Chapter 51
51
Priscilla
"What are you doing here?" Tyler frowns at his brother.
Connor cuts a path through the tables and toward us. I notice every woman in the café is watching his progress.
He’s as tall as my husband, as broad. But where Tyler has a wild untamed air about him, Connor—who’s wearing a suit, without a tie—resembles an off-duty spy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were one. Although Tyler tells me he spends a lot of time away on research expeditions.
Until now, I hadn’t realized that many of the other tables in the cafeteria are occupied. I was too caught up in my husband and what he revealed to me.
Connor reaches us and pulls out a chair next to Tyler before seating himself. "How is she?" His voice is worried.
Now that I look closer, I realize his eyes are bloodshot, and there are shadows under them. He looks like he hasn’t slept much. His next words confirm it.
"The Sovranos loaned me their jet. I got here as fast as I could.”
"You shouldn’t have—" Tyler begins.
"I absolutely should have. You shouldn’t be going through this on your own. Neither of you." He looks between us. "Also, since you’re sitting here in the restaurant instead of in the waiting room"—his eyes turn speculative—"I assume she’s out of danger?"
Tyler nods. "The nurses are watching over her. They promised they’d call when she wakes up."
He relaxes a little, and a server approaches him. "What can I get you?" she asks without taking her gaze off his face.
"A coffee. Black. No sugar," he says without looking at her.
Her face falls, but she walks away.
Tyler and I exchange a glance. He chuckles.
"What’s wrong?" Connor’s brow wrinkles.
"Nothing." Tyler shakes his head. "Seriously, you needn’t have come. You had to fly halfway around the world to get here."
"It was worth it." He surveys my husband and me with a piercing expression on his face, the one indicating there’s little that escapes him. There’s more to this man than meets the eye. Secrets lurk behind that exterior. People would do well not to underestimate him. With his gorgeous features and movie-star build, it would be easy to get distracted and not see him to what lies deeper.
“How are you two holding up?" he asks.
"We’re better, now that Serene is out of danger." Tyler wraps his arm about my shoulders.
"What happened?"
Tyler looks at me. I see the question in his eyes and interpret it correctly. He’s seeking permission to share some of what happened. I half nod, trying to tell him without words, I prefer to keep the details to us… For now.
Tyler hesitates, then lets out a sigh. "The woman who dropped Serene off at my doorstep showed up."
I relax a little. He’s not giving away all of the details of how Serene was conceived. I feel almost ecstatic that we could have a silent conversation, and he understood what I was trying to signal him. It makes us feel like more of a unit. More of an us-against-the-world feeling I never thought I’d have.
Connor's jaw drops, then he seems to gather himself. "Thought she'd left the country."
"She did. But then she tracked us here. Said she realized how much of a mistake she’d made by giving up Serene," Tyler says slowly.
He rubs my upper arm in a soothing gesture. Which, I admit, feels very good.
"Took her only a year to realize that, huh?" Connor asks in a wry voice.
"It must have been difficult for her—both to give up Serene because she thought it’d be best for her, and then to admit to herself that she’d made a mistake," I say in a soft voice.
Both Tyler and Connor look at me in surprise.
"I know. I’m not supposed to empathize with someone who could theoretically be a rival for my daughter’s affections. But as a mother—" I swallow. It’s the first time saying those words makes me realize, I’m Serene’s mother by blood. And truthfully, I should be ecstatic about it, but all I feel is a sense of befuddlement. It's like the events have been unfolding on the other side of a curtain, and I’m watching the shadows move, but can’t quite tell what they’re up to.
"—as a mother, I can’t help but feel for what she’s going through."
Tyler stares at me.
"What?" I draw down my eyebrows.
"You’re a better person than me, though that doesn't surprise me at all," he confesses.
The waitress brings Connor his cup of coffee. He murmurs thanks, takes a sip, and sighs. "I needed that. So, the woman who dropped Serene off with Tyler shows up, and it leads to Serene being injured?"
Tyler’s body stiffens. A ripple of tension runs through him, then he seems to get a hold of himself. "I’ve complained to the security about the incident and had them escort her off the premises. I’ve also asked my lawyer to apply for a restraining order, so she’s not allowed near Serene again."
I whip my head in his direction. "When did you do that?"
"While you were with Serene." His features gentle. "Meanwhile, I’ve asked for additional security to be allocated to you and Serene while we're here." Then he studies me closely. "I hope you agree that it was the right thing to do?"
I purse my lips. "She is Serene’s—" I hesitate. What should I call her? She’s not her mother. She’s a surrogate. "She thought she was Serene’s mother. I don’t condone her actions, but cutting her out of Serene’s life seems heartless."
My husband’s expression grows disapproving, then considering. "After what happened, I can’t let her be alone with our daughter. I will not risk anything that could hurt Serene."
"Me neither." I place my hand on his. "But it seems coldhearted to not allow her to see Serene."
My husband hesitates. I see the conflict in his eyes—the father in him warring with the humane part of him I’m trying to appeal to. Because time and time again, Tyler has proven to me that, while his persona might be that of a cold and calculating billionaire businessman, what he is at heart is the former Marine who’d sacrifice himself for the greater good. It’s what I sensed about him when I met him. It’s what I admire most about him. Despite the fact he asked me to leave that day Serene was left at his doorstep, without giving me a valid reason why, I know he’s a good man. He cares about his daughter. He cares about me. I know, he’ll do what's right.
"What if you don’t let her meet Serene alone?"
Tyler scowls. Connor holds up his hands. "If I were in your shoes, there's no way I'd want that woman anywhere near my daughter. But your wife’s argument is hard to brush aside. So, my suggestion is, what if one or both of you are always present when she meets Serene? And we can make sure there’s security as a backup."
Tyler’s forehead knits. He seems to be struggling with his thoughts. When he begins to pull his hand out from under mine, I hold on. I beseech him without saying anything, counting on that unspoken connection we’ve established, where I hope he can read my thoughts. Where I hope he realizes that I understand him. "I’m upset by what happened with Serene, but she already saw Lauren and is bound to wonder about it. I don’t want to lie to our daughter about who Lauren is. Of course, we’ll need to explain it to her in an age-appropriate manner and ensure she's comfortable with it. We can’t just cut Lauren out of her life, but we can make her wait until Serene is ready."
Tyler’s jaw hardens. But I’m still holding his hand, and he hasn’t pulled away, so it gives me the encouragement to keep going. "Again, it’s not an excuse, but what happened was an accident."
My husband glares at me. A part of me quivers at the anger in his gaze. It borders on eroticism for me. A part of me loves that I’m at the receiving end of his attention. And the other part of me wonders how I could be so selfish to think of myself and my needs when our daughter is lying wounded upstairs. But it’s also thoughts of her and her future which has me holding his gaze. My heart flutters, and my pussy quivers, but I don’t look away.
For a few seconds, we’re locked in this battle of wills, and the chemistry between us spikes. The very air between us heats. Then Connor clears his throat. It breaks through the tension building between Tyler and me.
Tyler’s eyes gleam. I read his expression correctly as promising me retribution. I shouldn’t feel excited by that, but tell that to my pussy, which melts in anticipation. Then Tyler nods. "Let's talk to Serene's therapist and see what she suggests."
My heart soars. Being willing to consider my opinions when it comes to Serene means more than he can imagine. "That sounds like a great idea. Thank you."
Tyler merely tilts his head.
That’s when his phone vibrates. Without taking his gaze from mine, he pulls out the device, listens to the voice at the other end, then rises to his feet. "She’s awake."