Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
“ I s Zion the real reason you visited Chicago? You mentioned going to see family, but you haven’t mentioned your aunt or your cousin lately.”
Raven strolled over to the window and stared out at the parking lot several floors below, debating on how much to tell him. Instead of answering his question, she said, “He’s one of the reasons why I’m moving to Chicago. I’ve been planning on making some changes in my life, and that’s starting with relocating.”
She turned to face Christopher and found him rubbing his chin as he studied her. He didn’t look too surprised, but he’d once told her that at his age, not much surprised him.
Raven was going to miss him. He was the best thing that came out of the relationship with Maximus. Something she and Maximus had in common was that their parents had died when they were young. According to Christopher, Maximus had been a spoiled brat when he got custody of him. No matter the morals he tried to instill in his grandson, and the life lessons that he’d tried teaching him, the only thing that stuck was how to run a successful business.
“I guess this means you and Maximus are truly over,” Christopher said, and Raven snorted.
“You already knew that. We’ve been over for a long time, but your grandson is the only one who can’t seem to come to grips with that fact.”
Christopher chuckled and then started coughing. Raven hurried to the bedside table and reached for the cup of water that had a lid and a straw and handed it to him.
“How sick are you?” she asked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.
“Who said I was sick? I said I was here having some tests done. And before you ask what type of tests, I’m not telling you. Just like you never shared the circumstances of the twins and the father who seemed to show up out of thin air.”
This time Raven was the one chuckling. “Fair enough, but in my defense, what you don’t know won’t hurt you. Whereas if I don’t know what’s going on with you, I don’t know how to help.”
“I don’t need any help,” he said, resting the back of his head against the pillows propped up behind him. He slipped his glasses on and grabbed one of the file folders from the small stack on the bed next to his left thigh. “Like I said, I’m just here for—”
“Some tests. Yeah, yeah, I heard you. I just don’t believe you.”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “When are you leaving Houston, and does this have anything to do with my grandson?”
Raven sighed. “Maximus has been acting stranger than usual for the last couple of months. I’m not moving because of him, but the stress that he’s been causing me has a little to do with me needing a change.”
“I’ll talk to him again. I don’t know what’s gotten into that boy, but I understand why he’s been trying to hold on to you. Raven, you’re a great catch. If I was fifty years younger, I’d make a play for you. You’re beautiful, smart, and fun to have around. Any man would be lucky to have you,” he said, flashing her a smile and wiggling his eyebrows up and down.
She laughed and swatted at his arm. “Knock it off you old charmer, but just so you know, I’m leaving town tomorrow night.”
“So soon? You’re not giving me a chance to get used to the idea of you not being around. You and the babies have been the highlight of my life these days.”
She rubbed his arm and smiled. “The feeling is mutual.”
Over the next several minutes, she told him about the Priestly family and all they’d done for her and the kids. Raven was glad she hadn’t brought her babies on this trip because it would’ve been hard taking care of them while packing. However, she did wish Christopher could see them before they got too big.
“Just because I’ll be out of state doesn’t mean I won’t keep in touch. I’ll visit you, and I’d love for you to visit us sometimes.” He didn’t travel much, but occasionally he flew to Florida to visit some of his friends.
He nodded. “I just might take you up on that except not in the winter. These old bones can’t handle that type of cold.”
“Understood. I’m not sure if mine can handle the cold, but we’ll see. Also, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention my relocation to your grandson until after I’m gone. I just don’t want to deal with him right now.”
“My lips are sealed. Besides, he’s still in Europe somewhere. I heard from him last week, but he didn’t say when he was returning.”
Good. He was the last person Raven wanted to see. At some point, he’d find out, but she hoped it wouldn’t be anytime soon. She hadn’t talked to him since that day he’d called her in the car on her way to Zion’s house. She had received a couple of calls from an unknown number, but he hadn’t left any voice messages. Maybe he finally understood she wanted nothing to do with him.
One could hope.
“Tell me about Zion,” Christopher said. “He looks quite smitten with you.”
“You could tell that in the fifteen minutes he was in here?” she asked, surprised by his observation.
“Dear, I’m old. I’m not blind. The man couldn’t stop looking at you, and it wasn’t just casual glances. He looked at you like a man in love.”
Raven’s heart thumped a bit faster. Zion treated her like she was a gift from God, and he showed her in more ways than one that he cared deeply for her. But the word love hadn’t come up. She hoped the conversation did come up one day because she loved him more than she thought she could ever love a man.
“I don’t know if you noticed, but he found every reason to touch you,” Christopher continued. “I didn’t miss the way he stayed close by your side. That could just be protectiveness or part of his training, but surely, he knew I wasn’t a threat. I’m guessing it was because he liked being near you.”
“I hope you’re right, G-Pop, because I’m crazy in love with him.”
Christopher nodded knowingly. “Of course I’m right. I just hate that you won’t be my granddaughter. I knew it was a long shot, but I had hoped a miracle would happen, and you’d bump your head, lose your memory, and fall madly in love with my grandson.”
Raven laughed. It would take a lot more than a bump to the head to make that happen. Falling in love with Maximus would never happen. He was too controlling and misogynistic for her to ever feel anything more than disdain toward him.
