Page 44 of Frosted Hearts

"Illeana Granger," he calls out sternly. Slowly I turn to look at him. He's glaring at me and I know he has something to say about the direction I was headed.

"Hi, Dad," I state, walking up to him. I try to keep a smile on my face afraid that something will set him off. I don't want him going after any of them just because they came to support me. I already know he's going to blame me and accuse me of inviting them when I didn't.

"What are they doing here?" he snarls, looking past me to where everyone else is standing. Looking over my shoulder I realize that the group is actually getting closer to us with Steel leading the charge.

Oh shit!

"It's nothing, Dad," I state quickly trying to come up with something to say. "Didn't you say that we needed to leave as soon as graduation was over? We should probably get out of here and go get my stuff."

"NO," he growls, shoving me hard to the side as he steps forward to confront Steel.

Thanks to Trevor's quick reflexes, I manage to not fall on my ass. I didn't even realize the group was as close as they were. "Thanks," I mumble, before attempting to pull out of his hold. When he doesn't let me go, I look up at him and he just shakes his head no and shuffles me until I'm partially hidden behind him.

"What are you doing here?" my father demands staring at Steel.

"I'm here for Illeana," he answers not backing down.

"I told you what would happen if you came near her ever again. Are you sure this is what you want to do? Here?" my father replies. My eyes widen as I realize what he said. He's the reason that Steel didn't come talk to me and was ignoring my calls and texts. I thought he was still mad at me, that he couldn't forgive me for being the reason that we had been found. Now I know it was because of my father. What did he threaten him with to make Steel stay away?

When I try to step forward, Trevor stops me, pushing me back once more to keep me out of whatever is happening. I know he wants to protect me but honestly, it's pissing me off. I'm not afraid of my father, not anymore at least.

"You really think that would keep me away from the woman that I love?" Steel laughs in my father's face. "I stayed away while I let Illeana finish school. I didn't want you to try to punish her. Now that she has graduated, I'm here to win her back. Your little threats mean nothing, especially since I have this." Steel pulls out a large folder from his pocket and hands it to my father.

I watch both of them carefully, Steel smiling while my father's face morphs from anger to confusion and back to anger again. Whatever papers Steel handed him have my father at a loss for words. I'm almost positive that he is about to blow a gasket and I'm not sure if I want to be standing here for it. Shit,I should probably get Grace far away from him before he does something. I won't let him use my sister against me.

"Grace is safe," Emma whispers softly in my ear for only me to hear.

"How?" I ask, confused how she knew where my mind went.

"I could just tell," she smiles. "Grace is with my daughter Alexis. Both of them are with two of Sky's husbands. They will keep them safe and far away from this fiasco. Promise."

"Thanks" I whisper before turning my attention back to Steel and my father. I really want to know what is in those papers.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" My father asks Steel again, calmly, almost too calmly for my liking. "She won't forgive you for this."

"She will, in time. And she will understand exactly why I did it too," Steel answers.

Now, I'm really concerned. I don't know what Steel did that my father thinks I won't forgive him for and I need to know. Sure, we have a lot we need to discuss but at the end of the day, I'll still choose him. It's always going to be him. I don't want to fight or love anyone else. That's something I realized while in therapy. She told me I needed to live for myself and fight for the things I want instead of letting other people dictate my life for me. That is exactly the reason I break out of Trevor's hold and step up next to my father and Steel. "What's going on?" I demand.

"Steel is threatening to expose me for double dipping and receiving kickbacks," my father answers.

At first I'm surprised, but I'm quick to cover my reaction, though I know Steel caught it. I can't believe my father actually admitted to it. Trevor and Valentina told me what my father did before his aide had picked me up from their office. I didn't want to believe it but the more I thought about it, I realized the signs were all there. I asked them what they were going to do aboutit but they were tight-lipped. When nothing broke in the news, I figured my father threatened them with something to keep it quiet. I wouldn't put it past him to do that.

"That's not the only thing in that folder," Steel states. "Tell her what else is in there." I cut a look to Steel but he doesn't bother to look my way, as he keep his eyes on my father. Turning back to him, I wait to see what he is going to say next.

"He is demanding custody of Grace to be turned over to you," my father grounds out, the words barely making it past his lips. His disgust is clear, and it almost makes me want to laugh.

My god, Steel really did think of everything. It's like he knew I wouldn't be able to walk away from my father until I knew Grace was taken care of. Damn the man for knowing exactly how to get to my heart. He really is perfect for me, even with how much we argue. Good thing, I love our fights. The make-up sex is completely worth it and we have six months of making up for us to do. I really want to leap forward and give Steel a huge hug but I don't think I need to rub this in my fathers face any more than Steel already has with all of the paperwork.

"So," Steel begins. "What choice are you going to make?"

"Is this really the type of man you want to be with Illeana?" he turns to look at me. "You want a man who is going break up our family?"

"No," I answer, cutting my dad off before he can say anything else. "I choose a man who will give anything to protect not only me but also my sister. A man who puts me and my wants first. A man who isn't afraid of going after what he wants and isn't going to put me in danger to get ahead in life. That is the man I'm choosing." I step around my father and link my fingers with Steels. There was never a choice to be made. I had every intention of fighting for Steel as well, as soon as I had custody of my sister.

"You all will pay for this. Take them, both of them. Good for nothing useless daughters. I wanted a son and was given two daughters who would amount to absolutely nothing. Good luck with them," my father snarls. Before turning around and walking away leaving all of us to watch him walk away.

"Well that went better than I expected," Knox chuckles, pulling me out of Steels arms and giving me a hug. "Welcome to the family, Illeana."

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