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Sighing, I put the phone on the counter, tapping the surface as I debated what I should do. Research. That would keep me busy. I grabbed the laptop, placing it on the kitchen table, preferring to be closer to Justin’s room. On a whim, I googled Phoenix’s father. I knew little about him or why there’d been such a big fight with my father. Not that I really cared.
Except for what Phoenix had told me, which remained stuck in the back of my mind. It was still unfathomable that his father would be so cold. Then again, it sounded like something my father would do.
What I found was all the glossy items that a man of Mr. Wentworth’s influence would want seen. The charity events he’d gone to, the private functions with celebrities. Then there were ribbon-cutting ceremonies of the various developments he’d crafted, utilizing funding from what I had to guess were his close friends. He seemed to have a presence in several states, but Texas he’d spent the last few years carving a piece of it for himself. He was reported to be worth billions.
I wrote down several notes, including the names of some of his supporters, a few of which rang a bell. Then I sat back, uncertain where to go from there. On a whim, I typed in my father’s name, scrolling through google until something interesting caught my eye.
Before I had a chance to explore it, I heard a knock on the door. Almost instantly, my heart fell into my stomach. My mind went to a dark place, as if there would be a police officer behind the door, prepared to tell me that Phoenix had died in a fiery crash. Swallowing, I rose to my feet, debating whether to answer it. What if he’d called Gage, asking him to check on me? That made more sense.
I took a deep breath, glancing down the hallway before heading to the door. When I opened it, I wasn’t expecting to see a nice-looking older couple standing on the deck.
“Can I help you?” I asked, able to tell by the woman’s eyes she hadn’t been expecting me either.
“And you are?” the woman asked.
“A friend. Who are you exactly?” Why did I have a very bad feeling about this?
The woman glanced at the man, her expression smug. “You must be the new girlfriend.”
“I’m sorry. I still didn’t catch your names.” My instinct told me to put my foot behind the partially open door.
“I’m Abigail Foster, my husband Roger, and we’ve come here to collect our grandson.”
Oh, shit. This was Justin’s grandparents. I fought several nasty urges inside of me in seeing the smirk on her face, as if I wasn’t good enough for her grandson. That brought out the tigress in me.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Phoenix didn’t mention you’d be stopping by. If what you mean is to see him, I’m sorry, he’s taking a nap. And I do apologize but I don’t know you from anyone else on the street.”
“Is Riggs here?” the male asked, his tone just as harsh.
“Why, no, he’s working, which is why I’m here, a good friend of his. Now, I’ll be happy to mention toPhoenixthat you stopped by, but I will need to ask you to leave as I have work to do.”
“I don’t think you understand, Miss…” Abigail threw at me.
“Tillman. As in Senator Tillman’s daughter.” I allowed the information to settle in, smiling as it did. I was quite happy with my response, although I could see Abigail wasn’t going to be daunted by me throwing around my father’s name.
“As I said, we’ve come here to collect our grandson. Please step aside.” When she dared to try to come in, I bristled, enough so a strangled sound erupted from deep in my throat.
“And I think it’s time for you to leave. No, I know it is.” As I started to shut the door, I could swear I heard the pitter patter of little feet. There wouldn’t be anything worse that could happen today than if Justin saw me arguing with his grandparents.
When the man stuck his foot in, I was floored in realizing their intentions. They’d come here to take him by force. Over my dead body.
“If you don’t take your hands off the door, I’m going to contact the sheriff, who is a personal friend of Phoenix’s.”
I’ll be damned, the man still tried to get in.
“Get out. Now!”
After I screamed, that’s the moment I heard Justin’s little voice. At least it startled the man enough, I was able to slam the door in their faces, immediately engaging the lock. Then I backed away, turning toward the little boy. His face was filled with horror and immediately tears welled in his eyes.
“We’ll see you in court!” the man yelled.
My stomach flipped.
I raced toward Justin, scooping him into my arms as Chewy jumped all over us, barking incessantly.Why aren’t you here, Phoenix?
When the assholes had the nerve to pound on the door, I was mortified, immediately heading to the backdoor, snapping the lock into place. Would they try to climb in through a window?
Now the kid was full-blown crying, the dog yelping and I was close to hysteria. What was I supposed to do?
