Page 150 of Scandalous Contract

“Sit down,” I hissed, sliding the blade from my pocket for them to see it.

I didn’t want to act a fool in front of Julian, but I would. Susan’s old evil ass pretended to faint, forcing Abby to catch her and slowly lower her to the floor as Arnold’s cries of pain filled my home.

“She’s mine now. And her daughter is also under my protection," Julian continued, still pushing Archie’s fingers back, forcing the man to his knees. "If you come near them, if you call them, if you ask Stefanie for anything again... you won’t be dealing with her anymore. You’ll be dealing with me.”

Arnold opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but Julian cut him off.

“And let me make something real clear.” Julian took a step closer and leaned down until they were practically nose to nose. Arnold flinched. “I won’t do things the legal way. I have no need for cops and lawyers. I’ll handle things my own way. And my way ends with your entire family, your mom included, buried somewhere no one will ever find you.”

I stood frozen behind Julian, heart pounding, watching as Arnold’s face lost every ounce of color. Julian shoved him back. Arnold fell near Abby’s feet. Crying, she told her brother to help her with their mother.

“Get out while you can still walk out on your own,” Julian said, voice still calm, yet terrifying as hell. “If you don’t, I’ll break your legs and throw you out.”

Arnold pushed himself to his feet, not even bothering to assist his sister and mother up. The man raced from my house like hell was chasing him down, ready to call him home. My gaze moved to Susan and Abby.

“What the hell are you waiting for?” I asked them. “Get out of my house.”

“Get up, ma,” Abby whispered to her mother, who opened one eye to stare around the room. “Hurry up.”

Susan started crying as Abby helped her to her feet.

“Stop crying,” Abby ordered.

Susan sniffled, but the tears stopped. When they reached the door, I stopped them.

“Wait!” I said.

Abby and Susan froze. Outside, I heard Arnold calling for them to bring their asses on. Abby slowly faced me.

“What more do you have to say to us?” she whispered, tears shimmering in her gaze. “You want us out of your life. We got it. You don’t want us to contact my brother’s child. We got that too. You have another man in your life, so you want to break ties with us. Yeah, we get it. But one day, India will learn she’s not yours...”

“Shut up!” I hissed, taking a step forward.

“Oh!” Abby’s eyes widened, her smirk returning. “Your new thug of a boyfriend doesn’t know you can’t have kids, does he?”

I felt like I’d been submerged in a bucket of ice water. It was like everything in me, my heart, my soul, my mind, all went numb with the chill her words brought over me. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

All I could think was that he knew now. Another person knew that India wasn’t my biological daughter. Another person who knew India now knew her truth when even she didn’t know it.

That sent cold dread cruising down my spine. But then I felt Julian’s fingers intertwined with mine, and warmth started to return. The cold was partially chased away by the words he uttered next.

“You’re more family toyourdaughter than any of them are,” Julian told me. “Blood doesn’t always mean family. Love, loyalty, respect, trust, and protection are more important than blood if you ask me.”

To Archie’s sister and mother, Julian said, “India is blessed to have Stefanie as a mother. If she’d been placed in a home like yours, she wouldn’t shine as bright as she does today. And she shines today because her mother raised her right, because her mother shines too. They say light needs darkness to balance things out. I’m that darkness. And you don’t want me to show you just how dark I can get. Leave, before you make me show the woman I love another side of me,” he told them, voice calm but tinged with that darkness he spoke of.

Abby swallowed, then turned away, leading her mother away from my home and hopefully out of my and India’s lives forever. Julian walked to the door, removed his keys from the lock, and closed it.

When he turned back to me, his face softened instantly. He opened his arms, and without thinking, I flew into them, pressing my cheek to his chest. He wrapped me up tight, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other stroking my spine.

“You okay, baby?” he murmured into my hair.

I nodded against him, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“I should’ve been here sooner,” he said roughly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t. Fucking lunch traffic!”

"You were right on time."

He pulled back just enough to look down at me, cupping my face in his big, warm hands.