Page 86 of Stone Rules

“Do not try to pay this guy off. I mean it, Ethan. As your attorney, I know almost as much about your finances as your accountant does. I know how easy it would be for you to write a check and try to make this all go away. I know you must be pissed and hurt and wanting to protect what’s yours. But that is the worst thing you could do. Even ifhecomes toyou, he could later say you were the one who tried to bribe him. And even if you did come to a financial arrangement, if he is the biological father, he can still veto the adoption up to six months after the baby is born.”

“So I could pay him off and he could still end up having parental rights?”

“Exactly,” he says.

“Fuck!” I yell, punching my fist into the bed. “So he’s got us by the balls.”

Charlie comes out of the closet and sees me on the phone. She sits next to me on the bed and takes my hand.

“John, I have to go. Charlie and I have to talk about this. I’ll get back with you tomorrow. Thanks a lot for getting on this so quickly.”

“Anytime, Ethan. Good luck.”

It’ll take a hell of a lot more than luck to hold me back if I ever come face to face with this asshole. It’ll take a fucking miracle.

Chapter Forty

It only took the bastard two days to get an order allowing him access to any pregnancy-related medical records. Since then, it’s been a week without any further word from Thompson or his cronies. But I know better. He’s scum. A bottom dweller. He will sit back and attack when he knows it’ll hurt her the most.

It makes me sick to think about the kind of man he is. When I read his background report a few days ago, everything I thought about him was confirmed. He’s been arrested on several charges of fraud and identity theft. He was once arrested for scamming an elderly lady out of thousands of dollars, but the charges were dropped because she passed away and her surviving children decided not to pursue it. He’s spent a few nights in jail here and there, but for the most part, his punishments consisted of financial retribution or community service. It seems there isn’t anything this guy wouldn’t do for money.

That’s the very reason I made sure Levi came with us today. He’s sitting in the lobby of the building, ready to intervene if anything should happen. I don’t know what to expect from the dirt bag and we need to be prepared for anything.

Charlie has been tense all week. She hasn’t been eating right or sleeping well. The stress of this is really taking a toll on her. And the only reason I’ve not insisted she quit her job at Mitchell’s immediately is that work is one of the only things that seems to distract her. However, I insisted on hiring private security to sit outside the restaurant in case Zach Thompson decides to make an appearance. She didn’t fight me on it. She was grateful I discussed it with her before actually doing it. She’s come to accept the fact I will do anything to protect her and the baby.

As we approach the doctor’s office, I grab her hand. “Whatever happens, it’ll be okay.”

There is a window into the reception area and we look through it before opening the door. It doesn’t take us long to spot the only man sitting by himself. The man who looks like he’d rather be anywhere but in a reception area with pregnant women and babies. He’s going through a pile of magazines, shaking his head when he can’t find one to suit him. A baby starts to cry and we can hear its high-pitched wail through the glass. Zach looks at it with disgust and puts his earbuds in.

“Oh my God,” Charlie says, moving away from the window and backing up against the wall. “We should leave. We should change doctors.”

I shake my head. “He’ll use it against us, Charlie. And he will still be able to get access to your records. Dr. Chavis’s office knows what’s going on. I called them earlier to prepare them for the possibility of him being here. They assured me that if he was here, they wouldn’t make us sit in reception. As soon as we check in, we’ll be allowed through to the back.”

She looks up at me with appreciation. “You did that?”

“Of course I did.”

Before we go in, I send Levi a text letting him know Zach is here and to stand by. Levi is carrying, so he can’t come into the medical building because of the metal detectors. Luckily for us, the doctor Skylar set Charlie up with has some very high-end clients. Famous athletes, celebrities, wives of Wall Street moguls. Security is high in this building. For which I’m grateful. Still—doesn’t mean I don’t want to have my own guy.

“We’ve got this,” I say. We lock eyes, and for five whole seconds, I make sure she sees how much love I have for her and this baby.

She nods and I open the door. I stare the asshole down as we make our way to the reception desk. I tell the young lady behind the counter, “I’m Ethan Stone and this is Charlie Tate. We have an appointment with Dr. Chavis. I called earlier and we need to be taken in the back right away.”

“Yes, Mr. Stone, I’ve been waiting for you. I’ll buzz you back immediately.” She points to the door on her left. “Please come on through.”

“Want to make it a threesome?” I hear behind me.

I turn around and face him, wanting in the very depths of my soul to punch the smirk off his snide little face. I see we have an audience, as he didn’t even attempt to lower his voice as he baited us.

“Do you want me to call security, Mr. Stone?” the girl behind the desk asks.

I shake my head. “Not unless he tries to follow us into the back,” I say, looking directly at him. I gently push Charlie through the door and pull it closed behind me.

We are escorted into Dr. Chavis’s office and told to wait here while she finishes up with another patient.

I hear Charlie breathe when she sits down. I think it’s the first breath she’s drawn in minutes. I reach my hand over, pulling hers into my lap. “That was the worst of it. He just wants to intimidate us, you know. He’ll either be gone by the time we leave, or he’ll demand to see your records at the front desk. Either way, we shouldn’t have to deal with him. Okay, Peaches?”

Her face breaks out into a smile right before she mimics sticking a finger down her throat.

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