Page 94 of Free to Breathe
“Now, just a damned minute, young lady…” my grandfather sputters. Corinna smoothly cuts him off.
“I’m fairly certain anyone who knows me will assure you I’m never going to be a lady. I’m a woman. And as your grandson’s woman, it’s my job to protect his heart the same way he protects mine—ceaselessly.” I brush a kiss on the top of her hair before plucking the phone out of her hand.
“And now that you’ve met the woman I love, do you have an update for me?” I ask dryly.
“Impatient thing. I was having fun with her. Let me talk with her again,” the old man demands. There’s a twinkle in his eye I haven’t seen in far too long. My lips twitch before I can stop myself.
“Grandfather…” I warn. He waves his hand in front of the camera.
“That boy is a menace. Your father and that woman did a shit job raising him.”
“Tell me something we don’t already know.”
I watch as the old man lights a cigar before continuing. “I did a much better job with you. Awfully proud of the way you turned out.”
I choke. “Proud of me? You didn’t bother to contact me for ten years.”
“That was the way you wanted it, boy. You should have always known I loved you. You should have known to come to me after what your father did. It was just damn wrong.”
I feel Corinna’s hand as she squeezes my thigh tightly. If it wasn’t for her calming presence, I might have exploded. As it is, I can’t help but rail at him. “If I meant so damn much to you, if you were so traumatized by what happened to me, Grandfather, how could you allow him to keep living his perfect life? How could my father keep everything you gave to him while I fought to keep everything he almost took from me?”
My grandfather shakes his head. “I didn’t, son. Not long after you left, I demanded a board meeting. He was voted out. Your uncles Gregory and Thomas took over. The majority of their children work in the firm now, but that’s neither here nor there.” My grandfather waves his hand in frustration. “Your father retained what shares he could, but he lost a large portion of his inheritance when I cut off his trust fund and cut him out of my will.”
My eyes bug out. “What?”
His eyes harden. “No one hurts my family, even if they’re family. I wasn’t happy about your decision, Colby, but that’s because I knew about the areas you’d be deployed to. I was scared. I couldn’t have been prouder of what you wanted to do though. I was going to see if you were still willing to go Ivy and join ROTC.”
“Jesus.” This is freaking unbelievable.
“Senator,” Corinna interjects next to me. I turn the phone so it’s facing her. “What happened to Colby’s father then?”
“Apparently after he ran out of money, he went to go live with his mistress and Jack in Groton.”
A horrified look comes over Corinna’s face. Mine must mirror it.
“That asshole fucked with my life because he didn’t get Daddy’s attention? Jesus, he can have it,” I rail. “I just don’t want him to keep popping in and out of our lives, Cori.”
She shrugs. “So don’t let him. Have your grandfather’s fancy lawyers draw up some papers to that effect, baby. I think it’s the least he would do for you.”
My grandfather pipes up. “Pretty and smart. Not a bad choice, son.”
I ignore the old man. “What do you think he’ll want for that assurance?”
Cori smirks. “If Jack was smart, assurance you won’t kill him.”
“He should be so lucky.”
“Then tell your grandfather a list of things you can live with, and put something you can’t as last.”
I brush my lips against hers. “I hate to agree with him, but he’s right. You’re so damn smart.”
She laughs. “Hardly. Ali’s just been hanging around a lot.”
“No, it’s your ability to read people with that enormous heart I fell in love with.” I kiss her one more time before taking the phone back. “Is this doable?” I ask my grandfather.
“I’ll call my lawyers tomorrow on one condition.”
Warily, I ask, “What’s that?”
