Page 33 of Merging with the Billionaire

“I don’t see how any of this is your concern,” Brianna snapped out. “Get out of my way.”

“I can’t do that, ma’am, and you need to settle down. Can’t you see you’re scaring your son?”

Brianna glanced momentarily at Marcus, and she looked as if she was debating what to do. With a roll of her shoulders, she stated dismissively, “He’ll get over it once we’re far from here.”

“I don’t want to go, Mommy. I like living with Daddy.”

“He’s not your dad. I lied,” she seethed out. “I just wanted him to take care of us.”

“Stop it, Brianna, stop it right now,” Tiffany shouted at the other woman. “It’s over and you’re only making a fool of yourself and confusing Marcus. My father had a paternity test done a long time ago. Marcus is Roger’s son, and nothing you say will change that.”

The woman’s face went white as she glanced down at her son. Was it possible that even Brianna hadn’t been sure herself up until that moment? She probably hadn’t cared until it became convenient to do so.

“It doesn’t matter. I raised him, and he belongs to me. I’m taking him,” Brianna reached out and yanked Marcus by the arm, causing him to cry out in pain.

“You need to let the boy go now,” Conrad yelled at the other woman, pushing his hand against the cab door. “You’re not taking him anywhere.”

Cop sirens could be heard in the distance, approaching the park. “You need to hand him over right now, Brianna, or this is just going to get worse for you,” Tiffany warned. “The court has mandated you stay away. What do you think they’re going to do if they find out you tried to kidnap him?”

“You can’t kidnap your own child,” she cried out in anger. “Marcus is mine.”

The little boy pulled free, shaking his head. “No, Mommy, I want to stay with Daddy and Celeste. I don’t like all the men that visited the house, or how you made me stay in my room all night. It was scary.” Marcus darted towards Tiffany, burying his face in her waist as he started to sob, the tears finally bursting free from their dam. Tiffany patted his back, trying to comfort him.

Brianna tried to reach out to grab Marcus again, but Conrad stopped her by stepping in between them. “No, you’re not going to do that.”

She gave him a dirty look, then with anger, reached in her purse and pulled out a gun. She pointed it at Conrad, then wildly swung it around, obviously not caring who saw it or what might happen because of it.

“You’re both going to leave me and my son alone right now, or I swear, I’ll shoot you where you stand,” she threatened in a high-pitched frantic voice. “I have nothing left to lose. I just found out that one of my clients had me blacklisted when I wouldn’t give him what he wanted. Marcus is all I have left, so I’m taking him one way or the other.”

Suddenly, Tiffany saw Conrad dart towards Brianna, but from her vantage point behind him, she couldn’t see what was happening clearly. There was a struggle, several grunts from Conrad and shrieks from Brianna, before Conrad seemed to get the better of Brianna. He tucked the gun into the back of the waist band of his jeans, then grabbed Brianna in a bear hug.

Tiffany watched as the other woman struggled against Conrad for several seconds, thrashing around like a feral cat, before finally sagging against his arms, sobbing about how her life was over.

The cops arrived a few moments later, rushing up to detain Brianna and take the gun into evidence once Conrad explained what happened. Roger and Celeste arrived shortly after, both of them gathering Marcus into their arms as they cried with relief that he was safe.

Tiffany made her way over to Conrad’s side. She reached up and gently touched the side of his left cheek that had scratch marks on it. “Are you okay?”

Conrad nodded. “Nothing that a little antibiotic ointment and sleep can’t cure. Man, that woman sure has a lot of fight for being so tiny. I mean, I was an all-star, state-champion wrestler, and she made me feel like I went through an entire match with a contender.”

“I guess that’s what happens when you have nothing left to lose. I feel bad for her. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was awful what she did, but to be so filled with despair, I can’t even imagine feeling like that. It makes me glad I have my faith.”

“Me too, though I’m new to it, I’m glad God was with us today,” Conrad confirmed, stretching out and pulling Tiffany into his arms. “I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to you, or your nephew for that matter.”

“You didn’t have to risk your life for us,” Tiffany whispered against his chest. “You don’t even know Marcus.”

“Yes, I did. Anyone that matters to you, matters to me,” he countered, letting his chin rest against the top of her head.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Mrs. Boswell, Roger and Tiffany’s mother said, rushing up to stand next to Conrad and Tiffany. “The police just told me what you did, Mr. Gaines. I can’t thank you enough for saving my grandson’s life.”

“Neither can I,” Tiffany heard her brother say, joining them. “After how I treated you right before, I wouldn’t have blamed you for walking away.”

“Like I said, I care about Tiffany, and I would do anything for her,” Conrad vowed. “Besides, what type of despicable person would sit back and let a child be kidnapped? No, I had to intervene.”

“Well, I’m truly grateful, Conrad. If it hadn’t been for you, I might’ve never seen my son again. I was wrong about you. I won’t stand in the way of you being with my sister.”

“Hey now, I have a choice in the matter,” Tiffany said, leaning back for a moment and giving both men an irritated glare. “Of course, I made my decision about Conrad a long time ago. He’s a keeper.”

Conrad leaned down and kissed Tiffany. She was grateful that despite how it happened, everything had worked out for the best. Everyone was safe, she had her family’s support, and her relationship with Conrad was finally out in the open for all to see.

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