Page 62 of Exposed

“Does it?” I ask with a smirk. I set my camera equipment down and cross the room to take Simon and give him a hug.

“Hey, buddy. Did you miss Daddy? I missed you.” I tickle his chest with my nose and he does the cutest giggle.

Pepper quickly gets his bedtime bottle ready.

“I’m sorry. We took a bath and played, and I lost track of the time tonight. It won't happen again.” She pushes her short hair out of her face nervously. She seems worried, like I’m unhappy with her.

“I’m not mad, Pepper. Simon getting to bed a little late doesn’t bother me. I’m happy he has someone like you to bond with,” I assure her while I shake the formula in the warmed up water with one hand while holding Simon.

“Really? Right. Okay.” She breathes a sigh of relief.

“Yeah, you’re good.”

“I’ll be more aware from now on. You won’t sneak up on me again.” She playfully points two fingers at her eyes, then at me, a joking gesture like she’s watching me.

“I believe you.” She needs someone to believe the best in her, and I volunteer as tribute.

“Thanks, Matt,” she smiles at me.

Whatever shit her parents ingrained in her, I’ll bust every lie apart one by one.

24

SOLUTION PLANNING

ONE WEEK LATER

Pepper and I have settled into a routine. Rick28 responded to us a couple of days ago. He said he’s finishing another job, but asked us to send the details of what we need.

Our message hasn’t changed to “read” yet, but hopefully, he’ll be done with his other job soon and can work his hacking magic for us. We need to get to the bottom of whoever framed Pepper.

My phone rings beside me, and I pick it up. Ms. Zetterberg’s name flashes across the screen.

“Ms. Zetterberg, good to hear from you.” This is the first time I’ve actually talked with her since I signed a contract with her firm. Most of the communication has been with her legal assistant.

Simon is kicking his feet in his bouncer next to me while I edit a gallery for clients. I close my laptop to give my full attention to Ms. Zetterberg.

“I told you, call me Anna. Your dad helped save my husband’s life. Now, I’ve got good news and bad news.”

My dad connected me with Ms. Z, an excellent family law lawyer who’s a member at my dad’s gyms. Ms. Z’s husband had a heart attack a few years back, and my dad has helped him get in the best shape of his life now.

We’re supposed to appear in court in three weeks for a temporary hearing for a decision on sharing my son, and she filed for me to have emergency full custody until then.

Like hell am I giving up any custody after that.

“Okay. Bad news first,” I say.

“Your clients are billionaires. Have you heard of Truman Holdings?”

“No.”

“They own businesses and investment properties all over the South. Atlanta, Charleston…all the big cities in Florida. The court records show that Hollie Truman, Baby Galloway’s biological mom, signed away all rights to the baby. If her parents want Simon badly enough, there’s no limit to how much they’ll pay.”

“Fuck, that sucks,” I curse, and my chest aches.

Now I know Simon’s mom’s name. Hollie. I sort of remember her now, but not really. I was too far gone in my grief over Grace and wanted to forget everyone and everything on the anniversary of her death.

My one-night stand, their daughter, was so scared of her parents she hid her pregnancy from them. I bet shesigned away her rights in hopes that her parents would never find Simon.

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