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“If he did anything to upset you...”
She blew out a shaky breath. “I might’ve tipped our hand about Gerry.”
So that’s what was bothering her.
“Why don’t you start at the beginning and tell me what happened.”
She took a few moments to collect her thoughts and Trent grew concerned at her reluctance.
“As I was leaving the hotel this morning, I was served with papers. Siggy is suing me for Dylan’s shares in the company.”
“On what grounds?”
Another long pause. “He’s claiming Dylan isn’t Rafe’s son.”
Trent tamped down irritation at his father’s ridiculous tactics. “Obviously we have my father on the run, and I am glad to see that, but I’m sorry that you’re the one on the receiving end of his despicable tactics. We’ll get a lawyer and fight it.”
“I already spoke to one today. I thought I’d better get ahead of this thing.”
“Is this why you told my father that Fred would be taking over the company?”
“When I got the papers, I wasn’t thinking very clearly. I stormed over to his house to confront him. I let my temper get the better of me.”
Trent found this last bit rather funny. “Since when do you have a temper?”
All the times he’d stepped in and rescued her, she’d never shown any signs of being willing to fight for herself. Now that she had someone of her own to protect, she’d become more lion than mouse.
“Apparently I’ve grown a spine since giving birth to Dylan.” The corners of her mouth lifted in a sad, ironic smile.
“You always had a spine,” Trent told her, thinking about how many times she’d braved his temper after his father had gone off on him. Her only motivation had been to see if he was okay. And more often than not, he’d directed his misplaced anger at her. It had taken him years before he understood and appreciated her kindness and bravery. “You just didn’t let anyone see it.”
“Anyway,” she said, her shoulders lifting and falling in a dismissive little shrug, “I told Siggy that I had hired Fred and intended to turn Gerry over to the police for embezzlement.”
“You hired Fred?”
“I didn’t. Or I hadn’t at that point, anyway. But I called him later and explained the situation. He’s willing to go into hostile territory and do what needs to be done. I told him it might be an interim position. Until the lawsuit is settled, everything is up in the air.”
Trent blew out a breath. “You were busy.”
Given all she’d accomplished, he didn’t know if she needed him anymore. That bothered him more than it should. Their former dynamic gave him a mission he was comfortable with. She got into trouble. He helped her out. What role did he play in her life going forward?
“I just hope I didn’t create a bigger mess.”
“Whatever happens, we’ll tackle it together.”
Ten
Savannah considered Trent’s statement in silence. When she’d explained how Siggy’s lawsuit claimed Dylan wasn’t Rafe’s son, she’d expected Trent to grill her for answers. Instead, he perceived the legal action as a simple matter of his father playing dirty. Not for a moment had he doubted her. Savannah felt sick. Lying to Trent was eating at her. But telling him Dylan was his son would be so much worse. He’d never forgive her for deceiving him.
“I’m beginning to wonder if you shouldn’t let me finish this up alone.”
Trent’s eyebrows went up. “You want me out just as things are getting interesting?”
“Who knows what crazy thing your father will come up with next? I don’t want you hurt because of me.”
“My father lost the ability to hurt me a long time ago.”
Although that might be true, it didn’t mean the damage had ever healed. Trent remained wary of becoming emotionally invested. And Savannah couldn’t love him enough to fix what he refused to be made whole.
