Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
JASON
“Jason.”
I woke with a jolt, my heart already racing before I was fully awake. The nightmare faded quickly, but the adrenaline stayed behind. That sick combination of fear and fury that left me breathless and tangled in my sheets, much like I was now.
In the doorway, Thomas filled the space. “Sorry to wake you. Kane’s here. Says he has information.”
That was unexpected. Last I heard, Kane wanted nothing to do with this.
“Where’s Cora?” I asked.
Thomas cracked a small smile. “Asleep in the crib with Elias.”
I wanted to see that, but after I spoke to Kane. “Okay. Don’t wake her.”
I freed myself from the sheet and stood, running a hand through my hair. Grabbing a T-shirt, I pulled it over my head before following Thomas down the steps.
Halfway down, Kane came into view with four of my men surrounding him with their guns drawn. It looked a bit comical. As big as the guy was, I suspected nothing short of a rifle would bring that man down.
“I’m not here to cause trouble,” Kane said.
I stayed a few steps up, studying him. “I thought you didn’t want to be involved.”
“Can we just talk? It wasn’t easy getting here without being followed. You need to know what Colter is planning.”
Interesting. He was worried about being followed. Thomas said there were fractures in the club. Wonder if that was between the top two players.
I watched Kane for a moment, weighing my options. Then I nodded to my men. “Weapons down.”
They slowly holstered their guns. I motioned to the couch. “Have a seat.”
Kane settled onto the loveseat while I took the chair across from him.
“So what changed?” I asked.
“I didn’t know Colter was going to get married today.”
A rock formed in the pit of my stomach. “Married?”
He nodded. “I had no idea until he was asking me to be his witness.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “I’ve known him a long time. Something’s up.”
I studied him for a second. “You don’t know what it could be?”
“No, but he’s making plans with Beau. Colter has no intention of just giving up. Not when there’s money involved.”
A gasp caught my attention. Cora was standing on the stairs, halfway down, wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Her face was pale, eyes wide. “Money involved?” She hit the landing and quickly crossed the room. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure exactly. That’s why I need you guys to stall things until I can figure out what he’s doing. He’s been cagey since Maya’s accident.”
Cora tilted her head. “Do you think he had something to do with it?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know exactly yet, and things with my brothers in the club are tense at the moment.
I need to be careful.” He expelled a frustrated sigh and continued.
“You need to be ready to fight. This is a small town. Beau and Colter both have friends in positions of power, and they’re working together. ”
“We are,” I said. “That’s why I hired Rex. He’s the best.”
“Your fancy lawyer from Dallas may not be enough. When I overheard them today after Colter got married, Beau was going to ask for a different judge. One that doesn’t like awarding custody of babies to single parents.
With him being the biological father and now in a stable relationship, that tips things in his favor. ”
Cora’s breath hitched. “Colter has no business with Elias. Maya left him to me.”
I took her hand in mine. “I know, but he’s the biological father. We’re going to have to prove he’s not fit.”
Kane nodded. “Exactly. And I can tell you, Colter has people looking into both of you. Beau has private investigators, and they’re good,” he said and stood.
Yeah? So was I. If there was only one thing I learned from my father that had value, it was making sure I covered my tracks. According to the world, I was the owner of a very successful construction business.
Next to me, Cora’s body went rigid. I wasn’t sure what was up, but it’d be a conversation not conducted in front of Kane.
“Well,” I said and got to my feet. “Thank you for the information.”
“If I find out anything, I’ll let you know.”
Thomas trailed behind Kane as he walked to the door and left. He turned around and looked at me. “You believe him?”
“Yeah, I do.”
I shifted on my feet and looked down at Cora.
Slowly, she looked up at me.
“Tell me what happened.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and chewed her bottom lip. “I have a juvenile record.” Her eyes popped open, and she quickly added, “But it’s sealed.”
“I need to know what happened in case it’s unsealed.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Maya and I were out together. I was driving. She said she needed to meet a friend, that he had something that she needed. I swear I didn’t know…”
“What?”
