Page 145 of The Renegade Billionaire

I nod, but I don’t allow the shame to creep in. I was doing the best I could, and I’m not going to apologize for that anymore.

“But also, the more I’ve thought about it.” Anxiety rattles my ribcage. “The more I realize Pops must’ve known. He was at the trial every day. That must be where he met Ace.”

“I’m sure it was. Ace went every day to ensure Alistair didn’t win. There wasn’t much else he could do because Alistair owned Montgomery Media until the day Ace passed away.”

I nod while thoughts fly through my mind. “I couldn’t go, I was terrified of the cameras. And I couldn’t stomach seeing your father, knowing it had all been a sick experiment for him to see if he could manipulate the world on his whim. He exploited young women—girls who were barely out of high school, and whose only crime was loving someone who may or may not play professional sports.”

“That’s how he targeted all of you. I never read the details, but I know that much. It’s why we shut down all our offices on the East Coast during the trial—Ace refused to inflict more pain, even unintentionally.”

When he stares at me, it’s as though he’s staring straight into my soul. “He will never do this to anyone else. I promise you that. Grey and I were already cutting him out of Omni-Reyes, and we’re shutting down Montgomery Media, but he will pay for what he’s done to you.”

I don’t have a response for that, so I stay silent.

“Come home, please. Let me take care of you. I need you close so I can protect you whenever he comes after me. I can’t have you here on your own.”

“How do you know he’s coming?” A shiver works its way through my body.

His sigh could knock over the entire house. “Because he’s already gone after everyone else, and because I hold all the cards now. Also, because Grey and I control all the finances, so he has nothing to lose.”

“Braxton, I don’t know if I can go through that again.”

“I won’t ask you to. But please come home while Grey and I come up with a plan. I haven’t slept in days, and as much as Ilove Clover for taking care of you, this full-size bed isn’t going to cut it.”

He points to where his feet hang off the end of the bed, and a snort escapes, followed by laughter that feels so good I could cry, again.

“Is that a yes?” he asks.

“Yes. I’ll come home.”

“Thank, fuck. Let’s go.” He lifts me from the bed as if I weigh nothing.

“Right now?”

“Ah,” he glances around the room. “Is there a reason we shouldn’t go right now?”

“I’ll have to talk to Pops.”

“You have to talk to him anyway, sweetheart. The old guy has a broken spirit. He’s barely left the sofa since you left,” he says, gently placing me on my feet.

Guilt is a sneaky little jerk sometimes, but even if he did lie to me, I know deep in my bones it’s because he thought it was best for me.

“Okay. I should tell Clover though,” I say, slipping my feet into a pair of UGGs.

“Heard ya. Love ya,” Clover calls from behind the door.

“Clover,” I say, wrenching open the door. She and Savvy had their ears pressed to it, and neither one of them has an ounce of shame over being caught.

“We had to make sure he was treating you right,” Clover says in a huff.

“We were ready to bust in there if you needed us,” Savvy adds. “But happy to see it all worked out. I’m going home. I’ll see y’all tomorrow.”

She sashays down the hallway. Clover shrugs and follows us to the front door where she envelops me in a giant hug. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” I say. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Always.” Then she hugs Braxton too. “Do not let anything happen to her.”

“I swear on my life,” he says.