Page 86 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

She looked at me with concern. “Yes. You’re a great mom. What brought this on?”

“Do you think Henry would try to take Pax away from me?"

“What? Did he say that?”

I shook my head. “No, but—”

“He wouldn’t do that, Sam. He loves you both, and he knows how important you are to Pax."

“He doesn’t love me.”

She arched a brow. “I think he does. I think that’s why this situation is so hard for him.”

“Well, if he did, which I don’t think, he doesn’t now.”

She patted my arm. “Either way, he won’t take Pax. At the very least, he wouldn’t do it because it would hurt Pax.”

"Promise me you'll help me fight for Pax, no matter what happens."

She sighed. "Of course, but it won’t come to that."

As I lay in bed that night, I hoped she was right. I couldn’t stop the legal system from going after my father, and so I needed to prepare for whatever he might say or do to get back at me. At least I had a home, and hopefully before long, access to my inheritance so I could fight back. I might be alone, but I was strong and now I had resources. I would do whatever it took to protect Pax.

28

Henry

Iarrived home after my outing with Pax, heading to my office to work. I’d enjoyed my time with him except for the fact that keeping up with a four-year-old was going to require my developing more stamina. I smiled as I remembered Pax’s laughter and smile as I pushed him on the swing.

It had been difficult to bring him to Samantha’s house as I wanted to keep him with me. She and I still needed to figure out how the custody and visitation would work. I thought back to this evening at her house.

The whole time we were together, you worried about your reputation if it got out about us. Now it’s out, and everyone is feeling sorry for you and thinking how wonderful you are—

Was she really going to blame me for the bad press after what she’d done?

You sent me away. You fucked me, made me think you loved me, and tossed me across the country like I was nothing!

Her words were like sledgehammers into my chest because she wasn’t wrong. Well, she was wrong about treating her like she was nothing. I'd tried to look out for her.

No. You’re Saint Henry Banion. I’m nobody. I’m just the intern.

That statement hit me hard as well. I couldn’t say why. We were in this situation because she'd lied to me about Pax. But the look in her green eyes... like she was lost and alone and... nothing... it was haunting me.

“Mr. Banion, Mr. Layton is here to see you,” Knightly said with a look of distaste in his expression.

“What? Carl Layton?” I checked my watch. It was after nine. What the fuck was he doing here? Especially since I’d heard he was in jail. “I thought he was arrested?”

Knightly shrugged. “I suppose he posted bond.”

I wanted to tell the fucker to leave but I told Knightly to send him in.

"Is there a reason you're here unannounced?” I demanded when he entered my office.

"It’s about my grandson."

I scoffed. “You don’t give a shit about your grandson.”

"Wrong, Mr. Banion. He's my blood, which means he's very much my concern. I know he’s yours as well, and I can help you."

---