Page 93 of Enemy Daddy Next Door

This is why we had to let go of our pasts. To make way for the love we both deserve. This one, right here, Hunter and me.

Love that feels like you’re flying and even if you fall, the earth will be there to welcome you back with tenderness.

26

HUNTER

Veronica looks nice sitting directly across from me at Sam Serty’s conference table. Almost like she’s not a fucking drug addict. She’s gotten better at hiding it, although that might just be the Dior saddle bag and splash of Chanel No. 5.

Her lawyer, a woman in a burgundy pantsuit with a piece of jewelry shaped like a beetle on her collar, as severe as they come, organizes some papers in front of her and then smiles humorlessly. “Well, shall we?”

In the case of a custody trial there is, of course, the trial. But there is also the pretrial hearing. And there’s the meeting before the pretrial, which Sam refers to as a “four-way meeting” between the parties and their respective attorneys to try and narrow the issues that will be admissible to be brought before the judge.

Little does Veronica know, we’re not getting that far.

Sam was lovely enough to host at his office. This is where we’re going to stage our coup. We met up an hour beforehand, girlishly giggling at the gotcha moment we’ve organized with the help of Hank’s information.

“Well, I don’t think this will be very long,” Sam says with a sigh.

Veronica’s attorney raises an eyebrow. “Oh.”

Sam and I exchange a look before Sam opens the audio file of the phone call on his laptop. “Please let me know if you remember this phone call, Ms. Ricks.”

I bristle at the fact she still uses my last name.

Veronica can be as cool as a cucumber, but I see fear flashing on her face. What phone call?

Sam presses play. Hearing the conversation breaks my heart all over again. And watching her face fall makes it even worse. However, once it’s finished, Veronica immediately snaps, “That was recorded without my consent.”

Sam grins. “Ah, so you remember…”

Veronica huffs. “In California, you need two-party consent to –”

“We’re happy to take that case on if that’s what you’d like to file. However, given the information contained in this recording, I can’t imagine courts would be too sympathetic to your plight,” Sam says.

Veronica’s attorney’s face is hardened as a rock. I can’t get a read on her. Is she shocked? Embarrassed? “Well, you probably can assume we don’t want that used at the trial.”

“Sure, which is why – um, Harold?! Can you come in here?!” Sam shouts through the door of the office.

The man, Harold, enters, holding a clear cup.

“This is my friend Harold. He’d be happy to administer a drug test for you, which, in turn, would –”

“I won’t do it,” Veronica answers.

Her attorney reaches out in front of her. “Relax.”

“I won’t. They have no reason to believe I’m –”

“We have every reason to believe you’re using, Veronica,” I growl.

Sam clicks his pen. He explained that’s his way of letting his clients know to rein it in rather than bringing attention to it aloud. I purse my lips tight together so I don’t say anything else out of turn.

“She’s my daughter. I have a right to –”

“Your client, D’Angelo,” Sam says to the red-suited attorney.

“I have a right!” Veronica yells and then turns to her lawyer. “You said I have a –”

---