“Yeah,” he replied with a harsh laugh. “Thanks for not calling it an accident.”
She stiffened. “That was no accident,” she hissed furiously. “That ass went after you!”
“Exactly,” he replied, nodding in agreement. “He did. But things have worked out pretty well.”
Frankie grinned mischievously. “Not for Rockwell. I heard he’s back in jail.”
Janus laughed. “Not my fault, this time. The man has demons that he hasn’t dealt with.”
“That’s true enough.” She sighed and looked around. “May I take these? I’ll return them, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Tony didn’t get these via legitimate means.”
Those silver eyes narrowed again. “Are you saying that he broke into Stevie’s house to get those pictures?”
Frankie shrugged. “I don’t know. They look like pictures that Stevie took of her and the kids over the years. They don’t look like surveillance photos.”
“Right.” He rubbed a hand over his face again. “Yet another mess my father created for me.” He nodded at the pictures. “Let me know what you find out about those pictures. My lawyers are already working with the police and the district attorney’s office. Charges will be filed against him this afternoon.”
“Excellent!” Frankie replied. She tucked the envelope into her inside jacket pocket. “I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. And I’ll contact your brother and ask if he’s interested in meeting you.”
“Thank you,” Janus replied, extending his hand. Frankie smiled, shaking his hand with a firm grip.
“I’ll be in touch,” she told him.
Chapter 17
“What do you want?”
Stevie turned at the sound of the familiar, angry voice behind her. It was a chilly Saturday morning and she’d called Janus’ office yesterday, asking if he would be free to meet with her here.
Stevie stood up and shoved her hands deeper into her pockets, not wanting him to loom over her. Of course, he was still about a foot taller than she was, but at least she wasn’t sitting down.
“I wanted to…” she trailed off, knowing that her next words were going to change her entire life. And she resented that she had to do the right thing.
He sighed with irritation. “Spit it out, Stevie. I have things to do.”
As if she didn’t?! Taking a deep breath, she stifled her anger. “I wanted to talk to you about Halley and Harrison.”
“What about them?”
She looked over at the playground, sadness tightening her words. “I wanted to introduce you to them. And figure out a way to…” her voice cracked. “And figure out how we can work this out.”
“Afraid of losing them?”
She glared daggers at him. Her anger and panic were so intense, she almost choked. “No. I’m not afraid. I’m a good mother and you damn well know it.” She nodded towards the playground. “Those two little people are well adjusted and healthy. Only a petty jerk would try to take them away from me.” She glared at him. “Are you that petty jerk? Are you going to play dirty and drag those two innocent kids through the mud just so that you can get revenge? Revenge that isn’t even justified?” She saw the startled look in his eyes. “Besides, if you try to fight for custody, I’ll fight back. I’m not as poor as I was before. I have resources now.”
She took another deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. “But that’s not what’s best for Halley and Harrison.” She paused and looked at her babies again. “I’m not doing this because I’m afraid of you,” she told him. “I’m doing this because…” her voice cracked again and she took a moment to compose herself. “I’m doing this because you’re their father and they deserve to have you in their lives. They deserve to know you.”
“And because it’s my right to know my children too!”
She turned angry eyes up at him. “This isn’t about you or me, Janus!” she hissed. “This is about those two kids over there. It’s about doing the right thing for them! For their future!” She shivered. “I remember wonderful moments with my father before he died of cancer,” she explained. “I don’t remember the angry times, but I remember him teaching me to fish and to cook. He used to read stories to me every night and he helped me with my homework.” She sighed. “Halley and Harrison are…they are everything to me. I’ll sacrifice whatever it takes to make their world right and good.” She looked at him again. “Even if that means bringing you into our family.”
Janus stared at her, stunned by her words. She was right, he thought. He might not like it, but she was right. She was a good mother. The laughter as he watched the twins on the slide was all the proof he needed that his children were happy, healthy, and obviously well cared for. He’d seen her house too. It was cute. Small, but cute. Weird dog, but everything else was…good. Great, actually.
“Fine,” he grumbled. “I’ll call off my lawyers.”
He noticed her shoulders relax. “Thank you. Then I won’t call mine.”
He laughed. “You have lawyers?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course I have a lawyer. After my mother died, I had a lot of legal issues to deal with.”
Her mother had died? When had that happened? Janus remembered Stevie talking about her mother in the weeks leading up to…well, before. He remembered they’d been close.
“When did your mother die?”
Stevie’s eyes filled with tears but she blinked them away, crossing her arms over her chest. “September fourth, five years ago,” she said. “It was a freak car accident. The hospital called me and…well, it was awful.”
September fourth was singed into his mind. That was the day that he’d been tackled!
“I’m sorry,” he replied, his voice gruff. “That must have been a miserable time.”
