“I won’t.”
“Listen up, kid; this is all about me now. I don’t need—”
“She’s mine to take care of! I go with you, or I go alone.”
Are you kidding me?
“This conversation stays between you and I, Maddox. I know what needs to be said and done. This is because of me.”
“Not the girls who put their fucking hands on Harper. Not the bitches who said they were glad my child died because she wasn’t good enough!”
I hold my hands up, stopping him. He’s livid, and rightfully so.
“I’m very sorry that happened to you. More than you can begin to understand. I love that little girl, Maddox. I’ve watched her grow up, so how could I not? What people say about us, about you and her, doesn’t mean shit. It’s unfortunate that people are that shallow. They see you and want something from you. They see Harper as something getting in their way. Unfortunately, you both have to grow thicker skin. I’m not saying it to be rude, but to protect her, you can’t live like that. You’ll ruin it between the two of you. Show her how much you adore her every day. Ignore the demons and the self-doubt, or you’ll lose yourself and her in the process.”
“I get that, but I’m still going.”
“Maddox, it’s a public restaurant. If you walk in there with me, you keep your cool. You let me say what I need to, and you don’t ever repeat a word of it, or I won’t go in there. Do you understand?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“No, Maddox, you’ll do as I ask. Trust me on this.”
He wasn’t budging, and neither was I. I crossed my arms in front of me and waited for him to truly realize I wasn’t fucking around.
“Fine.”
?
I walk into the restaurant that is full of people enjoying a Sunday breakfast. The hostess tries to stop us, but I smile and keep walking.
I see the weasel’s shiny bald head in the back corner then look back at Maddox to make sure he isn’t ready to lose his shit.
We walk toward the group of men, and I grab a chair from a table next to theirs, filled with women. I wink and drag it to the asshole’s table.
I sit backward in the chair next to Sam and reach over to his plate, grabbing a piece of bacon. “Sam Hammond, just the man I was looking for. Oh, and hey Maddox, do you recognize these two”—I hand him a piece of bacon—“pigs?”
Sam starts to stand, but I push his chair forward, trapping him. “Oh, please don’t get up, Sam. Don’t waste your pleasantries. Maddox, you have your phone?”
“Yeah.”
“Great. How about you get a few pictures while I explain why the fuck the shit that went down last night will never happen again.”
Maddox smirks and snaps a couple pictures. I smile at the camera and point to Sam.
“Perfect. Now, Sam, your daughters—”
“One daughter, Links. The other girl was my niece, Senator Robertson’s daughter.”
“Which little bitch hit my fiancée?”
Sam looks back at Maddox. “My daughter moved her arm, and it just so happened her face got in the way.” Sam looks over at the cops from last night. “A complete accident.”
“And who was talking about a young woman whose father and child had just been murdered?” I shove his chair just as he’s taking a drink.
“Fucking asshole, you spilled my drink.”
“Oh, I am so sorry.”