“We both know that me falling in love with him was never going to happen.”
“Well, I’ve lived a long time and have learned that anything is possible. But if I’m honest, you’re too good for Maximus. He never deserved you, and he would’ve broken your beautiful spirit. Something I never want to see happen. So, I hope everything works out for you and Zion. If not, you and the twins will always have a home here. You’d just have to take me up on at least one of my offers.”
Raven smiled and gently grasped the old man’s bony fingers. While she was pregnant with the twins, he had offered for her to move into his huge home. When she said no, he had told her that her apartment was too small and offered to buy her a bigger place. She had turned him down, determined to be independent and raise the kids on her own terms. Though there’d been times she’d mentally kicked herself for that decision, in the end, everything turned out well.
Though Christopher wasn’t the type to say you owe me , Raven hadn’t wanted to take any chances that he’d end up being controlling like his grandson. Maximus had been another reason why she hadn’t taken Christopher up on his generous offers. She didn’t want to be in a position where Maximus would be a part of her life in any way. The man was so self-centered, he’d think he was entitled to be in her life if she was in his grandfather’s life.
For the next few minutes, she and Christopher talked about the babies and how involved Zion’s family was when it came to them. She loved that her little ones would grow up with loving grandparents, as well as aunts who would dote on them.
With each passing day, Raven was excited about her and the twins’ future. Finally, she wasn’t afraid that she was in over her head where they were concerned. Now they had a family who they could depend on.
A quick knock sounded on the door, and Raven glanced over just as Maximus walked in.
Oh great, and the day was going so wel l.
Raven sighed, and it must’ve been loud enough for Christopher to hear. He patted her hand. Had he known his grandson would show up?
No. Raven shot the thought down immediately. Christopher would’ve told her if he’d been expecting his grandson.
Maximus stared at her in surprise. “Hey. I didn’t expect to see you, but I’m glad you’re here,” he said and walked toward her with what she referred to as his movie-star smile.
No one could ever say he wasn’t good-looking, because he was, he just wasn’t as fine as Zion. Well-groomed from his freshly cut hair to his clean-shaven face, he looked well put together. While Zion was naturally handsome, Maximus’s appearance was enhanced by his lavish lifestyle. At around six feet tall, his expensive attire screamed wealth. He never walked out the house without looking his best. Today was no different.
He was wearing a light-blue, button-down, wrinkle-free dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearm. His tailored pants and Italian lace-up shoes appeared casual, yet still business-like. The diamond studded watch, thick platinum bracelet, and the pinky ring with the blue stone only added to the facade.
“God, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” he murmured, then bent down to kiss her as if he had every right to do so, but Raven took a step back.
In the process, she bumped into the chair near the bed and almost fell until Maximus reached for her. The moment she was righted, she shook out of his hold.
“What the hell has gotten into you?” he demanded quietly, but no doubt Christopher heard him.
“I could ask you the same thing,” she countered. “We are not a couple! Yet, you keep calling me, and now you come in here trying to kiss me as if you have the right to do so. Now I’m asking, what the heck is wrong with you?”
Instead of responding, he huffed out a breath and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his pants. Then he turned to Christopher who didn’t look pleased.
“Hey, granddad. I was surprised to hear you were in the hospital. What’s going on?”
Christopher told Maximus what he’d told her about having tests done, and his grandson didn’t question him further. Knowing him, he probably didn’t care since Maximus’s only concern was Maximus.
“You didn’t answer her question,” Christopher said, his voice sounding stronger than it had earlier as he watched his grandson. “Why have you been calling Raven when she’s asked you multiple times to leave her alone?”
Maximus clenched his jaw, his breathing increasing as he glared at her. “What lies have you been telling him? Yes, you and I have hit a rough patch, and I’m trying to fix that, but you’re not making it easy.”
Raven stared at him, trying to figure out if he was serious or if this was some type of game. Maybe something really was wrong with him, and he needed professional help. Help she couldn’t give him.
She stepped up to him and searched his eyes, not sure what she was expecting to find in the depths of his dark orbs. “Are you serious right now?” she asked, glad they were having this conversation in front of Christopher. “We broke up a year and a half ago. Are you saying you don’t remember that conversation, as well as the numerous others of me telling you that we’re over and to leave me alone? That I no longer want you in my life?”
“Dammit, Raven,” he growled. “I know that, but everything changed once the babies came along. I don’t want my kids growing up without me in their life.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she looked from him to Christopher, then back at Maximus. For a moment, she started to question her own sanity, but then a hint of evilness flashed in his eyes. But it was gone so quickly, she wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it.
Maximus glanced around the room and folded his arms across his chest. “And where are my kids?”
“I’m really starting to think something is seriously wrong with you,” she said, not sure what to make of this strange conversation. “You know you’re not the father of my babies. So what type of game are you playing?”
“What type of game am I playing?” He growled, looking at her as if she was the one who was crazy. “You know good and damn well the twins are mine!”
“Like hell they are!”
Raven’s head snapped toward the doorway, and there was Zion, looking like a ferocious tiger ready to pounce. His handsome face was a mask of fury, and Maximus was the target of his attention.
Oh crap.