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***

The bathroom was full of steam from the shower I’d started, and Henry still hadn’t followed me in here. With a furrowed brow, I ventured out into the bedroom.

And my heart nearly stopped.

Henry was sitting up in bed, still naked, but his face was as white as the sheets beneath him. He was just staring down at the phone in his hand.

I flew to his side, sitting beside him on the bed. “Daddy? Baby? What happened? What’s wrong?”

He blinked up at me, his face still devoid of color. His eyes were barely focused as he looked my direction, and I wondered if he even saw me. But he must’ve registered my presence, because he lifted his phone to me.

I took it, my stomach lurching at what I knew I was going to find there.

Mr. Ravenwood,

Effectively immediately, Mix It Up is closed for business. We found multiple health violations during our inspection, and until these matters are resolved, you are not to open to the public.

To rectify this situation, please reply to this email and . . .

I couldn’t read any more, and I thought I was going to be sick. I tossed the phone on the bed beside Henry and reached for his hand. Grasping it tightly, I willed him to look at me, to really see me.

This wasn’t okay. Not in the slightest. But he didn’t have to go through it alone. “Oh, Henry, I’m so sorry.”

His eyes found me once more, but this time, I saw the tiniest bit of life in them. It gave me hope. “Thanks, Tris.”

Those two words were heartbreaking in their delivery, the sound defeated and lost. Without thinking, I leapt into his lap and wrapped my arms around him tightly, pulling him close. Without hesitation, Henry’s arms circled my shoulders and squeezed me to him until I could barely breathe. I didn’t care, because in the next second, Henry was sobbing, his body shaking in my arms.

God, I wished I could help. This was unfair, unwarranted, and I just knew it was that asshole, Jason.

But none of that mattered at the moment, so I swallowed my anger to be dealt with at another time. Henry needed me to be there for him right now. Hold him. Leave no doubt in his mind that I had him.

When his crying tapered off, we pulled back to look at each other. His eyes were red-rimmed and wet, his face streaked with tears, but the color in his cheeks was back. A lot of emotion was better than none.

I stroked his shoulder, his bicep, as I looked him over. “I’m sorry, Henry.”

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Thanks, baby. It’s just . . .”

“It’s bullshit.”

He nodded.

“We’ll fight this. They can’t do this.”

Henry nodded again, but his face was less reassuring. “I’ll call Rowan, my friend with the police, and see what we can do. I know for a fact that everything was above board during our inspection. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone was fucking with me.”

“Someone like Jason?”

“Exactly.” His nostrils flared at the name. “That fucker threatened me more than once, and Rowan is aware of that. The timing of us seeing him last week is too suspicious. I’m sure this will be resolved in our favor, but . . .”

I sighed, seeing the problem easily. “But you’ll lose business in the meantime.”

He nodded, eyes sad.

“What can I do to help?”

Henry’s face melted into a smile, and he put his hand on my cheek. “Oh, my sweet Angel Baby, you’re already doing it. Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder—literally. Again.”

I chuckled, moving to straddle him. “Anytime, Daddy. Now, do you want to get a shower then call Rowan? Couldn’t hurt to be ready to leave first in case he has time to see you.”