She held out her hand, and he handed the papers over. He held his breath while she placed the papers against the wall next to the rumpled bed and signed them.
He couldn’t believe it. She signed her parental rights away like she was signing a petition to get the neighbors from three doors down to do something about their noise disturbance.
Just like that. Who was this woman? Why had he wasted so much time in pining over some kind of dream vision about them being a happy family?
She shoved the papers in his hand, and he quickly checked if she had ticked every box. She’d really done it.
“Thank you for signing the papers. It’s the best thing you ever did for him.”
She held out her hand and said, “I want my money.”
Much to Keenan’s surprise, Ronan took out his phone and showed her the bank account with the first five thousand dollars on it. He should have known that Donovan already had arranged everything.
How he was supposed to pay his cousin back, he didn’t know. Shit. He hated to feel blindsided. Although in this case, it had worked and he should be grateful it made her sign the papers.
Without saying as much as a thank you, a sly smile spread over her face. “So, all I have to do now is check in at some place?”
“Yeah, time to pack your shit. We’re taking you now,” Ronan said.
He watched her face going even paler and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She shook her head and said, “Now?… I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“We’ve got a deal, lady. And for the sake of Tommy, I’m willin’ to set you down on this bed and pack all your shit for you. Ye don’t even have to lift a finger.”
“I’m not going.”
Keenan wanted to have a reasonable talk with her, but he followed Ronan’s lead as he said, “The fuck you are. Do it for your son. And if it really is all about the money for you, you better understand that you’ll only get access to it when you follow through with rehab.”
With Evangeline cursing and stomping through the room, Keenan slapped his cousin on his back in a silent thanks. It was a good thing he could play bad cop today.
There wasn’t much to pack as she only had several things she flung into a shopping bag that had been thrown in the corner.
A knock sounded on the door and Evangeline shrieked before she got up from the bed and hid behind Keenan.
Ronan opened the door where Calum and his buddy stood. “We’re here to take Evangeline to rehab.”
“I’m not going with you.”
Keenan turned around and locked eyes with her. After seeing her for the first time in over three years, he’d expected to feel more overwhelmed with emotions. Like a freight train of sorrow to hit him in his chest at seeing her in this awful state. But as he kept eye contact, he felt nothing but this eerie void.
He realized that their relationship had been over long before she’d left them.
In a calm voice he said, “I’m going with you. No one’s going to hurt you. We’re here to help you.”
“I only want you to take me.” She placed her hand on his arm and he retracted it immediately. It didn’t feel right to have her touching him.
“Let’s go. Ro is going with us and one of these guys. You’ll be fine.”
He walked her out of her motel room and when they arrived at the rental car, Donovan got out and said, “You did good, Cuz.”
“I know I’ve been a complete mess these past weeks, but did you and Ro discuss anything with me about any money?”
“I don’t want you to worry about the money, Keen,” Ronan said after escorting Evangeline to the car of Calum’s friend.
“We’re talking about twenty-five grand. It’s a lot of money, Ro. I’m about to take over my dad’s company. I don’t have that kind of money—”
“I suggested it to Don, and I’m paying. I brought you into this mess. And I’m making damn sure to take you out of it. I don’t want it back. And I sure as hell don’t want you to bring it up again. The money is well spent. Hopefully, you can make Ry Blondie’s mom officially now. And I hope Evangeline will take this opportunity to work on getting better.”
With his fierce argument, Ronan made him swallow back the emotion that tightened his throat.
“I’m lost for words, Ro. You didn’t cause all this. She’s a grown woman. It’s not on you, man...”
“I brought her in contact with Derek. I didn’t know he would hook her up, but I should have—”
Donovan interrupted and said, “Okay. We’re going now before she changes her mind. Time to break this up.”
Keenan hugged his cousin and said, “Thanks, Ro.”
“No problem. I’ve got you.”