Page 42 of Luke

“I think he’s the only person that my father introduced me to that isn’t a greedy jerk. He always questioned my father, and I never really understood why he put up with it, but I suppose he wasn’t an enemy worth making.”

“He seems like a loving grandfather. What would he do?” The moment she asked the question, she wished she could take it back. “Nope. Don’t tell me. Let me live in my fantasy world for a little while longer.”

Luke snorted. “I won’t take that away from you then. I need to call Ashley when we leave here though. Ryker told me she keeps giving her bodyguard the slip, and I think if we are hearing things about her being next, then we need to warn her and tell her to stop acting up.”

“Is class almost over for her? Maybe she can come stay with us for a while.” As much as she loved it being just the three of them, she wouldn’t mind having company and getting to meet his sister.

“I don’t think she’s planning to move back after graduation. I can offer though, at least for a visit.”

“Great.” She smiled. “I know the conversation topic wasn’t the best, but I much prefer Mr. Smith to the last person we met that you knew.”

He bit back a laugh. “You ready to head home?”

She really was. As nice as it had been to get out, she missed the comfort and safety of their house. “So ready.”

“Did you ever hear back on the job?” he asked as they paid the bill and waited for the server to bring his card back.

Paisley checked her phone for any emails, finding one that she didn’t want to see instead. Her face must have given her anxiety and fear away because Luke reached for her hand.

“What’s wrong?”

“Can we talk about it in the car?” She didn’t open the email, but the sender was unmistakable. It was from Luke’s father, no doubt another threat.

Luke studied her and nodded. The second the server returned, they stood and left the restaurant. Neither of them spoke until they reached the car and were already moving.

“Did you open it?” Luke asked.

Paisley shook her head. “Not yet. I didn’t want to do it in there.”

“Smart. Let’s take a look.”

Her hand shook as she held the phone up for both of them to look. Luke slipped it from her hand but held it so they could still both see. His other hand came around to hold hers.

“Whatever it is, we will get through it,” he promised.

She wanted to believe him, but it was hard when it seemed to be one thing after another and his father knew the right strings to pull to make her upset.

Luke opened the email and they both read over it quietly.

Paisley,

Dear girl, it would have been easier if you had just listened and left like I told you to. Now you and that bastard son of yours are going to end up alone and broke again. Unless that’s what you want? Seems a weird thing to prefer if you ask me.

I recognize that the DNA test my son did confirmed parentage, but I have to question the lab that was used. One wonders if they could be bought off to say that their initial report was wrong or perhaps they were paid to give those results?

I don’t believe in giving multiple chances, so you won’t get one from me. Just remember when things happen that you brought this on the three of you yourself by not following simple instructions. All you had to do was leave. Don’t bother doing it now. Things are already in motion that cannot be undone and you will now have to suffer the consequences of your actions. Maybe you can keep the ring and pawn it later.

Just remember that you were warned. Marrying my son won’t change the outcome either. Marriages are easily dissolved. People are rather accepting of mistakes in that regard.

You should have listened.

There was no signature—it didn’t even need one. They knew who it was from.

“This asshole,” Luke bit out. “I’m calling Ryker.”

Paisley nodded, barely registering the ride home or the conversation that he was having.

“We’re here,” Luke said, pulling her out of her thoughts.

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