“She was buying drugs, and her dealer turned out to be an undercover cop. Because I was driving her, I was busted too. She even tried to tell them I wasn’t involved, but it was during the mayoral election. He was running on being tough on drugs, and they wanted to make examples of us.”
Thomas chuckled. “Even if it’s unsealed, I think you’ll be okay.”
She pushed off the couch. “Yeah, but anything that tips the scales in favor of that creep… is a tip too far.”
He shrugged. “So, tip it back. Colter got married. Just get married.”
I shook my head. “Thomas, that’s not—” I started, but Cora cut me off.
“Absolutely not.” She stood up abruptly, pacing toward the window. “A fake marriage? That’s exactly the kind of thing that could backfire spectacularly.”
“And it could work.” He looked from me to Cora. “You need a stable home. Jason is a known member of the business community in Chicago. He’s successful. He has a fantastic penthouse with plenty of room for a baby. It couldn’t be more perfect.”
“Except marriage is supposed to be sacred. Not a tool.” Cora looked at me.
I rubbed my face with my hands. This whole situation seemed to be blowing up.
Colter married. A judge change. Cora’s juvenile record.
The last thing we needed to add to the already full plate was a marriage.
“I appreciate the suggestion, but we’ll find another way.
I’m sure Rex has dealt with this enough times that he’ll know what to do. ”
Thomas held up his hands, walking backwards. “Okay, I was just trying to help.” He took the steps two at a time, leaving Cora and me alone.
She put one hand on her hip and, with the other hand, she palmed her forehead. “I didn’t mean that to sound—”
“It’s okay.” I wasn’t marriage material, and I knew that.
“No,” she said and moved towards me. “You are a great guy. A sweet man. You’ve been amazing to me. You don’t want to be saddled with me and a baby.”
I closed the remaining distance. Saddled? I should be so lucky. “I’m not a great guy, and you deserve better than me. Someone worthy of you and the right to be called dad. That’s not me.”
Her arms circled my waist. “You’re wrong, Jason.” She set her chin on my chest and looked up.
For the briefest moment, the world quieted. In her eyes, I could see a future. A life filled with love and happiness. Family. Belonging. Her and Elias… mine.
Before I could stop myself, I took her face in my hands, drawing closer.
And just as I went to touch my lips to hers, a tiny cry sounded from upstairs.
Cora dropped her arms and stepped back. “He probably needs to be changed…”
“Right.”
She turned and took off at a jog, taking the stairs like she couldn’t get away fast enough.
Disappointment flooded my chest and settled into my stomach. It was as if the universe was reminding me that everything good would always be out of reach. A lesson I need to commit to memory and in the forefront of my mind.
I’d protect her and Elias. Take care of them. Watch over them. But I’d need to remember my place… and it wasn’t with her.
After breakfast, I’d set my tablet up on the island so we could conference with Rex. After telling him everything we’d learned the night before, he’d requested the video call so we could discuss a strategy.
Keeping to his schedule, Cora had fed Elias and put him in the swing while we went over our options with the lawyer.
Rex leaned back in his chair, the camera panning slightly to a home office cluttered with legal pads, coffee mugs, and a framed photo of his dog on the desk.
A file was in front of him and open. “I’ll file a motion opposing their request for a new judge and demand discovery on their grounds.
They can’t just judge-shop because they didn’t like the outcome.
I want to know exactly why they think this judge is necessary, and I’ll investigate whether there are any conflicts or improper communications. ”
He paused and wrote a note. “First, I’ll challenge the recusal motion procedurally and make them prove actual bias, not just preference.
Then I’ll file discovery motions to understand their real motivation.
If they’re seeking a specific judge, I want to know why.
Any hint of corruption or judge-shopping gives us ammunition. ”
At least we got some good news so far.
“The DNA test was inevitable, but I can control the timing and procedures. I’ll demand specific labs, chain of custody protocols, and push for delays in processing. Every week we buy gives us more time to build our case.”
