Page 99 of Playing A Risk
“Her easy relinquishment is strange enough, but what’s more bothersome is that she laughed when I apologized for not giving her the heir she wants. Hunter, I don’t think she’s done with us.”
Ava’s voice shakes. “I knew we were asking for trouble by telling our fathers. She even knows I’ve been staying here in town.”
“What other choice did we have? Neither of us wants to produce the baby she so desperately wants.”
“I know that, but she scares me. I came here instead of calling you.” Ava walks to the window and scans the area below. “She probably had me followed anyway, but at least she can’t hear us.”
My nerves fire. My mother has stayed far away from me for years, so I don’t know what she’s capable of. But she causes enough unease in me that I brought on security for Dorothy.
I didn’t want to, but I told Dorothy everything there was to know about the situation with my mother. She read through my man of steel shield and saw how concerned I was, which is probably the only reason she agreed to let me assign Trey to her.
“Ava, was your conversation with my mother confrontational?”
Ava faces me and shakes her head.
“Then why all this panic? A phone call isn’t enough to rattle you normally, so what aren’t you telling me?” I fold my arms.
“Remember how she threatened Helena and her family? What if she has the same plans for us?” Ava rushes over to me. “She’s too calm, Hunter. Her reaction to me was like she was dealing with a broken fingernail.”
I nod because Ava’s right. There’s no way my mother would be adamant about something for so long and easily give it up.
“Do you have a way to get a security team on you for a little while? At least long enough for us to figure out what she’s up to?”
“I can ask my dad, but I don’t want to get him involved any more than he already is. It puts a target on his back. He can’t be threatening her and we both know he would. I’m his little girl, his only daughter.”
I mindlessly move a stack of papers as I take a minute to analyze how Dorothy will feel about what I’m going to do. Considering Ava and my family’s bond and loyalty, she would understand my desire to keep Ava safe.
“Okay. I’ll get someone set up for you. I’ll have them contact you within the hour. Do you think you’ll be safe enough for that long?”
“Thank you, and yes, I should be fine for that long. It’s not like I’ve noticed anything, but I don’t have a good feelingabout it.” Her eyes show her terror of being on opposing sides with my mother.
A wave of tension surges through me. “You’ve got me on edge, Ava. I’m used to ruthless bitchiness when dealing with you. Seeing you like this isn’t sitting well.”
“You don’t know her like I do. And half the attitude I had with you was how she told me to deal with you.”
Ava twists away, releasing a regretful sigh. “I never should’ve come clean with you about where the blackmail came from. Now it’s me she’s going to come after. I’m fucking screwed, Hunter.”
“Not to diminish your feelings, Ava, but I don’t think it’s you she’s after. This has something to do with me and an unborn child.”
My mind races. Mommy Dearest isn’t done with me and that’s enough to have me crawling the walls with anxiety for Dorothy’s safety.
If my mother is willing to kill the Dupree family to prevent them from ruining her plans, Dorothy will be nothing but a speck of dust to be wiped up and easily discarded.
I relieve Trey as soon as I get to Dorothy’s loft, draw in a stabilizing breath, and knock on her door. It opens and on the other side is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, wearing an oversized black sweater and flannel sweatpants. Her hair is in a messy bun on top of her head.
“Beauty, you’re going to kill me in those glasses.”
She reaches for them and pulls them off. “If you tell a soul I wear these, I’ll never speak to you again. I’m only twenty-six and shouldn’t be needing glasses yet.”
“How you look right now is like a sex goddess disguised as the hottest librarian alive.”
She smiles and shakes her head as she opens the door. “Get in here. It’s cold out there.”
“Gladly.” I enter and take off my coat.
So far, she’s receptive to me being here, so I hope that means she gave Jamison the boot once and for all. There’s only one way to find out.
I steel myself for what’s about to happen. “How did your conversation with Jamison go?”
