Page 264 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set

I’m never letting go.

28

CHANCE

“All right, Linda,” I say to Avery’s mother once Avery disappears around the corner in the ER. “Start talking. I found a file in my father’s office regarding someone named Grady Landon Marsh. Is that who’s back there?”

Linda’s aged since I saw her last. We all have. Fifteen years ’haven’t hurt her too much. She’s tanner than I remember. A few extra wrinkles and a few extra pounds. But she looks more worried than she did when she was reassuring Avery.

“This is something you’ll have to talk to Avery about, Chance,” she tells me.

“Avery’s not here,” I say. “And you owe me answers, Linda. I found the agreement between you and my father. I think it’s time you give me some of the truth. Starting with who Grady is.”

Her eyes, so like Avery’s, are sunken and sad. “If you found your father’s files, then you know who Grady is.”

“I didn’t look at that file,” I say. “I was too fucked up after looking at the contractual agreement you made with my father that separated me from Avery. He paid you off, Linda. He fucking paid you off. At your daughter’s expense. And mine.”

“I don’t expect you to understand.”

“I understand you took Avery away from me. God, I love her. I did then. I do now. I always have. I can’t believe you’d be that cruel to your own child. If you didn’t like me, fine, but Avery? Her heart’s so fucking pure. What’s worse, you did it by conspiring with my father. Why, Linda? Why would you do that?”

It’s hard not to raise my voice in the ER lobby.

“Really, Chance?” She sighs. “Are you so jaded by your riches that you have no idea why I might have made an agreement with your father?”

“I had money. I was eighteen, though barely. I could have gotten money for you. For Avery.”

I’m angry, but the truth is, I didn’t have any money. My father made sure he controlled all the money from the ranch. And once Avery was gone, I didn’t give a shit about the money anyway.

Linda must have been desperate.

Still, I’m angry.

“Who’s Grady, Linda?”

Linda shakes her head, running her hands over face. “You need to—”

“Talk to Avery. I know. Avery’s not here, and whoever Grady is, he’s important enough to make Avery—”

I stop mid-sentence.

Oh, God.

Linda finally straightens up and meets my gaze. “Grady is Avery’s son.”

I rise, pace, sit back down, rise and pace some more.

So Avery has a child. A son. We’ll deal with it. I’ll be a good stepfather, and she and I can have more children. Except…

I sit down, face Linda. “Is the father in the picture?”

She shakes her head. “No, Chance.”

Poor Avery. A single mom. Well, no longer. I’ll take care of her and her son. I’ll even take care of Linda.

“I’m back.”

I look up. The sweet voice of my love. Her cheeks are tear-streaked, her hair is mussed, and her skirt rumpled. Still, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.