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“What happened?” I asked. I didn’t want to know, but she’d started it. I might as well.

“Said I’d put on too much weight, again. The absolute bastard.”

Okay.

“Veronica, you are beautiful. I always thought so. You don’t need to change anything about who you are.”

“Stop the bullshit, Dylan.” That was a compliment, Veronica style.

“You made three wonderful kids with that body. You should remember that.”

I meant it, and I’d always told her. Also, Constance had filled me in, so I knew a few things now. I’d started to understand parts of Veronica’s insistence on me having no contact with my children. Because all was not well, and Brandon getting caught with his pants down again had meant no end of amusing anecdotes from my daughter.

I shouldn’t encourage her gossiping, but as much as it concerned me, I had no rights here. No powers to do anything about it. Apart from…

“Anyway, I need a favour.”

“Anything.” I was a doormat, but a polite one. My teeth gritted shut.

“The kids are in New Orleans, at the house. I need to fly to New York tomorrow and then back out to Mexico City. I don’t have time to sort all this out. Pilar gave notice two months ago and was supposed to have left two weeksago, hence I’m paying through the nose to get her to stay until I find her replacement.”

She meantIwas paying. My child support payments had already drained everything I’d ever had. I wasn’t sure how much was left in my account. Probably mere pennies.

“And with paying Araminta double rates to try to hold the fort whilst the agency sources me someone else, it’s causing issues with Pilar, and the agency is adamant there is nobody else available.” She ranted on.

“I see.” I wanted to shout. Scream.You leave the kids on their own in another new city with some woman whom you have to pay to keep them safe? And where are you?I didn’t even know who Araminta was, but there was apparently a Carlos who cleaned and Abraham who did the garden of the mansion where my kids now resided. I didn’t say any of that. Instead, I just nodded, walking in a circle, my bare feet soundless against the cold tiles.

“You’ve caused enough trouble. I can’t even get hold of Hendrix, but since our custody agreement has been ripped up by your legal team, I believe I can do this. And it doesn’t mean I agree to anything else, Dylan. This is a limited arrangement, only because I can’t see any other way, and Constance will kill me if I don’t.”

Constance had no idea how much I loved her. How her strengths and stubborn ideas were everything. Absolutely everything.

“The threats have to stop, Dylan. I give you this, and you call off the hounds. I have no idea what Gun Larsen is playing at, but it’s not appreciated and is stressing me out. This is me meeting you halfway. Not even halfway. Giving you an inch. Do not attempt to take the mile.”

“What are you suggesting?” My voice held, though my hands were shaking. I wanted to go back downstairs, ask Stewart to just give me a bloody hug.

Too much. Far too much.

“I can get them on a plane tomorrow night. A few weeks. Pilar will take them and then turn around and come straight back on the next plane. I am not paying for her to holiday. She’ll demand triple pay, and it’s annoying me. You’ll need to arrange…the rest.”

“The rest,” I agreed, my heart beating out of my chest.

“Don’t make this harder than it is. Just help me out. Let me concentrate on this case, and then I’ll make arrangements.”

“Reasonable,” I huffed out, trying to swallow the panic. Shit. Fuck.

This was happening. This was absolutely happening.Please let it happen.

“I’ll email Jean the details.”

Very Veronica.

I wanted to cry. Scream. Shout. Beg her. Thank her, over and over again. Instead, I said…

“Good.”

She’d already hung up, and my fingers pressed the screen on autopilot.

“Constance?” My voice cracked as my daughter picked up. “Can you talk?”