Page 43 of Love Restored

Though there were a couple of clients in the chairs, they were regulars who had also stood up. She wasn’t sure what was going on or what everyone was doing, but Blake knew this was about her.

“Blake Brennen?” the man in the suit asked as he pushed past Maya.

Maya growled and gripped his arm. “No way, buddy. You’re not welcome here.”

The man snarled and looked down at Maya’s arm before pulling away. “Get your hand off me, or I will call the cops on you and this place of business.” The way he’d said place made it sound like he was standing in a grungy bar or a trash heap rather than Montgomery Ink.

“What do you want?” Blake asked, her voice cold. She was damned surprised it didn’t shake, but she couldn’t show weakness, not now.

Not ever.

She’d moved forward, though she didn’t remember doing it, so when he placed an envelope in her hand, she started.

“You’ve been served.” With that, the asshole man in the suit walked away, his head held high, and a growling Derek on his tail.

“What is going on?” Maya asked as she stood in front of Blake. “What is that?”

Blake’s hands shook, the envelope resting on top of her palms shaking with them. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. She’d known this day would come, that she wouldn’t be able to hide for long.

She’d known the clock had started to go faster once she’d been named in the estate. Chris’s family had been best friends with her family before things had gone to hell. Money spoke, and Blake didn’t have any anymore.

Chris’s family had found her.

They’d found Rowan.

And now, Blake could lose everything.

Her vision blurred, and she tried to catch her breath, only too late realizing she hadn’t been breathing at all. As she started to fall back, Derek was there, catching her.

“Shit,” he said quickly. “Blake, honey, breathe.”

“Fuck, call Graham, will you?” Maya asked. Blake wasn’t sure who Maya was talking to, but she assumed it had to be one of the clients. She blinked up as Maya tossed her phone to someone and knelt in front of her. “Honey, talk to me. What’s in this envelope?”

When had she ended up on the ground? Things didn’t make sense. Oh, God. She needed to find Rowan. She couldn’t break, couldn’t fall apart. She didn’t have the luxury of falling apart like this.

“I need…” Blake took a deep breath. “I need to get Rowan.” She met Maya’s gaze. “I need to get her from school. Keep her safe.”

Maya cupped her face even as Derek rubbed her back. “Got that. But you aren’t driving right now. Is there anyone on the list at her school that can pick her up?”

Blake pressed her lips together. “I don’t know.” She closed her eyes, told herself to stop freaking out and put Rowan first. “My neighbor, Mrs. Gonzales. But she doesn’t have a car.”

Maya stuck her hand in Blake’s pocket and pulled out her phone. “Okay, then we’re going to call Mrs. Gonzales and tell her to be ready for a Montgomery or a Gallagher to pick her up so they can go get Rowan. You’re not alone, Blake. Not anymore.”

Blake’s hands shook as she put in her password and dialed the number, knowing Maya was right, though it hurt her to ask for help. No one knew the truth, knew who Blake had been before she’d cleaned herself up. And now, everyone would see who she was and how she’d never truly cleaned off the grit that marred her soul.

By the time she’d finished explaining things to her neighbor, who swore she’d protect Rowan, Blake was ready to stand up and open the envelope that had fallen to her lap.

“Owen is on his way to pick her up with Murphy,” Maya explained. “Then they’ll take Rowan and Mrs. Gonzales to Graham’s place so she’s not at home in case they have your address.” Maya paused. “I let you keep your secrets because I trust you and I still do, but you’re going to have to come clean because I’m putting those I love in the middle of this.”

Maya’s words penetrated her thoughts as she shook her head. “You shouldn’t have called Graham,” she whispered. She cleared her throat, this time, her words stronger. “We’re not together anymore, and he wants nothing to do with me and Rowan.”

Maya held Blake’s hands as she helped her up. Then she bent down, grabbed the envelope, and handed it over to Blake. “He’s on his way. I don’t know what happened between the two of you guys, but he’s coming because you need him. I didn’t know y’all had a fight, or I might have called someone else. But you know what? We’re what you have right now. Rowan is going to be safe, and you’re going to be fine. Now open the damn envelope.”

Maya’s sharp words brought Blake out of her funk, and she opened the package, shaking hands and all.

The first words on at the legal document were what she’d figured they’d be, but they were still a shock to the system.

“A formal petition for custody?” Derek asked from behind her. She’d almost forgotten he was there. “Who is trying to get Rowan? Her father?”

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