Page 77 of Unveiled Wounds

“How many times do you visit in a week?” I asked Grizz, knowing it was harmless. I wouldn’t look for a problem when there wasn’t one. However, I thought it might be fun to have a date night. I’d save that nugget for an appropriate time.

“Only to fix things.” He gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. I was teasing, and when he caught my smile, he continued. “Anyway, Clara was working for Jigsaw off the books at the tit show. We know she was paying him on her knees, but it’s not a stretch to think he could be Pumpkin’s sperm donor.”

“You’re Pumpkin’s father.” She was ours, and I wouldn’t let anyone convince her otherwise.

Grizz’s eyes became hooded, and his nostrils flared.

“I’m going to be the first one who christens my office,” Sabre chuckled, and Grizz settled back down. I laid my head on his chest, comforted by the heat still pouring off of him.

“Jig’s gone, so Scrub offered to run his.” Sabre filled in the rest of the story.

“Do you honestly think we should?” Grace asked Sabre. “I feel like this is a can of worms. Once it’s opened, we’ll never be able to keep it contained, no matter what happens.”

Sabre shrugged. “We’ll raise JR and Pumpkin as cousins either way, so I don’t see the harm in knowing.”

“Are you going to tell JR about Matt?” I asked Grace, genuinely curious.

“I never want to think about Matt, but JR has a right to know, and if he asks, we agreed to tell him.” She shrugged, matching Sabre. He held his hand out to her, and she laced their fingers together.

“If you agree…” I looked up at Grizz. “…I think we should allow it. We’ll know, and if Pumpkin ever wants to know where she came from, we can tell her the truth.” Grizz nodded, agreeing with me.

“I’ll let Scrub know,” Sabre said. “There’s more.”

“There’s always more.” Grace turned up her nose, and Sabre reached over to flick the end.

“Cyph’s been watching the bank since the news about Matt. They’re trying to figure out the best way to protect themselves, no matter who they hurt.”

“Why can’t they just let it go? They’re the ones who let Matt get away with it for so long.” Grace picked at an invisible piece of skin on her thumb.

“I know you’re tired of this.” Sabre tightened his hold on her, stopping the motion. “Cyph says they’re going to write off the losses, and you’ll be able to close Matt’s estate.”

“I’ve already decided. I’m going to sell the house, and all the money can go to JR. I’ll get Count to help me arrange it, but I want nothing from Matt or his cartel buddies,” Grace said.

Sabre made a noise and turned towards me. “Do you want to tell her?” he asked Grizz.

Grizz patted my ass, shifting so that we were eye-to-eye as I sat up. “Since the bank is going to close Matt’s file, they want to make an example out of you.”

“Why can’t they make an example out of the cartel? They’re the bad guys in all of this.” My only crime had been thinking I was in love with Brandon.

Grizz shook his head. “They could, but they think you’re the easier target. They’re right. The cartel could keep them in litigation for years, and that’s assuming Diego doesn’t sneak across the border. They’re the cartel for a reason, baby.”

“So, now what? Am I going to be broke? They’re going to take everything from me, even though I’m innocent?” My tone was rising, and I didn’t know how much longer I could sit here without losing my shit.

There was a knock on Sabre’s office door.

“The calvary,” Grizz told me, wrapping his arm around my waist. “It’ll be okay. Trust me.” He kissed me, sealing his promise.

“Come in,” Sabre called.

The door opened, revealing Emily and Cyph.

“You ready for us?” Cyph asked, and Sabre raised his hand to wave them in. They sat on either ends of the other couch.

Emily situated a stack of papers in her lap with a yellow legal pad on top. She raised her hands. “Before we start, I have to warn you. You can’t tell me anything that’s not public record. I have to say what my sources are, and ‘inside’ doesn’t help anyone.”

“I already told her the basics.” Cyph opened his laptop.

“It’s Monday,” she said. “The bank is open, and I’d like to call the fraud investigator assigned to a property Meredith is on. I have a plan, and I’m pretty sure it’ll work, but I’ve been waiting for the right time.”

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