Page 83 of Red

“Who?” Melinda busied herself with the dishwasher.

“Don’t go doing that. You know who.” Grams chastised, while handing over her empty wine glass.

Melinda slid the glass into the slot. “No. And I’m not going to. I don’t want to. It’s better not to.” She pushed the settings and closed the door, starting the cycle.

“Which one of us are you trying to convince?” Grams asked with her lips pinched together.

“Shouldn’t you hate him?” Melinda asked.

Grams shrugged. “I should, yes. If he hadn’t taken you, then your father”—” She dragged in a harsh breath. “Your father would still be in hiding. But all of that’s not entirely Erik’s fault.” She held onto Melinda’s shoulders. “Or yours.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Melinda said, reaching along the counter and picking up the envelope that had arrived that afternoon. “It’s over.” She handed the thick package to Grams and wiped down the dinner table.

Grams opened the envelope and began browsing the papers. Melinda had spent all afternoon reading the documents. Divorce papers and compensation agreements. Erik was willing to pay her a small fortune to stay the hell away from him.

“You haven’t signed it yet,” Grams noted.

“Don’t make anything out of that,” Melinda warned. “We need to go back to how things were before. Pretend he never showed up that day.”

Grams slid the packet of papers onto the countertop. “And you think it will be that easy?”

Melinda grabbed a bottle of wine from the rack in the corner. “It has to be.”

“Melinda—” Grams had that sound, the one where Melinda knew to settle in for a long lecture, but she wasn’t in the mood for it.

“Grams.” Melinda cut her off. “He doesn’t want me, and really…something had to be severely wrong with me to think we’d actually make something out of the mess. Who marries the man who basically kidnapped her?” She took a wine glass from the cupboard. “I mean, seriously, I should have my head examined.”

And her heart. There was definitely something wrong with her heart. It ached, and her lungs weren’t doing much better. Every breath since she’d stepped out of that house burned.

“Tell me again what he said.” Grams grabbed the bottle of wine from Melinda and poured herself a glass.

Melinda laughed. “I’m not reliving that conversation.” The humiliation had been outweighed only by the tormented internal scream suffocating her. “He got what he wanted, and now I’m free. It’s a win-win, really, Grams,” she rambled. “I have to finish some revisions for the book launch, and then it’s a waiting game until it goes live. But I have another story in submission, so hopefully, the publisher will pick that one up, too. I have a lot going on. I don’t need the drama that comes with Erik Rawling.”

Grams sipped her wine. “Then sign the papers.” Grams pushed the envelope down the counter.

Melinda stared at the manila envelope. She should. No good came from delaying it, and Erik was making a generous offer. He’d set up a fund for her, enough to keep her comfortable for decades if she was smart. She should scribble her name and move on.

Nothing but trouble came with being Melinda Rawling. Even if Erik wanted nothing to do with Justin or the Jansen family, there would always be a link. There would always be someone lurking in the shadows to find a way into his casino, or to watch for Nico.

And he was a great reason to sign away the name. Nico, his own brother, had snatched her up and delivered her to a man who would have killed her. Not exactly the makings of a warm family Thanksgiving dinner.

Reasons to be done with him stacked high. Yet, when she glanced at the papers, another twinge in her chest snatched her breath.

“Grams. I’m tired.” Melinda put her wine glass down.

“I know it,” Grams said quietly. “I’ll leave you to your work. But promise me, you’ll come up for air and you’ll think—really think about what your next steps are. I didn’t like him for obvious reasons, but I saw him with you at the funeral. I saw the tenderness. The care he exhibited. That’s not a man who saw you as nothing more than a means to an end.” Grams brushed the hair from Melinda’s face with the gentleness Melinda remembered as a child. If only the same calm could come to her now as it had then.

“I will, Grams. Promise.” Melinda hugged her grandmother.

Sometimes, even the arms cradling a person, so full of love and understanding, weren’t enough to mend a broken heart.

Chapter 32

“Construction should be completed by the end of March.” Erik sat across from Peter Titon at his offices in Tower. The casino plans were moving along as planned, and they would open their doors before summer took hold of the city.

“Perfect. I know Azalea’s excited about the marketing plan she’s been working on with your team. I think she had gotten bored working so much on Tower.” Peter grinned.

“She’s been a great asset I’m told.” Erik folded his hands in his lap. It hadn’t been part of the deal to buy the land, but he’d seen how well Tower was doing due to her marketing skills. He would have been a fool not to take advantage.

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