“Rene, we’re done.” He jerked his chin toward Scott. “I’m going to cut you a break, Jonas. I’m going to pretend your client didn’t say what he did or threaten me. Bring him to heel, or next time you won’t be so lucky. I’ll see you in court.”
He shut the door firmly, turned to me, and dragged me into his arms.
Halton
Fee shook so hard, I wasn’t sure how she was standing. Scott’s behavior had been alarming and atrocious. When he had addressed her with his bullshit offer, I couldn’t believe it. Neither could his attorney, from the shocked look on his face—we both knew his wealth exceeded that figure plus the fact that he was out of order. Scott’s sudden fury had set off alarm bells in my head. Something was going on. He was erratic, angry, and clearly not thinking rationally. My one goal had been to get Fiona away from him.
I listened as Rene escorted them from the office and returned, entering my office.
“Are you both all right?”
I guided Fee to a chair, gently pushing her down. I wrapped my hands around hers, shocked at how cold her fingers felt. I rubbed them briskly.
“Scotch,” I said to Rene.
He handed me a glass, and I pressed it to Fee’s lips. “Sip.”
She drank and swallowed, coughing as the liquor burned its way down her throat.
“One more.”
She sipped, then turned her head, indicating she didn’t want any more.
I tossed back the remainder of the glass, welcoming the sharp taste of the amber liquid.
“I heard everything,” Rene said.
“He is out of control,” I muttered.
“His eyes,” Fee whispered. “Something is wrong with his eyes.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. I had noticed there was something off with them, but I hadn’t picked up what it was yet.
“They were black—cold. His pupils…” Her voice drifted off.
I stood. “Fuck. He was high. Rene, check the bathroom.”
Fee frowned. “Scott doesn’t do drugs.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “I think you’re wrong, Fee.”
Rene returned. “There’s some white residue on the sink.”
“Lock it. I want that residue tested.” I started to pace, furious. “That asshole brought coke into my place of business?” I snarled. “He got high during a consultation about his divorce? With witnesses?”
Fee looked shocked. “He always hated drugs. He rarely even drank. I don’t understand.”
I laid my hand on her shoulder. “I think, Fee, love, there is a lot here we don’t understand. But I’m going to find out.”
Rene stared at me, shock registering on his face. I frowned at him, unsure why he was looking at me that way. I ignored him, crossed to my desk, and picked up the phone, dialing the number I swore I wouldn’t use again.
“Reid Matthews.”
“Reid, it’s Hal.”
“You have Wyatt,” he reminded me dryly.
“I need you. I need your skills. Name your price.”
He sighed. “You clear it with Bentley first. I’m not jeopardizing my future, Hal.”
“You don’t have to. I want you to work with Wyatt—make sure he’s looking in the right places. Direct him. I need this.” I glanced at Fee, meeting her worried eyes. I swung my chair around to avoid Rene’s piercing stare. I dropped my voice. “It’s personal, Reid. It’s—” I swallowed “—it’s important.”
“Tell me.”
Rene left and Fee sat in the library. After a long phone call with Bentley and another with Aiden, I waited for the technician Aiden promised to send over. Tom arrived, took pictures, samples, and documented not only the bathroom but the chair Scott had sat in and the area around him.
“Residual dust,” he explained. “In case.”
After he left, I closed the office and drove Fee home. She didn’t object this time. Nor did she say a word when I walked her to her door and waited until she walked in. I followed, giving the place a quick inspection. It was small, but well appointed, clean, and above all, safe.
I turned to Fee. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
I laughed and shook my head. “I don’t know much about women, but I do know the word fine means anything but.”
She passed a hand over her head, the silver glinting in the light. “I’m a little shaken. If what you suspect is right…what does that mean?”
I shrugged. “It depends on their next move. If he has a drug habit, it might explain his sloppy handling of everything. It might work in our favor since his attorney won’t want it known what is happening. Or Scott, being Scott, might go off the rails and make his life hell. Either way, I’ll handle it. I’m going to go ahead and try to get the document you signed struck down, then we’ll decide our next step.” I paused. “Or if you want, I can call Jonas and tell him you’ll take the one million, plus Scott pays my bill, and it’s done.”
I saw her indecision. “Hey,” I murmured. “If this is too much, say it and I’ll make it happen.”
“What would you do?”
I shook my head. “I can’t, Fee. I can’t tell you what to do. I’m not you.”
She frowned, rubbing her arms.
“Think about it,” I encouraged. “Do you want me to stay?”
Her gaze lingered on the window and the gathering storm clouds. “No, I need to be alone. To think.”
It made sense, yet I was loath to leave her. She seemed jittery—more than I would have expected, even after the tumultuous afternoon.
“Are you staying in tonight?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll eat?”
The glass rattled in the windows as the wind picked up. Fee grimaced, her fingers twisting with nerves. “I’ll try.”
“Fee, what is it?” I stepped closer. “What is making you so anxious? It’s more than what happened earlier.”
“I hate storms,” she confessed, her eyes flickering toward the windows again. “I know it sounds silly, but I’m terrified of them.”
I laid my hand on her arm. “It’s not silly. Everyone has fears.”
“Scott used to laugh at me.”
“As we have established, Scott is an asshole.”
She giggled, her eyes wide as if shocked at her reaction.
“He wasn’t always an asshole.”
“Neither was I. We change.”
This time, she touched me, cupping my cheek. “No, Halton, you’re not an asshole. Blunt, direct, and arrogant, but not an asshole.”
I covered her hand with mine. “I don’t like storms either.” I drew in a deep breath, sharing something personal with her. “When I was a kid, my mother forgot about me one day. She took me to the park and just…forgot. She went home and left me, and a storm hit. I was all alone in the park, scared shitless.”
“Oh, Halton.”
“A neighbor was driving by and saw me huddled under a tree. He picked me up and took me home. She answered the door, shocked to see me. She thought I was in my room, playing.” I shrugged. “It was one of many times. But from then on, I hated storms too.”