23. Flint
Finally, a light flashes at the end of the tunnel.
For all of Allister’s screwups, I’ve brought back seventy-five percent of the accounts he’s lost and kept them under my name so my brother cannot mess up that end of the business again. I’m sure he’ll find something else to sabotage down the line, however.
The buildings that have been giving me so much of a hassle in Central Park are finally underway after almost a year of back and forth with contractors, inspectors, and other red tape. Work is looking up.
I’m not sure what time the inspection is happening, but I hope it’s soon. Aspen is already wearing the floors down with her pacing.
“You know, maybe it’s better if you’re not here,” I suggest. “Why don’t you take Lily out for ice cream?”
“Ice cream?” Lily’s ears perk up like a golden retriever. “I like ice cream, Aspen.”
Aspen eyes the child, already sold on the idea, but looks at me. “I should be here, too, don’t you think?”
“No. Or I wouldn’t have suggested it. Make sure you put it on the credit card. I noticed you haven’t used the card for much.” I study her features, and she blushes under my scrutiny.
“You pay me enough that I can afford to buy things for Lily,” she mumbles.
“You’re not supposed to pay out of pocket for anything,” I remind her. “Oh, and on that note, you don’t have to worry about your other problem, either. That’s handled now.”
“What?!” she gasps. “What does that mean?”
I step closer and lower my voice as Lily bounces impatiently by the door. “I have a guy who is adept at cleaning up credit reports—quickly. Your credit is in good standing again.”
Aspen’s eyes popped. “Wow—people can do that?”
I shrug. “For the right price, people can do anything,” I reply with a small snicker.
She stares at me admiringly, but Lily breaks the spell between us.
“Are we getting ice cream?”
“Coming, honey,” Aspen sings. She hesitates. “Should I take the boys with us?”
I consider the question for a moment. “No. I don’t know if the inspector will need to speak to them again.”
“Okay. Come on, Lily. Let’s go get you some cookies n’ cream. That’s still your favorite, right?”
“Yep!” Lily takes Aspen’s hand, and they’re gone, leaving me alone in the living room to wait for the state inspectors.
This is almost over. If all goes well today, they’ll sign off on the adoption, and that will be the end.
As if on cue to my thoughts, the doorbell rings, and I beat Zoe to the foyer to answer it.
“Hello,” I greet the stern-looking woman on my stoop. “Welcome.”
She sniffs, and I draw in a breath. Maybe this won’t go as smoothly as I think it will.
* * *
The news is too good to keep to myself, but I don’t want to spring it on Aspen or the others until after Lily’s gone to bed. Instead, I hop in my Aston Martin and head into Cypress Gardens, bursting with too much arrogance.
The Cinderwell Hotel is the cheapest place to rent in all the upscale town. I know that Raya and Matthew are still staying there because I’ve had surveillance on them since they left my house two weeks earlier, thanks to Sheriff Lahey. I would have been more appreciative to the lawman if he had forced them out of town, but that wasn’t the way Lahey worked. We just had to wait for Raya and Matthew to screw up again. As I was sure they would.
I’m troubled because they haven’t reached out once in that time but remain in the vicinity, as if they’re plotting something.
They can plot all they want. They’re SOL now.
But even for the least expensive hotel in town, the Cinderwell isn’t rundown. It’s more old than crappy, no illicit activity happening like you would find outside some of the New York motels of the same caliber.
I knock on the door of two-oh-six, and I hear a distinct rustling inside.
“Raya Parker, it’s Flint Sterling. Open up.”
Immediately, the door flies open, but it’s not Ryker’s cousin I’m staring at; it’s Matthew.
“Where’s Raya?” I ask, craning to look behind him.
“On the shitter,” he replies, flashing his rotted teeth at me. “Why? What do you want?”
“I need to speak with you about Lily.”
Matthew’s eyes light up, and I instantly know what he’s thinking.
This jackass thinks I’m going to pay him to leave town. Fat chance.
“I’m here!” Raya calls out in her honey-tinged voice, appearing out of the bathroom with dripping hands. Her eyes are glassy, and the rank smell of marijuana floats toward me.
Classy.
