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All eyes glued to her.
“When I worked for Moonie pipelines, there wasn’t a lot of time I spent in the office. When I did, I tried not to pay attention to the gossip. I was just there to work. But now that I’m hearing this, there is something…” She trailed off for a moment. “Tim Moonie hired escorts often. He was never with the same woman at company events and that’s how the rumors started.”
Valerie began to tell them about the article she found about him hazing that boy in high school. Diana grimaced; Chase looked pissed.
“My brother is a detective in New York,” Chase noted. “Guys like Moonie can get away with anything.”
“Isn’t he involved with a Mafia case?” Beau asked the sheriff.
“Yeah, the Romano Family. The case was handed over to the FBI a few months back, but Chris still keeps tabs on it. My point is, Moonie is a powerful man, and the green in his pockets makes him that way. He is untouchable when it comes to the law,” Chase explained.
“Not to mention his army of company lawyers,” Valerie added with a sigh.
“So, the mother of my child signed a free-for-all contract?” I deadpanned, looking at my lawyer. She nodded, disappointment in her eyes. She had been with me since the beginning. The second Cathy had shown me the positive pregnancy test, I went in search for a lawyer. At the time, I didn’t trust women, but Diana proved herself to me and Hallow Ranch.
Beau leaned back in his seat, his eyes on Chase. “Moonie was going to raise a hand to Valerie today. Could see it in his eyes.”
Chase’s gaze swung to Valerie, who was standing beside my chair. I offered her a seat and then my lap. She refused both. She was nervous, and I could hear her counting underneath her breath from time to time.
“That true?” the sheriff asked.
“Well, I—”
“He was a second away from losing his shit on you,” I hissed, looking up at her. Had he touched Valerie, we would be burning a body tonight instead of sitting at this table.
She looked down at me with fire in her eyes. “I would’ve handled him if he’d touched me,” she returned with confidence.
“No offense, darlin’,” Lance drawled from his spot. “But a man touches a woman like that, men like the ones in front of you would’ve taken care of it. In a fucking heartbeat.”
His twin grunted in agreement. Mags was standing in the corner, the same spot where Joseph Grayson stood a few nights ago, staring at the back of Diana’s blonde head. He had nothing to say.
“All in favor of burning the son of bitch,” Lawson called, raising this hand.
Chase looked to the ceiling, sighing through his nose. Diana plugged her ears and returned her attention to the paperwork in front of her. Jigs slapped Lawson upside the head. “Dammit, boy. In front of a lawyerandthe sheriff?”
Valerie stifled a giggle, covering her mouth. I shook my head. “While I love where your head’s at, we have a bigger issue.”
Everyone looked to me, the bullshit done with. “Valerie’s mom was threatened by Moonie today in not so many words,” I said, my voice hard.
“That bastard,” Beau and Lawson snapped.
“We aren’t taking any chances, whether he meant it or not,” I continued. The boys nodded. “I’m flying her and her nurse here the day after tomorrow. I need one of you to fly to Dallas to bring them back here,” I directed, resting my forearms on the table, my eyes scanning over their faces. Nancy and Jackie were going to have protection.
“Or I can go,” my woman suggested from beside me. I could feel her emerald eyes on me.
Absolutely fucking not.
“You aren’t going anywhere,” I said, not looking at her.
Beau raised his finger. “I’ll go.”
Jigs nodded. “Good man.”
For the next hour, we discussed a game plan, the slim possibility of Mason coming home, and what to do if Cathy shows up. Chase ordered us to detain her. Whether or not she was involved with Tim Moonie, she would be facing the charges I was pressing against her. There would be a court date set soon and if she failed to show, I would have a hundred percent custody of Caleb. Mason likely wouldn’t be coming home; I knew that much.
When it came to my brother, I didn’t have high hopes.
A part of me stopped hoping all together.
