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“But will my grandfather allow it?”
Thomas shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“What if I want to see her?”
There it was. I knew before he even opened his mouth.
“You are not allowed back at this estate without permission once you leave. You have my number. You have Parkers.”
“Do I? Do I get to have my phone back? What about my laptop?”
“Both will be brought to you, minus the contents on them. They will be wiped clean of everything but our numbers here. You are allowed to contact any of your former clients, but not as a Carmelo. You will hold the name, but you are not entitled to use it. They already know this.”
A sound pushed from my throat. “Of course they know. I’m sure everyone was sent the memo: Bastard heir loses everything. Excellent. Let’s get this over with. I want out of this house.”
I didn’t wait for Thomas. I bound down, two stairs at a time. When I entered the study at a brisk walk, my grandfather looked up from his papers, and Fay lowered her book. Seeing her, knowing she was pregnant and I wasn’t going to be here to experience any of it…That this part of my life was stolen from me…I couldn’t move any closer. If I did...
“I see you have your things. Did Thomas go over the rules?”
“As far as I know.” My stare cut over to Fayette. “I want to know the rights I have to my child. I am the father after all. Even if not by choice.”
My grandfather rose, keeping his fingertips against the desk.
“You have the right to know there is a child. If there is need or want of you, you will know that as well. So far there’s not. You may leave.”
Fayette scooted to the end of the small sofa she was sitting on, looking between us. I knew I’d been dismissed, but I still couldn’t move. Not closer or further away.
“May I…” The damn lump in my throat had me swallowing hard. “Can I tell Fay goodbye?”
“You just did.”
“Fay?”
She wiped a tear, standing from the sofa. I didn’t expect her to say anything, more less run towards me. When she threw herself into my arms, I was surprised at how much I didn’t want to let go. How had she gone from this unwanted stranger, this aggravating dilemma to…my friend. My best friend? I should have hated her. A part of me maybe even did. Or maybe I should have hated myself. Whatever should have been was lost in the feel of her in my arms.
“You’ll call me if you need me? Thomas has my number. You’ll call, right?”
“Aimon.” Fay pulled back, holding to my shirt with one of her hands as she stayed close. “I’m sorry. You don’t want this. You said you don’t, and I took it from you. I stole this baby. I never thought this would happen. I really never thought.”
Anger flared, but I found my finger pressing against her lips.
“That part is over. Tell me you’ll call. I’m not leaving until you tell me.”
Blue-green eyes searched mine. “I’ll call.”
“Alright.” The need to step back was there. Instead, I stepped forward, putting my forehead against hers as my fingers fisted in her hair. I knew the look she wore. Even after such a short time, I could read her like a book. “You’re not going to call me. I know you’re not. Fayette.”
“Go, Aimon. You know I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“I’m okay, really. I’ll be taken care of.”
She was right. In my heart, I trusted my grandfather to make sure Fay was safe. And he wanted an heir. He wouldn’t screw that up in the months he had left to live. So, where did that leave Fay afterward? Would my words come back to haunt me? Would Charles put restrictions or rules on their lives and screw them up once he died?
I stepped back, meeting my grandfather’s eyes. Where they were usually cold towards me, they were anything but. He looked touched. Almost moved.
“You’ll take care of them? The best care? You’ll make sure they’re safe and—”
