Page 49 of Haunted
“Whatever. At least with this I’ll be done with the bitch.”
“Funny, that was almost word for word what my daughter said.Almost. Now, to the most important document. You will be signing over parental right and custody to your wife. Now, here’s where my daughter has a brain of her own. I wanted her to demand that you were removed from the birth certificate. Instead, there’s an adoption agreement in here. You will agree that Pez will adopt Cammie, however you will remain on the birth certificate. You will also agree not to contact Cammie or Daphne unless they seek you out. If at any time Daphne wants to talk to you, then it will be in a public place, with Daphne, one of her parents—if not both—and you. At no time will Serena or any spouse or girlfriend you have in the future be part of the equation. If Daphne would like a relationship with her brother or sister in the future or any of your future children, that will be her decision, and arrangements will need to be agreed upon at the time.”
“Stupid bitch thinks she has it all figured out,” he mutters, but before he can sign the paper, I grab him by the collar of his dingy-orange, prison jumpsuit.
“Listen here asshole. You need to learn to be respectful about my daughter in my presence or anyone, because if you’re not and I find out about it, what you signed here today willnotsave you. The only reason Daphne is keeping your name on Cammie’s birth certificate and the option for her to meet with you in the future if she chooses to, is for Cammie. She doesn’t want her daughter to wake up one day and have someone planta story in her head that it’s because of her mother that her father never had anything to do with her. Now, you will sign these fucking papers if you don’t want me to turn in the other cases against you, but know this motherfucker, I have taped recordings, video evidence, printed records, bank records, and computer files on your ass. If you cause my daughter an ounce more of trouble, I will nail you to the wall by your tiny dick. I’m told embezzlement is a crime that has a statute, but lucky for me, bribery and federal corruption do not. So don’t fuck with me. Do you understand?”
He swallows nervously. “I got it,” he says.
“Good boy. Oh, tomorrow your lawyer will tell you that the six women involved in this case have decided to settle out of court and let you off the hook. This is so you can keep your job. Yet, two things are going to happen. That bank account you have in Cayman that you think no one knows about? The one with … Shit what, was the figure in there again, Spider?”
“Almost four million, Sabre,” he answers helpfully.
“You’re going to take that money and divide it up between the six girls. We were helpful and did the math for you, by the way. It comes to six-hundred-thirty-four thousand a piece. We rounded up to make it simple. You’ll probably have to take a little out of your personal account to make up the difference, but I’m sure your new woman won’t mind, seeing as how you will still have a job. I should also warn you that any further embezzling in your company might get you into hot water, since we will be watching you like a fucking hawk.”
I slam my hand down on the table beside the form. The bastard signs the paperwork, not bothering to look up.
“You’re taking everything,” he whispers.
“Just like you tried to do to my daughter.” The three of us rise as I give Eagle the papers. He slips them back in the folder and we leave without looking back.
I feel damn good for the first time in years. I helped end this mess so my daughter can finally be happy. It’s a little disappointing that she won’t let me kill him, but I have his nuts in a vise, and I can cause him pain at any time, so that makes up for it a little. My girl is going to have money to have the best bakery around, too, and that’s after putting money back for Cammie’s college. All of that, and the fact that I’m head back to Cory’s tonight makes this a fucking great day.
I’m going to put the past behind me and slam the door. Things with Annie are as good as they will ever be. Part of it is because of me, part of it is because of Annie. I wish I could go bad and just tell Latch that I wished him and Annie well, and walked away. I’ll wish that until the day I die. Yet, Cory is right. I didn’t force him to walk away and go back to the military. I didn’t have anything to do with the decision the two of them made. My mistake was trying to find the love I had for Latch with Annie and not accepting that my love for Annie was different, but could be good, if I let go of my past. Instead, I tried bringing Latch into my new relationship. It clearly wasn’t the life he wanted. It wasn’t the life I ever imagined I’d have—even if I thought it was a good life that worked for all of us—when it apparently didn’t. I thought Latch was as happy as I was. I was wrong. We weren’t on the same page. We were living a life forged because we loved each other and didn’t want that to change. In the end, our choices destroyed any future we might’ve had.
I still need to speak to Lucy about Latch. She didn’t show up at Cammie’s birthday. At the time, I was kind of relieved. Still, I have some of Latch’s personal shit I want to give her. Lucy doesn’t have anything to do with the club—and most of us are glad. Yet, she still deserves to have her brothers’ flag that was on his coffin and other personal items that went to me and Annie when he died. Annie didn’t want them. I didn’t ask her why. Theonly thing I’m keeping is Latch’s journal and a locket he gave Annie once that had a picture of the three of us inside. One day, my Daphne might want to read about her second father, and she may want the locket to keep. When the time is right, I’ll talk to her about it. Cory says I need to make sure she’s secure in my love for her, because I’d been absent for so long. I’m going to listen to her, because I want to make sure that Daphne knows that I love her and Drew the same and always will.
