Page 26 of Rush

“Yeah.”

“Why now after so long?” She sounded confused.

“Because I didn’t give them what they wanted when they came to see me.”

The line between her brows grew deeper. “They came to see you? When?”

“A couple weeks ago.”

“What did they want?”

“Money.”

“Do you think there’s a chance of them gaining custody of her?” Her confusion had turned into worry.

“I have no idea, but what I can tell you, there’s no fucking chance in hell I’m letting them take her from me.”

It only took one phone call to the team’s lawyer to have Dan Jefferies, a family law attorney, knocking on his door an hour later.

“Thanks for coming over so quickly,” Linc said, showing the middle-aged, suited man into his home.

“Not a problem, Mr. Scott. I’m happy to oblige.”

Linc bet he was. He wasn’t sure what hourly rate he was being charged but assumed it was doubled for house calls.

Nora and Sophie were chilling on the couch in front of the TV, so Linc ushered Mr. Jefferies into the dining room. They took a seat at the long, wooden table and the lawyer opened his briefcase, pulling out a yellow, legal-size pad.

“Tell me about the situation.”

Linc filled him in, the attorney injecting questions every so often.

About a half hour into their meeting, Linc caught movement in the doorway. He looked over to see Nora hovering and waved her in. “Nora, let me introduce you to Dan Jefferies. He’s hopefully here to help.”

“I’m definitely here to help.”

Nora shook the man’s extended hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Jefferies.”

“Please, call me Dan. Linc has spoken very highly of you.”

A light blush blossomed over the apples of her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Sophie fell asleep so I made a pot of coffee. Would either of you like any?”

“I’ll take a cup. Black.”

“Make that two.” Linc held up a couple of fingers. “Thank you.”

After Nora left the room, Dan got back down to business. “They’ll try to use Sophie’s unwillingness to speak against you.”

“She hasn’t spoken since her parents’ death. That’s hardly my doing.”

“Yes, but they’ll claim that the fact she’sstillnot talking is.”

Linc ran a hand over the top of his head in frustration.

“Don’t worry, that she’s been going to a therapist is good and opens the door for a doctor’s expert testimony which will be the perfect rebuttal to any of their trumped-up accusations.” A frown pulled at the lawyer’s face. “That you’re an unattached, twenty-eight-year-old male is what troubles me.”

Nora chose that moment to walk back into the room, setting their cups on the table.

“Thank you,” Linc said distractedly before countering, “I have money and I’m a celebrity.”

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