Chapter Thirty-Seven
“SEELEY JUST TEXTED. He should be here soon,” Juliette said after Lucas had his blood drawn. Now that they both knew what to expect on treatment days, they were less anxious about them.
“Can we get something from the cafeteria before we go to the infusion room?”
“Sure.” Before his last treatment, he’d stocked up on snacks, but when he’d gotten his infusion, he hadn’t wanted to eat any of them. Instead, he’d shared them with the nurse who was helping him. As they headed to the elevator, she had a feeling this would become his new routine. Blood draw, cafeteria to stock up, share snacks while getting his treatment, go home and chill.
“That was intense this morning,” he said. “I liked helping you guys.”
“You did a great job, and I think the love you showed Brave Heart made a difference.” They stopped at the elevator, and she pushed the button.
“I can’t understand how anyone could dump an injured animal out in a field like that. That guy’s a monster.”
“Unfortunately, the world is full of them,” she said as they stepped into the elevator.
He pored over the snacks in the cafeteria like his choices had the power to create world peace. He finally chose an array of sweet and salty snacks, along with a couple of bottles of water and two Dr Peppers. She’d bet one of those Dr Peppers had Seeley’s name on it.
“Sure you don’t want a pizza with all that?” she teased as they headed up to the infusion room.
“ Ha ha ,” he said sarcastically. “I found out that Layla’s wearing a blue and gray dress to the dance.”
She was happy he’d brought it up. He’d been so tired lately, she was wondering if he still wanted to go but didn’t want to ask in case it upset him. “Are we getting you a blue suit or tie?”
“Everyone’s wearing jeans and a dress shirt and jacket.”
“Okay. We’ll go shopping and see what you like. You might want to ask Layla for a picture of her dress so we know what shade of blue to match.”
“I’ve already got one.”
“Look at you, Mr. Ready to Do It Right,” she teased as they pushed through the doors to the infusion room and headed up to the desk.
“Juliette.”
The deep voice shot fear through her veins, but in the next second, that fear iced over with prickling vengeance. Hatred coiled around her heart as she swept her arm in front of Lucas, pushing him behind her, and turned to face her father.
“ Mom! Why’d you—”
“Quiet, Lucas,” she said, keeping her voice low to avoid a scene, her eyes never leaving her father. He had the same stoic face he’d had years ago. His hair was thinner and gray, his dark brows making him look as sinister as he was to his core. He was dressed in a business suit and tie. He could pull the wool over other people’s eyes like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but not hers. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see my grandson,” he said with the practiced smile of her youth.
“Mom, is that him ? Is that your father?”
“He was never a father. This fraud is a deceitful con man.” She stood taller, seething, “How did you know we’d be here?”
“Have you forgotten how well connected I am? Do you think I didn’t know you’d moved back?” he said with amusement, further infuriating her. “That you’re shacking up with your lowly biker boyfriend?”
Rage tore through her, but she forced herself to remain in control. “Seeley is ten times the man you’ll ever be,” she hissed. “I had a nice chat with Ana, by the way. You two deserve each other. I hope you treat your son with her better than you treated me.”
“Ah, yes. Ana. She’s a well-behaved one.”
“You make me sick,” she fumed, shaking with anger. “Get out of here, and don’t ever come near us again.”
“I see you’re still overly dramatic.” He lifted his chin, speaking around her. “Lucas, how are you feeling, son?”
“Don’t you dare speak to him.” Juliette moved to block his view, but Lucas stepped around her, getting in her father’s face.
“Don’t call me son ,” Lucas seethed. “I know what you did to my parents, you lying bastard.”
Her father didn’t even flinch. “You poor boy. She’s poisoned you with lies to cover her own tracks,” he said with the lethal calm of a venomous snake.
“Like hell she did.” Seeley stepped in front of Juliette and Lucas, towering over her father. “This is going to end in one of two ways,” he said through gritted teeth. “You’re either going to walk out of here and never come near my family again, or they’ll wheel you out of here on a stretcher. I suggest you choose wisely.”
Her father’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t over.”
“Watch your back, old man. Because it’s about to be.” Seeley put his arms around Juliette and Lucas, leading them away from her father. “Are you okay, babe? Lucas?”
“Uh-huh,” she said, trying to regain control as Lucas said, “I’m fine . What a prick. He called you a lowly biker.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
“You’re going to let him get away with it?” Lucas snapped.
“He’s not getting away with anything. Right now, what I care about is that you and your mom are okay.” He led them to a row of chairs far from the other people in the waiting room.
“I’m fine,” Juliette reassured him as she and Lucas sat down. Seeley remained standing, like their personal bodyguard. “Just shaken up. I’m sorry you had to see that, Lucas.”
“It’s fine .”
“No, it’s not,” she said. “We didn’t go after him because I didn’t want to put us back on his radar. But we’ve been on it the whole time. We have to do something.”
“I’ll handle it,” Seeley said firmly. “He’ll never get near either of you again. I’ll make sure of it. But we have more important things to think about right now. Lucas, are you okay to get your treatment? Or are you too upset?”
“I’m not upset. I’m pissed, but I’m not going to miss my treatment because of him .”
“Juliette? Do you want to stay with us, or are you too shaken up? Do you want me to have Cowboy come take you home?”
“No. I’m fine, and I can drive myself home.”
“You’re not going anywhere alone.” Seeley pulled out his phone and started thumbing out a text.
“Who are you texting?” she asked.
“My old man, to get some of the guys over here to make sure that cretin doesn’t get anywhere near this room while Lucas has his treatment and to set up extra security at the ranch, and Lucas’s school.”
“At my school?” Lucas asked.
“Don’t worry, Lucas. This isn’t our first rodeo. Nobody’s going to notice our guys.” He continued thumbing out more texts.
“I’m not worried. I think it’s badass.”
“We don’t need all that,” Juliette said.
Seeley looked up from his phone, his dark eyes as serious and commanding as his tone. “ Yes, we do. Your father thinks he’s above the law, and now that he’s been shut down, he’s got something to prove. I’m not taking any chances.”