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Winston steepled his hands together, touching the tips of his fingers to his mouth. “You’ll have to make amends.”
“I want to see my daughter,” I said.
Winston’s gaze shot to me. “That’s not going to happen again. It will only confuse her.”
“But—”
“Do you want my son kept out of your life?” he asked.
“Yes, of course. However—”
Martin’s lips curved. “Paul wasn’t the only casualty today.”
My breath caught as my heart seized with pain. “Casualty?”
“He was the unfortunate victim of a random act of violence.” Martin shared that information while staring at his father, not me, but I saw the glint of sadistic satisfaction in his gaze. “A random act that is in no way traceable to me.”
“His wallet and phone were stolen.” Winston shook his head at his son. “He has a broken arm that was set at the ER. A black eye. A few cuts and minor bruises. “
“Oh no.” My hands curled into fists. “You’re a monster,” I shouted at Martin. “What did he ever do to you?”
“He touched you, my dear,” he said coolly. “That is reason enough.”
“And the fire at her club?” Winston asked.
“What fire?” My eyes grew round.
“The Southside fire department just put out a significant fire that broke out quite mysteriously,” Winston said.
The phone call I’d missed. It hadn’t been Martin. It had been the fire department. Unclenching my hands, I withdrew my phone.
“It’s out,” Winston said. “The damage will be repaired.”
“How did you know?” I stared accusingly at him across the desk.
“He has people watching you,” Martin said. “Me too.” A sardonic brow rose. “We are Ella’s parents, after all. And she is the only remaining Skellin that he’s able to control.”
“You will keep your distance from Addy as originally agreed.” Winston pointed two joined fingers at his son, not even acknowledging that Martin had spoken. “You’ll pay to repair the damage. I will also hold you responsible from now on if anything untoward happens to Addy, her associates, or her business again. Do you understand me? Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” Martin snapped out.
“Good.” Winston stood, the wall of law books behind him making his office feel like a courtroom. “Now, I want both of you out of my house.”
I rose after Martin and moved toward the door, following him at a distance.
“I never want to see you in my home or near Ella again, Addy,” Winston said softly.
I turned and looked at him. Not just a courtroom, he was the judge, and this was a sentencing, though I’d committed no crime.
“Ella isn’t yours,” Winston said. “She will never be yours. Mark my words and mark them well—my son isn’t the only Skellin you need to avoid angering.”
Addy
Three months later
“Why did you break up with Paul?” Rachel asked.
“It just didn’t work out between us.”
