Page 81 of Crude Heir

“No,” he confirms.

I squeeze Mom’s hand. Having a daughter who’s a single mother was bad enough for my grandmother to handle. Considering her to be a home-wrecker, too, would have been devastating.

“Now that everything’s out in the open, why don’t you give this a chance?” I suggest. “Unless you don’t feel the same way about him.”

Her expression is all the answer I need. “I love him.” She nods. “I don’t deserve you, but I do.” She turns to Keith. “I do love you, with all my heart.”

“Damn, where’s a jeweler when you need one,” I say under my breath.

“I have a ring.” He reaches into his coat pocket pulling out a jewelry box that looks like it’s had better days. He opens it to show her a brilliant diamond. “Apart from the first time, I’ve asked her to marry me every year, on your birthday.”

I swallow a knot of emotion as Nicole wipes away tears.

“Marry me, Josie,” he asks, with the smallest bit of hope.

She’s stuck, unable to utter a word, so I take the opportunity to speak my mind. “He may have missed being a good father.” She turns, her eyes brimming with tears again and nods slowly. “But you can let him be a good grandfather to the baby we’re expecting.”

“Oh.” Her voice cracks, and she nods quicker, a smile breaking through the tears for us. “Yes. Yes, he will.”

“I will?” he whispers.

She nods, a laugh bubbling up. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He jumps up…my father jumps up, pulling her into his arms and holding her tight. His gaze, grateful and happy, reaches me from above her head. “Thank you…son.”

I smile, not ready for “dad” just yet, but not as far away as I was an hour ago. “Welcome to the family.”

Addler returns with several bottles. “Looks like we have something else to celebrate here.” The line of people file in behind him.

Epilogue

Derrick

The atmosphere in Addler’s study is tense as Ezequiel introduces me to Dante, the contact he and Addler think can help, via an online meeting. He might be thirty at most, dark hair, sharp suit. If I had to guess, I would have thought he was a businessman, but his business is way out of the norm.

“I apologize for doing this through a video conference,” Dante states. “It’s not how this is normally done, but I understand the urgency in this situation.”

I nod, trying to hide my apprehension. “Thank you. I’m grateful for being considered.”

Dante leans back, studying me. “I’d already done an extensive background check on you after your name hit the news.” Well, it’s one good thing that came out of that ordeal. “It just wasn’t the right time to contact you.”

“No wonder you got the information so fast.” Ezequiel, lounging in a leather chair, raises an eyebrow.

“Our services include connecting clients with service providers who will meet their unique needs. We also help unravel situations of a personal, political, financial, legal, ethical, or medical nature for our clients,” he says, taking a breath. “We are, up to and including, a cleaner, for those who require the service.”

I’m taken aback. “That’s quite an extensive offering.”

Ezequiel leans in. “Medical services?” he asks, sounding intrigued.

“One hundred percent aboveboard,” Dante assures him. “From physicians, to facilities, to transplant volunteers. But itcomes at a hefty cost, especially if it affects the volunteer’s future.”

“We’ll talk later,” Ezequiel says, pensive.

Dante turns his attention back to me. “Now, you must understand that this collaboration stays within this group. You will sign a nondisclosure agreement. Violating that agreement comes with consequences—direconsequences.”

“I understand.” Which is why Addler and Ezequiel were concerned about contacting him on my behalf.

“For now, I will take a verbal agreement that you’ll keep our association confidential so we can continue.”

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