabe’s number. “Savage told me you’re about to be here. I’m waiting outside the courtroom for you. We have five minutes until they reconvene.”
“I’ll be right there.” I disconnect, truly living in an alternative universe when both of my brothers are a part of my day and both are trying to protect me. I really don’t know what to do with that information but I’m not rejecting the help. I have a husband and a child to protect.
Savage, looking as big and barbaric as ever, meets me at the door. “Before we go into the courtroom, I need you to come with me.”
“Where?” I ask, falling into step with him.
“Woman,” he says. “You always have to ask questions.”
“Where are we going, Savage?”
It’s in that moment that someone grabs me and pulls me into a hallway.