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“I didn’t,” he says.
“Then who is?”
“She is.”
“How?”
“It’s called working, Mr. St. Claire. She hasn’t touched a dime of Lane’s money since he died. She sold everything except the cars and two shops and placed it in a trust for her LJ when he is of age.”
“Why?” I ask, raising my tone. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Janine backs up. She knows I’m pissed and have a temper. I’m not mad at her but at myself. Of course, she wouldn’t take a dime from me. The things I said to her the last time I saw her.
“She asked me not to say anything, and she is my client after all.” He pauses but doesn’t hang up.
“There’s more. Tell me.”
“Yes, Lane Turner’s parents threatened to sue her for using the Turner name in any way since it is a global brand. I’m sure you were already aware of their intention. They wanted her to remove it legally, or they would sue her for damages. She wants to keep her son’s future the way his father wanted him to have it. He left her money, Mr. St. Claire, but you know how Aura is. With all the threats she was receiving from his family, knowing they have people in very high places, she agreed and signed thepapers, removing Turner from her last name. She is using her maiden name. Aura Rayne.”
Fuck.
“Where is she working?”
“I don’t know. I’m assuming it is somewhere local. I’m sure she has kept it a secret from everyone. She is a very independent girl. I love the fire in her spirit. It is a shame that Lane died, and she was left to deal with this. I don’t think he realized what lengths his family would go to destroy what he built. He loved Aura, but she didn’t deserve this. Like I said, if it is too much trouble, my wife and I, we’ll look after them. It’s no trouble at all.”
“No. She has me.”
I hang up and look at Janine.
“I have never wanted to dig up someone from the dead before and strangle them,” she says in a hard tone.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because if you know you have powerful parents who are assholes from the get-go, what makes you think leaving a fortune you built that your parents did not agree on would stop them from destroying it? Give the girl a break. Threatening to sue the poor girl like she’s a thief,” Janine says, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Send some of my stuff from my apartment to Southampton.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Stay with them,” I quip.
Janine gives me a smirk. “Domestication. I like it.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
“Don’t worry, boss, I have them all the way up.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “I get to meet her.”
“Don’t get any ideas. She is off-limits.”
“Ha! I knew it,” she says, smiling. “You are interested in her. The way you protect her is so barbaric. I love it! That is exactly what she needs.”
“What is that?”
“A ruthless motherfucker like you. That woman means more to you than anyone, doesn’t she?”
I stay silent, not answering her because I’m not sure what I feel for Aura right now. I know that I have to protect her. I have to be there for her. I haven’t because I’m afraid. I’m afraid of falling for her all over again.
37
