Page 69 of Blaze

It worked for my cousins.

“Aren’t any of you scared about giving birth?”Victoria asks.

“God, yes,” Arianna says.“Scared to death.But it’s a natural thing, and Dallas is so involved in every single detail.It eases my fears.I know I won’t be alone ever.”

“Same with Brody,” Melody agrees.

“All of them,” Claire adds.“It’s in their blood.They’re overprotective, but hands-on at the same time.And there are so many of us living here.We’ll never be alone.”

“I’m so young…” Victoria continues.“I didn’t see marriage on my radar, let alone babies.”

“None of us did, honey.”This is from Reagan.

I’m grinning like a loon when Ryder finds me standing here.My girl is pondering everything I want.It warms my heart.I nod at him and quietly move away from the kitchen door to join him.

When Victoria texts me to let me know she’s done with breakfast, I return to get her with a heavy heart.She’s not going to like what I’ve learned from the PI and the lawyer.

“Is everything okay?”she asks as I carry her to the room I’ve chosen to be my own office.It’s a work in progress, but I bet she’s going to like it.

“It’s… No.Not really.”

She sits tall when I deposit her on a loveseat and lower myself next to her.I lift her injured leg onto my thighs even though I know it’s not entirely necessary.Nor is it mandatory that I carry her around.But I like doing so.

“Tell me.”

I sigh.“Thomas McAndrews got a copy of your father’s will.”

“I honestly wasn’t sure one even existed.”

“Of course you weren’t.Your greedy stepmother wouldn’t have told you.”There is snark in my voice, but it’s impossible to control my emotions.

Victoria’s eyes widen.“And?”

“Your grandparents had a sizable estate, which they left to your father and then any of his heirs.Their will did not mention anyone your father would have married, which is common.Parents often leave spouses out of wills.It can get too messy in the event of a divorce.And they certainly didn’t know anything about Sheila.”

“Okay…”

“Your father had his own will, which is a miracle in and of itself.He was rather young.I suppose, after your mother died, he felt less invincible and wanted you to be taken care of.Which was good, but he left your stepmother as executor of the will until you turned twenty-one.”

Victoria blinks.“I turned twenty-one several months ago.”

“Yeah.Side problem.No one really keeps close tabs on executors.Eventually, the probate court might have caught up with her, but it’s not weird that it hasn’t happened yet.In the meantime, she took a hefty chunk for herself every month for all these years under the guise of it being for your upbringing.”

Victoria’s jaw drops.“My upbringing?”

I sigh.“Yeah.”

“How are her country club fees and fancy lifestyle part of my upbringing?”

I run a hand over my head.“Well, it’s a gray area.She got away with it.But now that you’re twenty-one, the money in the estate is yours.Not hers.She’s spendingyourinheritance.”

“And fucking the pool guy?”she shouts.

I wince.I’m not going to call her out on cussing.She deserves this one.I take her hand and bring it to my lips to kiss her knuckles.“It gets worse.”

“It can’t get anyworse,” she yells.

“Oh, it can.She’s on her way here.”