Page 279 of Hot Tycoons Boxset

“A proper investigation has to be done,” Bertha mutters, hostility clearly evident in her tone. “Your vouching is useless till this home environment is deemed safe for the child to return.”

“Is that so?” The silky undertone in Elijah’s voice has the hair on the back of my neck rising. “Then, please, tell me how authentic your sources were before you chose to descend on my son’s home and try to rip his family apart.”

If there was any doubt in Zayn’s friends’ minds about the exact nature of the relationship between Zayn and Elijah, it is now out in the open.

Bertha struggles, indignation in her voice. “We received an anonymous tip a few days ago, along with photographs. Even if that weren’t enough, the interviews with her family and the family lawyer, the events in the news, even from today, show that this isn’t a safe environment for the girl.”

“And you decided to show up in the middle of the night?” Elijah blinks at her, slowly, like a predator sizing up his prey. “Without warning or a phone call?”

The woman stutters. “I’m just doing my job.”

Elijah takes a step towards her and the policemen next to Bertha immediately reach for their holsters, feeling the menace in the room. They are disregarded almost immediately.

“Then why are there reporters on the front lawn?” The question is uttered in a lethal voice. “Reporters who know exactly why you’re here.”

Bertha pales, and then a slow flush creeps up her cheeks as she lies blatantly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Without removing his eyes from her, the older man says. “Mr. Sawyer, would you be so kind as to look out the window and count the reporters outside?”

Ian blinks at the command but he doesn’t hesitate in striding over to the window and parting the curtain slightly before making a sharp sound. “Too many.” After a few seconds. “I see thirteen.” He pauses. “No, make that fourteen.” A knowing glance in the social worker’s direction as he says slowly, “Almost as if someone told them beforehand.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” the woman snaps, and I see a bead of sweat fall down the side of one of the accompanying policeman’s face. Both men look reasonably young.

“You wanted a mediafest?” I choke out. “You were going to use my daughter to get your five minutes of fame? You bitch!”

Pushing Mila into Agatha’s arms, I lunge at the woman only to have Zayn snatch me by the waist and draw me into his chest.

My nails dig into his arm that is banded around my waist and I scent the metallic smell of blood. I find that I don’t care as I swear. “Let me go, Zayn. I’m going to rip her eyes out.”

He tightens his hold on me, breathing in my ear. “Let Elijah deal with her. We have other shit on our plate.”

He dislikes his father and yet trusts him?

The sound of banging on the front door has Philip moving to let in a tall man with dark hair in a sharp suit covered by a trench coat, who is introduced as the Police Commissioner. Sharp green eyes study the situation, and when they go to rest on the two young policemen, the nervous looks on their faces reveal that this might not have been a very well-thought-out plan.

“Care to explain yourselves, officers?”

Henry Chapman has an intimidating presence, and while the two men stammer out that they were contacted by child social services and they were just doing their jobs, I can see from his face that he isn’t buying into their bullshit.

“Does their case have any legitimacy?” Zayn finally speaks up, his eyes on Bertha, pinning her to the spot.

Henry frowns. “It’s very flimsy. Anonymous tips, interviews with people who haven’t been around for years; it’s utter bullshit.”

I feel like something dislodged in my chest, allowing me to breathe again.

Bertha draws herself to her full height, her eyes flashing. “I’ll have you know that if I deem the child to be in an unsafe environment, I have every right to remove the child—”

“But you’re not removing the child,” Elijah cuts her off, his upper lip curling. “My granddaughter is coming with me if she’s going anywhere.”

The social worker clearly does not like the idea.

It is at that moment that Henry takes notice of the man in three-piece suit and his eyes widen fractionally and he breathes out. “Well, shit. Elijah Wolfe.”

A quick glance at Zayn and he connects the dots. “Fuck, Zayn. What the fuck? Your father is Elijah Wolfe?”

“Not now, Henry,” Zayn snarls.

Elijah, however, smiles. “Give my regards to your father, Henry.”

---