I’ve called Drew a few times. He’s older, so he knows more than Daphne. He’s happy I’ve got my head out of my ass and is coming in the next time he’s on leave. I will have my family completely back and a hot as fuck old lady, who I will eventually talk into moving to Corbin.
Life is good.
Chapter 35
Daphne
Six MonthsLater
I look around my new bakery and the pride and accomplishment I feel is earth shattering. I never thought I could do this. Eli always believed in me, but deep inside me was still that teen who had all these dreams, but allowed a man to make her think she couldn’t do it.
I haven’t heard from Dane since he signed the papers. I did receive the money he agreed to pay and after paying the club for the building—Pez had paid quite a bit on it, but our money is in a joint account so, I didn’t bother losing our fight about me paying him back. I’m not starting out our relationship counting dollars about what part is his and what part is mine. We’ve both agreed this is a mutual partnership and we’re a team. The bakery’s money is in a separate account. I draw a salary but that’s it. Any money after paying the bills stays in the bakery’s account. It’s a daunting journey, but I’ve loved every minute of it. Today, all my family and friends are gathered here in celebration. Tomorrow is the grand opening, but today I just wanted a private celebration. The inside of the bakery is gleaming and ready to go, but today the party is the courtyard that is attached to the building. I step through the double doorson the side that open to a beautiful courtyard that is covered by a pergola, with lights dangling along the way. At night it will look something akin to a fairy garden thanks to the stone flooring and strategic landscaping. Relaxing music plays in the background and fans keep the breeze going, cooling the entire area. Eli, King, BB and Spider are laughing at a picnic table that is on the far end, away from the pergola seating—which has six round tables under it and a sitting area that is just a sleep outdoor sofa and two matching chairs. It’s the wall of my shop where the pergola is, The matching wall I put up to close off the area that is attached and the wall of the building beside me that I love the most. I hired BB’s wife Beau to do a mural for me. It covers all three stone walls and depicts a fantasy garden that you’d think a dragon would be lying in the middle of resting. It’s perfect. We also wired the walls with lights that change colors to highlight the fantasy atmosphere. The nice woman who owns the building beside me, didn’t even mind getting her wall painted. She loved it. I was going to pay her, but we settled on me giving her employees at the clothing shop she runs, free coffee and dessert on their lunch breaks. She only has five employees, and I like them all. It was a deal for me.
“I think it looks good,” Beau murmurs from beside me. We’ve become really great friends. Well, me, her and Gabby. Their friendship is nothing like I had with Serena. I’d trust these women with my life. Maybe it’s because they seem to love their men, like I love Eli, but getting close to them, just came naturally.
I hug her as Gabby comes over. “I love it, Beau. It takes my breath away every single time.” Beau actually blushes, and I can tell she’s a little too embarrassed to reply.
“I love it too. I told King we’re going to have to hire you to do something similar at our house. I can’t get my girl out of that dang cave you made,” Gabby says.
I laugh along with them as I look over and see Ella and Cammie playing in the small cave. We made the cave area first. I tired some contractors who used foam and cement to make three adjoining caves that glow with a soft green light. Beau painted the caves larger on the wall, so it looks like the small cubbies are actually just the entrance to the caves. It’s kind of awesome. I have outdoor cushions in them, too.
Cammie is older than Ella, but they’ve become fast friends and I’m glad, because I was worried about moving to Corbin. Me, her and Pez all live in the apartment above the building. It’s more than enough right now, but that’s getting ready to change. Eli and I found a house which is just fifteen minutes from the bakery and about the same from the clubhouse. We put in an offer this morning. The real estate agent was pretty sure it’d be accepted without issue. It’s a two-story, barn dominium that’s white with black dark wood accents. It’s gorgeous, comfortable with lots of windows and light. It also has five bedrooms. Eli was adamant that we’d need it because we were going to have more kids when I was ready. I want to get my bakery well-established, but having more kids with Eli is definitely on the list. I’d love a little boy with his beautiful features.
“The party can start now. We’re here!” Dad announces I turn to look at him and Cory walking into the courtyard hand in hand. The difference in my father the last seven months or so have been everything I’ve ever asked for. He’s happy. He said Cory brought peace back in his life and gave him permission to let old ghosts die. I loved her before, but she’s become a second mom to me.
I walk over to hug Cory and when I do, I can’t miss the flashy diamond on her ring finger. “What is this?” I squeal, grabbing her hand.
It alerts everyone around us, and they all gather closely. I feel Eli’s arm go around me and I relax into him.
“Dang, Sabre. You move quick,” Eli says, pressing a kiss against the side of my head.
