32
Jaynee
Richard’s desert oasis hadn’t changed since we were together before Sadie was conceived. I’d lived here with him, believing all this luxury would one day be mine. The white furniture and shiny chrome were still pristine. Not one thing was out of order.
In the living room, I stared out the wall of windows at the glimmering swimming pool, sick with worry. Sadie was on my hip, sleeping. She refused to let me put her in bed.
We were exhausted after not sleeping much last night in the hotel. Naturally, she’d been confused and upset when I woke her in the middle of the night to leave with Richard. She’d cried for hours in the suite we’d stayed in. It hadn’t taken long before he’d left because he couldn’t take her wailing. He’d left two men to guard us.
Richard hadn’t returned until it was time to go to the airport. He looked like hell and avoided Sadie. I hated the bastard with every fiber of my being.
Thankfully, he hadn’t been around all day. A couple of hours after arriving at his mansion, he got a phone call that had him running out the door. That was five hours ago.
I had no means to communicate with anyone outside of Richard’s place. He’d taken my phone and told his staff and guards to not let me use their phones. There was nothing for me to do but wait for his return… and hold my sweet Sadie.
A door slammed shut behind me. I whirled around at the sound of Richard’s dress shoes clicking on the marble tile.
My heart rate skyrocketed as fear of the unknown crashed down on me.
He went straight to the bar and poured a glass of whiskey. He swallowed it and refilled his glass as he eyed me from across the room.
Sadie stirred in my arms. I bounced gently to soothe her back to sleep even though it was after six in the evening. A nap this late would keep her from going to bed at her usual time. I didn’t care if she stayed up all night. It would be to my benefit because Richard would avoid us if she was awake or crying. My sweet girl might be the only thing to keep me safe.
Richard stalked toward me. Whatever had made him run out earlier must’ve been a big-ass deal. He looked like he could commit murder. Despite being a self-serving prick, Richard rarely got angry. I had never seen him like this before.
“Is everything okay?” I held Sadie closer to my body so she wouldn’t wake up. Richard and I hadn’t had it out yet. I may have voluntarily left with him, but it didn’t mean I’d sit back and let him control me. My priority was keeping my daughter. It killed me to watch the sheriff take Zander away in handcuffs. Somehow I had to appeal to Richard’s reasonable side. Get him to drop the charges against Zander and not fight me for full custody of Sadie.
“No.” He sat on his white leather sofa and crossed his leg over his knee. “Not one fucking bit.”
I shouldn’t question him, but I was curious. “What happened?”
He glared at me as he took a drink. “The fire alarms were tripped. The whole fucking club is soaked to the bone from the sprinklers.”
“Oh my God! A fire? Is everyone okay?”
He sneered. “Don’t act like you care about any of this. You left me.”
“Oh please, Richard. Don’t be so dramatic.” I sat across from him, cuddling Sadie on my lap. “I left because I didn’t want to dance anymore. I still care about the employees.”
“There wasn’t a fire. Everyone is fine.” He drained his glass. “The fire chief said it looked like a glitch in the security system set off the sprinklers and alarms.”
“How long before you get it cleaned up?” What luck. With Richard’s club closed down, I wouldn’t be forced to dance.Thank you God!
He rubbed his eye. Like me, he looked like hell. “A couple of weeks or months.”
“I’m sure you’ll get the club up and running in no time.”
He studied me for a long second. “What’s the deal with her?” He jerked his chin at Sadie.
Good old Richard, always the jerk.
“She wants to go home,” I told him honestly. When she was awake, she cried for Zander. My heart couldn’t take it, which was why I let her sleep.
He uncrossed his leg, leaned forward, and put his elbows on his knees. “Don’t turn her against me, Jay. I’m warning you. I will get full custody.”
Crap. I didn’t want to gotherenow.
“You turned her against you by not giving a shit about her since she was born. Just let us go. You don’t want us, and frankly, we don’t want you either.”