Cora nodded. “I know Elias is his. My sister’s whole world was about this man. I can’t tell you how much money I gave her to help with bills, clothes, rent, everything. I nearly lost my apartment because I loaned her money and she didn’t pay it back.”
So that’s why she was begging her landlord for more time. Her sister had drained her financially.
“Well, even if Colter wasn’t asking for it, the court would.
Either way, once we get the results, that’ll give us more to work with.
” He shifted in his seat. “The marriage is concerning, but it’s also suspicious.
A rushed wedding right after losing custody?
I can argue it’s a sham marriage designed to game the system.
We need to investigate the timeline, the wife’s background, and whether this was planned. ”
“Of course it’s suspicious. Even his best friend didn’t know it was happening,” I said.
Rex looked at me. “Even if it is, if what Kane said is true, we’re dealing with a corrupt judge.
Now, I’m good at what I do, but I can’t come riding into a small-town court and start making accusations about judicial corruption without an iota of proof.
We’ll be tossed out on our keisters, and worse, we’ll lose credibility for the entire case. ”
The longer he talked, the more animated he became and the thicker his accent got.
“I don’t understand. His name isn’t on the birth certificate, and she named me guardian. Doesn’t Elias’s mother have a say in who he goes to? The man abused Maya.”
“And you have no proof of that,” Rex said.
“And he’s still the father. He has rights too.
At least according to the law.” His gaze locked with Cora.
“I will say that the fact that you’re single does count against you.
At least in this court, it will. These are small-town folks.
They want two-parent households and stability.
Even better if Beau can sell them on a stay-at-home momma. ”
Cora looked at me. “I’m going to lose him, aren’t I?”
I hated the look of defeat and anguish in her eyes.
Rex shook his head. “Now, I wasn’t trying to dash your hopes. I just wanted to be realistic. It’s not an easy case. You both have negatives and positives. Let’s hope the DNA test comes back and he’s not the father. Okay?”
She nodded, but I could feel the despair consuming her. “Okay.”
Rex cleared his throat. “All right. I’m going to get some documents drafted to submit to the court first thing Monday morning. I’ll talk to you good folks later.”
I ended the call and braced my hands on the counter.
Cora melted, setting her arms on the counter and resting her head on them. “We haven’t even been to war yet, and I already feel beat up.”
What could I do? She balked at the very idea of getting married, but as unhinged as it sounded, maybe it would help. “We get married.”
Her head popped up and her eyes were wide. “What?”
“We get married.”
“And then Beau questions us about our marriage too…”
I shrug. “Right, but there’s one thing we have that he doesn’t. History. We’ve known each other for more than a year now. People who work together fall in love all the time.”
Silence fell over us. She stared at me long enough I thought she might pack Elias up and find somewhere else to stay.
Finally, I broke the silence. “We stay married long enough that you get awarded custody. We could even stay together after. You and Elias could stay at the penthouse, and he could go to the best schools.” I paused and my chest tightened as I said, “And if you meet someone later on, we can divorce, and we’ll go our separate ways. ”
Cora with another man. The thought filled me with rage, disgust, and heartbreak, but if she found someone who would love her, someone actually worthy of her, I’d step aside, happily.
“You’re serious?”
“I think we can both agree that Elias’s safety is paramount. We need to do whatever it takes to keep Elias away from Colter.”
Everything stilled. It was like the world was holding its breath, waiting for her to make her decision.
Suddenly, she hopped off the chair, closed the distance, and hugged me around the waist. “You’re the sweetest, most wonderful man I’ve ever known.”
I wasn’t. “Does that mean we’re planning a wedding?”
She looked up at me and nodded. “Yes, but how will we convince them that it’s not just a stunt?”
“By having an actual ceremony. We’ll turn the backyard of this house into the best venue this town has ever seen.”
This was absolutely going to bite me, but I was doing this for her and Elias. Whatever heartache I suffered would be worth it… for her.