“Are you letting us see Lily?” Raya coos, sashaying forward.
“No,” I reply. “Absolutely not. You have no right to her, and if you come anywhere near the house or my daughter, I’ll have you arrested.”
Raya and Matthew look at one another and back at me. “Your daughter?!” they echo before bursting out laughing.
“Look at Mr. Hoity-Toity!” Raya howls, slapping her bare knee below her bright yellow shorts. “She ain’t your daughter, Sterling. She’s my cousin’s daughter.”
“No,” I tell her cooly. “She’s legally my daughter now. I’ve formally adopted her. So you have no claim to her. Not anymore. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll go back to Arkansas?—”
“We’re from Tennessee,” Matthew snaps.
I know that, of course, but I can’t resist pissing them off a bit before seeing them out of my town. They don’t know that it takes thirty days for an adoption to officially be finalized in the state of Georgia—or at least that’s what I’m banking on with this visit. They don’t have lawyers or resources like I do.
“—and forget about Lily Parker,” I conclude.
Raya peers at me, her cold, green eyes calculating, and a strange chill runs down my spine. She’s smarter than she lets on, and that worries me.
“Fuck you!” Matthew spits, but Raya puts a hand on his arm.
“It’s all right, Matty,” she says calmly. “Let’s let Daddy Warbucks be on his way.”
“Have a safe trip home,” I say sarcastically, turning to leave.
I can’t help looking back one last time, and Raya is still watching me, her green eyes bright like some evil creature in a movie.
I hop into my vehicle and zoom out of the dimly lit motel lot, eager to return to my home and my family again.
Good riddance to both of them. Another problem resolved. Not bad for a day’s work.
I am on a roll.
Caden’s Porsche is gone when I arrive, but Pike’s Jeep is still there, and I decide to tell him about the adoption first, but when I enter the house, Zoe and Ryan are in the kitchen with Aspen.
She jumps up when I enter, her face pale.
“Where have you been?!” she demands. “I was texting you!”
I realize I didn’t bring my phone, but I smile at her, and she instantly relaxes.
“Sorry,” I apologize. “Dealing with some business. Must have just missed you because I wasn’t gone long.”
“What business? How did the inspection go?”
Ryan and Zoe look at me expectantly, and I tell them to wait as I head to the front of the house to find Pike.
“Pike! Get down here!”
A moment later, he joins us in the kitchen, and I hear Caden’s car approach. “That’s perfect timing,” I chuckle. “All signs pointed in the right direction.”
“I’m dying in anticipation,” Aspen warns.
“All matters will be resolved, I promise.” I wink at her, and she grins, already knowing what I’m going to say.
Caden enters and looks taken aback by the rest of us sitting there. “Am I invited to this party?”
“Shut up and sit down,” I order. “Zoe, break out the Dom. We’re celebrating tonight.”
Aspen squeals, jumping up out of her chair. “It’s done? It’s finally over?!”
I bob my head. “The adoption is going through. Lily is officially my daughter.”
“Our daughter,” Caden corrects me, and I bow my head.
“Our daughter,” I concede. “Nothing has really changed with us except now she’s extra protected.”
Pike exhales in a whoosh, and Ryan claps his hands. “That’s wonderful news, Flint. I’m so happy for all of you.”
“I couldn’t have done it without Aspen,” I add, my gaze settling on her.
She waves a hand as Zoe pops the cork of the champagne bottle she collected from the chiller.
“You would have found a way.”
“Maybe,” I agree. “But you have made all our lives considerably easier since you’ve been here.”
She darts a look at Zoe. “Maybe not everyone,” she jokes.
“Oh, no! Are you kidding?” Zoe titters, pouring the drinks into flutes. “You’ve taken up half the cooking, at least.”
“And the driving,” Ryan quips.
“You see?” I tell Aspen. “You’re an asset to everyone.”
“Then you should give me a raise,” Aspen jests, and everyone howls.
“Come over here,” Caden says slyly. “I’ve got something raised for you.”
Horrified, Aspen looks at Zoe and Ryan, but neither of them reacts to Caden’s naked flirtation. It’s nothing they haven’t heard before.