Page 49 of The Prince of New York

As I refused to go out without a fight, I hurried, passed the RPS agent, and climbed like I meant it, forcing both to scramble to keep up. I beat them to the ground floor, and I smiled and held out my hand to Terry. “Hand over the squirrel. I wish to become her friend.”

Laughing, the RPS agent opened his suit jacket, checked on his little pet, and held her out. After a few minutes, she eased from her owner’s hand to mine. She sniffed and investigated me while I petted her, careful to avoid where she still healed. “Is her health improving?”

If something happened to Pink Lady, the entire palace would have a meltdown. It had only taken a day for everyone to fall in love with the little rodent. Then again, everyone had seen her on the grounds and liked her.

As far as squirrels went, she was cute, friendly, and hadn’t spent her time cussing us out for daring to enter her territory.

“She’s doing good. I give it another two or three days before she becomes more active. Then I’ll start training her in earnest so she can accompany me most of the time at work. Your sister’s rats are being vaccinated as we speak, so we’ll be able to do introductions tomorrow.”

I smiled, gave the little black squirrel a kiss on her nose, and returned her to her owner. “Good. She’s been desperate to play with Pink Lady.”

“Just wash your hands and your mouth before petting your sister’s rats,” Terry requested. “The vet wants at least twelve hours between vaccination and exposure.”

“Dr. Paulseno or Jacob?”

“Dr. Paulseno. Jacob will be handling the equines and special cases, and Dr. Paulseno will be continuing his work with the rodents.”

“I’ll wash my hands as soon as we’re inside.” To keep my word, I went on a search for the nearest bathroom, taking the time to tidy up while Terry chuckled at my determination to be somewhat presentable. Once finished, Terry inquired on the current location of the queen.

His sigh warned me of trouble on the horizon.

“What did Rachel do now?”

“She got requested to attend a custody hearing, and it isn’t going well.”

Crap. “What happened?”

“The mother was arrested for operating a drug lab in her basement. The father has numerous convictions of abuse, murder, and theft. The families on either side are no better. The judge is a conservative traditionalist, but this is the one case where he does not feel the mother is fit to keep custody—and the father is currently serving time for murder.” Terry tilted his head to the side, listening to his earpiece. “Apparently, the father doesn’t feel a woman, even the queen, is qualified to determine if another man is capable of having custody.”

“While he’s in prison?” Sometimes, I questioned people. “Do these people evenliketheir child?”

“I’m guessing not, but the parents are so focused on hurting each other that they don’t care about the child.”

That was something I could understand. “Will these parents acceptmyjudgment?”

Terry lifted his hand and relayed my question. After a few minutes, he nodded. “Both parents have agreed on grounds of your empathy.”

For fuck’s sake. “Does everybody think I’m an empath at this stage?”

“You are an empath, Ian.”

“You’re far better of an empath than I am.”

“Empathy isn’t just about sensing the emotions of others. It’s also about being able to see to the heart of matters and finding diplomatic solutions to complicated problems. You’re a natural at that. Just do what you do best.” The RPS agent cast a sly look my way. “Madelyn will be there, and this is the sort of thing you shine at.”

“As if I needed more pressure,” I muttered. “Daphne? Back me up on this.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Have a temper tantrum that would make your cousin proud if I’m unable to find a decent resolution to this. You’re good at that, especially when it comes to kids.”

If I had anything to say about it, the kid would be the only winner in the courtroom, and by the end of the day, their life would be improved. The how of it would be the tricky part, but I’d figure something out.

I always did, one way or another.

FOURTEEN

Fools, both of them.

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