Page 99 of Full Out Fiend

But then Winnie wiggles in my arms and uses her pudgy little hand to grab my face again. The reminder of who I am now—a dad, a partner, a med student, and more—slams into me as my daughter draws my attention to her.

At the end of the day, when it comes down to it, this is all that matters. Daphne, Winnie, and me. My family. My future.

I don’t give a shit about Anthony Adley, his brother, or what anyone thinks of who I used to be. The only people who matter on this whole damn planet are the little lady in my arms and her mama.

Daphne’s eyes stay glued to the stack of photos as she leafs through them. After a few seconds, she glances up and catches my eye, both brows raised. Then she smirks.

It’s that sly little grin—something I’m pretty sure she learned from me—that tells me, without knowing anything about the contents of the envelope, that we’re going to be okay.

“You’re right, Anthony. Thesearebad. Almost pornographic, honestly…”

The actual fuck?

I told myself I didn’t need to see the pictures. But now I’m curious as hell.

“Did Andy ever mention to you that Fielding is a twin?” she asks, amusement lacing her tone.

The smug expression on Anthony’s face disappears instantly as confusion blossoms on his stupid mug.

“He’s an identical twin, actually. I thought for sure Andy would have mentioned it, since said twin beat the shit out of him in the downtown parking lot a few years ago.”

Daphne doesn’t give either of us a chance to speak as she steps forward, stands straighter, and continues.

“From what I know, they had a misunderstanding about a girl named Maddie. Andy thought she was available when she very clearly was not. She’s the girl in the pictures here, actually. The girl sitting on her boyfriend’s lap, topless, in the hot tub.

“Although calling her a girl is a bit of an understatement. Maddie’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s headed to law school soon, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she and Dempsey get married one day. I don’t think either of them will react well to these pictures.”

Little Wheeler got my brother into mild exhibitionism? And that’s what this fucker thought he had on me this whole time?

My face hurts from smiling. What goddamn luck. I’m half-tempted to pull out my phone and record the rest of this. I already know I’ll want to relive this moment over and over again.

“You know what these look like to me?” Daphne muses, fanning through the pictures again in mock-confusion. “These look like invasion of privacy. Pornography without consent. Extortion, maybe. I’m not sure of all the legal jargon, to be honest. But I bet Maddie is.”

Anthony grunts, which is the only indication we get that he’s going to make a move. I step forward two paces and step in front of Daphne so he’s fully aware of what he’s bringing on himself if he dares to come any closer.

“Even if she doesn’t know all the legalities or the ways she could sue you, she can afford a good lawyer. Fielding and Dempsey are loaded.”

“I-I didn’t know. I had no idea—” he stammers.

Daphne takes a little side-step around me so we’re standing shoulder to shoulder.

“You’re done,” she declares. “No more, Anthony. No fucking more. I’ll hang on to these as collateral. If you try to contact me, or Fielding, or meddle in our lives in any way ever again, I’ll pass these along to Maddie. You’ll beluckyif all she does is sue you,” she threatens.

Anthony blinks twice, nods like a trained baboon, then stalks away without another word.

We stand quietly, relieved but on high alert, as he gets into his car and peels out of the parking lot. Once he’s gone, I pull Daphne into a hug and squeeze Winnie between us until she squeals with delight.

“You’re so badass,” I praise, tilting Daphne’s chin with one hand so I can kiss her.

She bats her eyelashes and grins up at me before giving me a bashful look. “I just wanted to take care of him once and for all.”

I chuckle as we turn back to the car. “You did good, angel. Standing up for yourself. Standing up for our family. I highly doubt the Adley assholes will be a problem for us ever again.”

I open her door for her and wait as she buckles.

“There’s just one problem, though.” I get Winnie situated in the back seat and double-check her car seat straps before closing the back door.

Daphne’s expression falls as she searches my gaze.