Page 34 of Punked By the Playmaker
“Fine,” I huffed. “Give me the stupid thing.”
Levi tsked, holding the ring out of my reach. “Nuh-uh. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”
My frustration peaked. “Get on with it already, then!”
“Patience,” he chastised, taking his sweet-ass time sliding the massive diamond onto my left hand.
Once it was securely in place, he finally let me go.
“We’re late. Come on.” I didn’t bother looking back as I continued up the steps and pushed through the revolving door.
Though he didn’t say a word, I could feel his presence behind me as I placed my purse on the moving belt to go through the scanner and walked under the arch of the metal detector.
“Destination?” the security guard asked.
“Judge Jeffries’s chambers, family court.”
The uniformed man gestured toward the elevator. “Third floor.”
Though my insides were twisted up in knots, I managed to offer him a small smile. “Thank you.”
The elevator ride was blissfully silent, and I used the moment of quiet to center myself, praying Levi was doing the same. We needed to be composed and confident when we walked into this meeting. We couldn’t afford any cracks in the façade to be visible. Not when Maisie’s and Austin’s futures depended on it.
When the sliding doors opened, I breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of my lawyer waiting for us. He’d been my lifeline when Mom’s disease progression made it so she could no longercare for Austin, working overtime to ensure custody was quickly and seamlessly transferred over to me. I had faith he’d work his magic again for Maisie.
“Arizona,” he greeted me warmly. “How’s Austin?”
“Testing my patience every minute of every day,” I joked.
Laughter filled the air. “Sounds about right for a fourteen-year-old boy.” His gaze slid to Levi, who’d stepped up to my right, and he extended a hand. “Jonathan King.”
They shook, and Levi introduced himself in turn. “Levi Nixon.”
Jonathan got right down to business. “I’ve gotten ahold of Maisie’s case file from Kansas, and from what I can tell, you are her only living relative. That’s our ace in the hole when petitioning for full custody.”
Levi’s lips had turned down at the corners. “How concerned should we be about Hilda at CYS’s recommendation against Maisie being placed with me permanently?”
“Arizona mentioned her primary concern was your travel schedule?”
“That’s right,” Levi confirmed.
“Hilda can make her recommendation, but ultimately the decision is up to the judge. Judge Jeffries is known for ruling in favor of biological parents in custody cases, so we got lucky being assigned to him.”
Some of the tension melted from Levi’s shoulders, but they jumped right back up to his ears when a familiar feminine voice spoke from nearby. “Mr. Nixon, I didn’t realize you would be joining us today. Since the proceedings don’t concern you, I hope you understand you’ll be asked to wait outside.”
Without conscious thought, I reached for his hand, prying the fingers of his clenched fist free and lacing them with mine. Under my breath, I said, “Let Jonathan handle her.”
His nostrils continued to flare, but he followed my command, keeping his lips firmly sealed while my lawyer addressed thewoman who had no doubt earned herself a starring role in our recurring nightmares.
“While Ms. Cleary is petitioning for temporary guardianship of Maisie Thorne, Mr. Nixon is simultaneously petitioning for custody, pending the results of a DNA test.”
Hilda’s lips pursed, her whole face contorting like she’d sucked on a lemon. “I see.”
Before she could say anything more to rile Levi up prior to our meeting with the judge, the door to his chambers opened, and we were ushered inside by his clerk.
Judge Jeffries sat behind a massive wooden desk, and Jonathan guided Levi and me to take a seat in the two chairs positioned opposite him.
I clasped my hands in my lap, hoping no one could see how badly they shook. We were about to lie to the court, and there was no escaping the terror that pierced my heart that they would see right through our charade.
