Chapter 35
SLADE
I pull into the dark parking lot, hoping he’s here this early. I grip the steering wheel tightly, feeling the slick coating of sweat on my palms. I never wanted to do this again, but I will. The momentary discomfort and angst will be worth it.
I vowed long ago to never ask this man for anything, but I’ve resigned to the fact that sometimes we have to lay our pride aside to do what’s best for the ones we care about. And I care about Sarah and those kids more than I think I’m ready to admit.
I stayed with her the other night while she gave the kids baths. Once Ollie was finished, I read books to him when it was Frankie’s turn. Then I went home, carrying Sarah’s fear of losing her kids with me.
It can’t happen. She can’t lose them to a man who would throw his wife and kids to the wolves to protect himself and manipulate others.
When Sarah told me he’d made people question whether Frankie was his, I wanted to hunt him down and help him forget he ever had a wife and kids.
No child deserves to be used like that. I can hardly imagine what that did to Sarah.
My gut rolls as I pull open the glass door and head straight to the back, as I did long ago. I was just a kid watching life slip from my grasp.
I step into his office, and his head snaps up, his light eyes meeting mine .
I shove my sweaty hands into my coat pockets.
“This. . .is a surprise.” Macavoy sets his pen down and pulls off his reading glasses.
I clear my dry throat. “Yeah, for me, too.”
The tall man straightens in his chair. “Have a seat.” He extends a hand to one of the leather chairs.
“No thanks.” I stare at the aging man, who should mean something to me but doesn’t. “I want to pay a retainer.”
He frowns. “You need representation?” There’s a slight tinge of concern in his tone, but I ignore it.
This conversation is business. It needs to be brief and to the point.
“Not for me. A friend.”
He rests his arms on his desk, eyeing me. “I need specifics to determine if I can—”
“You can help.” I cut him off, not needing any excuses. “You’re the best at what you do. Believe me, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
He clasps his hands, his spine elongating. “So, you want to pay a retainer for a friend, and then what?”
“If they come to you or Kat seeking help, you do it pro bono. This stays between you and me.” Sarah would never let me do this.
“And you’ll foot the bill?” One dark gray eyebrow raises. “Son, you don’t need to pay—”
“I’m not your son.” I have no doubt he didn’t mean it that way, but he needs to reserve that word for when it fits. “I asked for your help once, and you hid behind your job and family instead. I’m long past wanting anything from you. This is a business arrangement, that’s it.”
He exhales, leaning back in his chair, his gaze dropping to his desk. “I tried to help her. I offered to pay medical bills, give her money for groceries, for your school, make arrangements for Krissy—”
“Stop.” My fists squeeze tight, not wanting to hear it. He didn’t do shit but let my mom spend her short life pining after a man who’d only loved her in the dark .
His eyes meet mine. “I cared about your mother very much.”
“Not even close to enough,” I spit back. “I’m not here to talk about her or whatever kind of messed-up arrangement the two of you had. You chose your family. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect mine.”
“Does Krissy know?”
I shake my head. “It’d only break her heart more than it already has been.”
“What if I’d like to—”
I scoff. “If you think for one second I will let you near her when we both know she’d just be another secret you’d have to figure out how to manipulate and control, you clearly don’t know me and what you’d be risking.
” I don’t give a fuck who he is. He'd better stay far away from Krissy.
“She and Mom deserved so much better than you.”
He nods, his jaw clenching, not liking my tone or the facts.
“Are you going to let me hire you or not?”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “Does this have to do with Sarah?”
I stare at him, unwilling to give him any more information than he needs until I know where we stand.
His eyes drop to his desk. “I saw you leave the pub with her the other night. Is she having trouble with her ex?”
“How do you know anything?”
He leans back in his chair. “I’ve been doing this a long time. I don’t need specifics to know when someone has been pulled through the wringer.”
“If she comes to you, you help her.” I’m not asking this time. “I promised myself I’d never come to you for anything again, but Sarah needs your help.”
“I tried to help your mom, but she refused. I would’ve done anything I could.”
Except love her back. The truth is a hit square to the chest.
He inhales and lets it out. “I’ll do whatever I can to help Sarah.”
“I’ll expect an invoice from your assistant.”
He nods once, and that’s all I need. I’m ready to get out of here as fast as I can.
“Slade.”
I stop in his doorway, dragging my gaze to the man who chose his wife and other kids.
“Your mom did one hell of a job raising you. Far better than I ever could have.” His gaze locks with mine. “I know you don’t care, but I’m proud of the man you are. You’ve done an amazing job raising Krissy.”
I’d like to ask him how the hell he knows, but I don’t care enough. “You just stay on your side of the city, and we’ll stay on ours.”
I leave him and his words. There was a time when they might have mattered to me. Maybe they would have filled some portion of the empty space created by never having a father, but you have to respect someone for their words to carry weight—his float right past me and out the door.