“You need back up?” He laughs. “Maybe you should’ve picked better. Pick someone who can fight their own battles.”
“They’re not here to help me fight, they’re here to make sure I don’t fuck you up too much.”
“Look. We’re not here for this, there’s only one reason we’re here. I want my son,” Palmer says as he looks at Sawyer.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Sawyer
I can’t believe what I just heard. I have to be hallucinating. There’s no way he’s here and acting like he has a claim on my son. How did this happen? I was assured that he would never know who I was. They wouldn’t give me any information about him. At the same time, I didn’t want to know anymore about him. I knew everything I needed to know.
I can feel the tension rolling off Emerson as we sit there. In fact, every person on our side is rigid and it feels like they’re all ready to pounce. Especially the shifters, it’s a weird energy that they’re giving off. And I can see a little bit of fear in the faces that are sitting across us. I won’t lie, if I was on the other side? I would be worried too.
“You’ll never touch my son,” Emerson says to Palmer.
“He’s not your son. He’s mine, and I’ll take the DNA test to prove it.”
“Take all the DNA tests you want. That will never make you his father. That’s my title.”
I let Emerson take over because I’m too angry to get any words out. I can’t believe this is happening. And why is my family here with him?
“Then we’ll go to court and I guarantee I’ll get custody of River.” Palmer stares at Emerson.
“Go ahead and file. We look forward to seeing you in court. I think this meeting is over,” Lorenzo Mancini says to him.
“Who are you to say that this meeting is over?” Palmer frowns at him.
“I’m Sawyer’s attorney,” he says as he gestures for us to stand up. “Go into the kitchen. I’ll handle this.”
Emerson
I nod to Georgíos to take Sawyer into the kitchen. I stand beside Lorenzo and the others, I want to make sure they all leave. I can’t believe this asshole actually thinks that he has a claim on River. Some of our guys escort them to their cars. I know this is just the beginning, but I know that my family will come through for us.
“How the fuck did he find out about Sawyer? I thought records like that are sealed?” I ask Lorenzo.
“They are. Well let me rephrase that, they should be. But I need to look into the clinic Sawyer used. And I need to find out about this Palmer guy.”
“We’re on that part,” Francesco says as we’re all watching them drive off.
“Does he really have a claim on River?”
“Only if he’s been in his life.”
“He’s never even met him. I’ve never met Palmer until today. Hell, I didn’t even know his name until today. I only knew what he looked like,” Sawyer says as she rejoins us.
“Then he has no claim. He’d have to prove that he’s been around and helping to take care of River.”
“I don’t want to be the downer here, but we’ve seen people falsify things. I’m going to get on finding out who this Palmer person is. And why he’s here doing this. We also need to see why your family?—”
“Ex-family,” Sawyer corrects Sebastiano.
He chuckles. “Ex-family, is involved in this.”
“I want to head back to the property and start on this. I’m annoyed by all of it.” Francesco frowns.
The way Sawyer’s parents talked to her was bullshit. And her sisters just glared at her. I wanted to punch every one of them. We all say goodbye and head back to the property. I trust my cuginos to handle what’s coming. I just wish there was more I could do.
When we get back, Lorenzo asks if we can talk for a minute.
