Page 26 of The Hottest Daddy
And it had worked. The first time she’d seduced River, she hadn’t shown how nervous she was. Threatening the boy into silence had been easier than expected. River adored his father and was terrified of disappointing him. It had made her plan so much easier. Two years, she had had unlimited access to the boy, then, when he’d escaped to college, she’d faked reasons to go see him.
It was only when he’d reached maturity that he’d begun to fight back. He hadn’t turned up to meetings when she ordered, or he’d ignored her calls. She’d taken to drugging Ludo and driving to catch River unawares, but he’d always eluded her.
When Ludo had died, she’d known she had lost all hold on River. Ludo, somehow sensing that his new wife wasn’t all she had said she was, had cut her out of the will entirely, leaving everything to River. Angelina, rich in her own right, hadn’t cared about the money, but had been furious that now River had the means and the control to cut her out of his life entirely. And he’d wasted no time in doing so.
But now he would be forced to see her. She would be magnanimous in her dealings with him, offering joint custody, or even just asking for visitation rights. She had already reached out to a realtor in that small Hicksville town he lived in, to find a property. He wouldn’t be able to cut her out of his life now, however hard he tried. It was so perfect, she could laugh.
Brian’s words came back to her. If his obsession turned him down, he was prepared to kill her for it. Would she, Angelina, ever go that far?
Yes.
The answer came back to her straightaway. But what a goddamned waste it would be. But if anyone else got in her way—River’s girlfriend, that annoying housekeeper, or Luke Maslany, who hated her almost as much as River did, then yes, she would dispatch any of them without a second thought.
ButRiver… She got out of the tub and dried herself, walking naked into her bedroom and pulling open the drawer of her nightstand. She took out the small photo album she kept there, amongst her vibrators, her dildos, her drugs—all of her favorite things—and opened it.
As always, her heart began to beat a little faster as she stared down at the photographs of River. She lay back on the bed and slid one hand into her bush, stroking her clit as she looked at his image. The thought of him inside her made her moan and she bit her bottom lip as her orgasm began to build. There would never be anyone for like River, she knew, and as she came, gasping and moaning, she vowed one thing.
You will be mine again, and this time, I’ll never let you go …
Chapter Thirteen
If River had thought Berry might be upset at about his and Sunday’s relationship, he was very wrong. He told her over breakfast, before Sunday arrived for the day, and Berry shrugged.
“I know. You love Sunday.”
River smiled. “Well, we’re just at the start of whatever it is we’re doing, so love is …” He trailed off.Yeah, fuck it.Berry was right. Hewasin love with Sunday, had been from the beginning. “Yes, I do. But I haven’t told her that yet, and I’d like her to hear it from me, okay?”
“Okay.” Berry was busy pulling all the green loops out of her bowl of cereal—she swore they tasted nasty even though both River and Carmen couldn’t discern the difference. “But you do. Momma said she could tell.”
“She did?” River was surprised. He hadn’t thought he’d said too much about Sunday to Lindsay. “You know, this doesn’t mean I didn’t care for your mommy.”
“I know. You and Mommy loved each other but you weren’tinlove.”
River grinned at his daughter. “How did you get so smart, kiddo?”
Berry grinned at him, her mouth full of cereal, and he laughed. Children had never played into his life plan but with Berry, he couldn’t imagine being without her. Screw Angelina—she wasn’t going to risk Berry’s happiness for her own selfish means. He ruffled Berry’s hair, so dark and curly like his.
“Sweetie … you know Nanna wants to see you?”
Berry nodded. “Carmen said she was coming to see me.”
River sighed inwardly but nodded. “She wants you to go live with her.”
Berry put down her spoon and when she spoke, her voice was so small it broke River’s heart. “Don’t you want me to live with you, Daddy?”
“Of course I do! I’m just saying, Nanna is asking if, sometimes, you can go and stay with her. You don’t have to. This is your home, Berry, here with me and Carmen and Sunday too, someday, I hope.”
Berry smiled, a look of relief on her face. “But Nanna wants me to visit her?”
River nodded. He really wanted to scream that no, Nanna was just using her to get to him, but he didn’t. Berry would not be exposed to Angelina’s fucked-up plans if he had anything to do with it, but he had to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she really did care for Berry—it was impossible for River to fathom that anybody wouldn’t want the adorable little girl in their life.
“Hey, gorgeous people.” Sunday walked into the kitchen and River’s heart lifted. Just seeing her beautiful face was enough to make him happy these days. He kissed her on the mouth, just briefly, but she looked surprised, cutting her eyes to Berry.
River smiled. “Berry thinks we make a lovely couple. Don’t you, Berry?”
Berry nodded eagerly and Sunday laughed, obviously relieved. “You two have talked?”
“Daddy is crazy for you,” Berry said, then covered her mouth, thinking she had given away his secret. Sunday and River laughed, Sunday tickling the little girl and making her giggle.
