I took it all in, realizing how much effort they’d put in to get Benjamin here. Even using one of the club chicks as part of the ruse. I was seriously impressed. I wondered what the plan from here was.
“What do you want?” Benjamin glared.
“I want you to deliver the message that Sophie’s already spoken for,” Axel began, stopping his slow circle to stand in front of the chair. “I want you to make it fucking clear that any future marriage is off the table. And,” he continued, pulling Benjamin’s head back so he was forced to glare up into Axel’s face, “I want all the fucking knowledge you have on her father. Anything less and all your conversations with Tracy and all the other shit we dug up on you gets spread far and wide,” he threatened, before letting go of his hair with such force that his head snapped forced. Axel stepped back with his arms crossed over his broad chest and waited.
“You think I know shit about her father?” Benjamin protested.
“I know you do,” Axel bit out.
“If you know so much, then what do you even need me for?” he demanded.
“Proof,” Axel shrugged.
Benjamin hesitated, sweat beading along his brow as he licked his lips nervously and shook his head. “I don’t know anything.”.
“Babe,” Axel spoke to me, his eyes moving to find mine. I knew what he was saying without needing the words. This was the part where things could get ugly. Again, he gave me the choice.
I nodded in understanding, slipping from the room.
I knew Axel operated outside of the confines of the law and he did that a lot. I also knew he was the best husband and father I could have ever dreamed of. That was what mattered to me.
******
“It’s not enough, man,” I heard Cole mutter as I was getting Maddox up from his nap a little while later. They probably thought I was still in the main room with the girls, far from earshot. “It’s a lot more than we had, but not enough.”
“I know,” I heard Axel growl with frustration.
“What’s next?” Mack asked.
“Holy shit,” I heard Sal’s intake of breath and my body went rigid at his tone. “You’re not going to fucking believe who I see on the video feed standing out front.”
Chapter 19
My mother stood in the middle of the main room in her crisp designer outfit looking like a fish out of water. Not a hair was out of place, not a wrinkle to be found, yet her eyes gave away her frazzled state.
“Sophie,” her voice rang out through the large room as I emerged, holding Maddox in my arms.
I felt Axel’s warmth at my back, providing unspoken support and comfort as I moved deeper into the room.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, noting the quiet audience we had as the girls looked on with wide eyes and the men stood scattered throughout the room, watching our exchange.
Her hand flew over her mouth as it visibly shook. “Is that…?” Her voice was a ragged whisper as she looked at Maddox.
“My son. Our son,” I amended with a nod, looking up at Axel.
“Oh, God,” she breathed.
Mad squealed, reaching his arms up for his daddy. Axel took him in his arms, moving to stand to my right as Sal took my left.
“Sal,” her voice was a murmur as she took us both in.
“What are you doing here?” his voice was cold and unyielding. For every bit of misguided attention she’d forced on me as a child, the only thing she’d offered Sal was indifference.
Sal’s father was a Spanish man from humble roots. Though I think my mother had loved him, she removed him from her life in search of pedigree and prestige.
My father had fit the bill to a T. I couldn’t fathom choosing money over love.
“I want to help,” she replied, effectively shocking the hell out of me.
“Come again?” Sal demanded.
She glanced around, clearly uncomfortable by the amount of eyes on her. “Can we talk, in private?”
I looked to Axel and then to Sal, letting them make the decision. After a brief moment of hesitation, Axel nodded.
“Take Mad,” he instructed Ryker, carefully handing our son to his uncle. He grasped my hand, his touch warm and firm as he led us back to Cal’s office.
Axel and Sal leaned against the desk as my mother took a seat. I couldn’t remain that still and stood, leaning against the wall pensively.
“Talk,” Sal ordered brusquely and despite myself, I winced at his tone.
“I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes, with both of you,” she began. “Despite what you may think, I love you both very much.” She swallowed as I sucked in a surprised breath. I could remember only one other occasion where she’d said she loved me in my entire life. “I’ve had a lot of time to reflect this last year. I’ve lost both of you and I want to try to make things right.” She twisted her hands in her lap, a nervous gesture I’d never seen in her before. She was always so put together, so impenetrable.
“Your father…” She shook her head, looking at me. “His sanity has…well, he’s changed,” she said primly, trying to hold on to her pride while delivering what I was sure she considered shameful news. “He’s obsessed with bringing you home. I’m worried he’s going to do something brash. Well, more brash,” she amended.
“You know he has men here in Hawthorne scouting?” Axel cut in.
She winced. “I didn’t know for sure. But I’ve caught wind of some of his conversations. I knew he might be planning something.”
“He belongs in the fucking nut house,” Sal muttered.
“You might be right,” she allowed. “I left him.” She shared the shocking news with quiet dignity. “I gathered what I could. I think it will help,” she offered, pulling a large file out of her purse and handing it over to Sal.
Sal reviewed the file, his brows lifting before he handed it over to Axel. “It will,” Sal nodded.
My shoulders sagged with relief, ready to be done with this insanity.
“Do you think after all this is over – if I came back to town, that we could talk?” she asked cautiously, her gaze snapping from mine to Sal’s.
A heavy silence followed her words as Sal remained motionless with his arms crossed and gaze to his boots. I could understand his reaction but as for me well, I wanted to believe that redemption was possible.
“Maybe,” I nodded.
“Maybe,” she swallowed, accepting the words before rising and straightening her blouse. “He’s beautiful,” she told me and I knew she meant Maddox.
“Thank you.” I nodded, moving toward Axel as he lifted his arm to pull me into his body.
She gathered her things and left the room without another word.
The sob that escaped me was unexpected and sudden. I curled into Axel’s big body as his arms came up around me holding me tightly.
“I’ll go see her out,” Sal offered, leaving us a few moments together.
“Baby.” Axel’s sigh was sympathetic as he held me tighter still.
“I don’t know why I’m crying!” I sputtered. “She was always so mean to me but I guess I miss her, which is so screwed up.”
He squeezed me tighter. “She’s your mom.” He knew firsthand how deep that love ran and how confusing it could be.