Page 93 of Reign of the Queen
"Mack and Vincent will most likely try to speak with the boys at my home, but my wife and I will ensure we are present, and that they are not removed from our care." Jack sits down again in the chair in front of the desk.
"They will actually be here shortly." My grandmother drops the statement like a bomb.
"What? Why grandmother?" Panic races through my body, and my first instinct is to grab Carter and run. I'll have to question myself later on why my first thought was to save the fucker who has brought me nothing but drama and derailed by damn plans.
"Mia, my darling. As you can see, Carter is up and, while not completely recovered yet, is no longer in dire condition. Mr. Pemberton has a right to see his son and check on his wellbeing, under our supervision, of course. We will allow him to see Carter for himself. Confirm that he is indeed well and hopefully defuse the situation." She leans back in her chair, a careful blank mask across her features.
She's keeping her cards close, something else is happening here, but I can't tell what just yet. My grandmother is a sly wolf. She never does anything without thinking ten steps ahead. It's what makes her a force to be reckoned with and the scariest bitch I know. Why would she suddenly allow them inside our property after keeping them out for the last two days? Trepidation runs down my back at all the unanswered questions.
"I agree. It's best to let those two see the boys, realize there is no threat here, and go back to whatever else they were doing," Jack replies.
"Oh, I don't know about no threat here." I chuckle. "I think the queen of threats is sitting across the desk."
My grandmother raises an eyebrow but doesn't dispute my comment.
"Does that mean we will be leaving with our fathers as well?" Theo asks.
"Theodore, if your father demands it and you wish to go, we will not stop you from leaving. Carter, however, will remain here until my medical staff releases him, regardless of his father's wishes." Stella smirks.Ah, I see she plans to flex a little Stella muscle.
We hear male voices coming from the hallway, and then Mack Pemberton and Vincent Saint-Lambert enter the room, followed by Clark and Tom in full tactical gear, guns strapped across their chests. I want to laugh at my grandmother's blatant show of force. Mack is watching Tom and Clark from the corner of his eye with concern across his features. Vincent looks like a damn statue, no emotions visible.I guess I now understand where Theo gets it from, the ability to school his features so he's unreadable.
I look down at Carter, still sitting in the chair. He seems to pale at the sound of his father's voice. Theo locks eyes with his father when he enters the room. I see rage enter his features for a brief moment, and then he's locked all his feelings away.
"Stella, what unusual circumstances to finally meet under." Vincent Saint-Lambert moves toward the desk where my grandmother and Jack are sitting. Neither stand to greet the two men, dismissing them as if they weren't of any consequence.
"Mrs. Stratford, not Stella. We are not acquaintances, Mr. Saint-Lambert, and yes, while I agree the circumstances are unusual, they are not unwarranted." My grandmother folds her hands over the desk, not bothering to offer hers in greeting to Theo and Carter's dads. I watch as a tick makes its way to Vincent's jaw at the apparent disrespect and disdain my grandmother's demonstrating toward him. Bet you all of my Stratford fortunes that has never happened before, a woman showing strength to his highness the Baron.
"Boy, get your things, you're leaving here with me," Mack issues in greeting to Carter with a demanding and forceful tone.
"No, I don't believe he will be Mr. Pemberton. Your son is still ill, despite not being in a bed at the moment. My medical staff has not released him from our care," Stella responds, a flash of anger crossing her face at Mack Pemberton's rudeness, despite her own toward him. I want to laugh, but I hold in all my amusement.
"Mrs. Stratford, with all due respect, we thank you for caring for Carter while he was ill, but we have our own medical staff. He does not look dangerously unwell that he needs to remain under your care. We will be taking him and my son with us and back under our care," Vincent retorts, amusement in his eyes.He thinks this is some game that he can win.
My grandmother pushes the chair slightly back, looking across at Carter, then Theo, and finally, her gaze landing on me.
"Mr. Saint-Lambert, let me be abundantly clear here. You have been allowed to cross my threshold so that you and Mr. Pemberton can see firsthand that both Carter and Theo are well. If these two young men, who I might add are of age, do not wish to leave with you, you will, in fact, not be taking them. There really is nothing that you can do to change that."
Mack completely ignores everything she just said, instead focusing his angry gaze back on Carter. "Carter, get up boy. Your momma is on her way back from California and wants you home when she gets there." Mack moves to grab Carter's arm, but I intercept, placing my body in between them.
"Touch one finger on him and I will have Tom shoot you in the face, asshole." I threaten through gritted teeth. Mack stops in his tracks at my vehemence and looks back over his shoulder at Vincent, who shakes his head no.
"Young lady, you do not issue threats. That's my son." Mack grunts, his large body trying to crowd my personal space. His hands clenched at his side and an ugly vein pulsing on his ample forehead.
"Well then, let's be clear here, shall we, gentlemen? The threat my beautiful granddaughter issued is as good as coming from me. If you touch that young man, Mr. Pemberton, or if a single mark is placed on Carter once he leaves my care, be assured that I will hold you personally responsible and will retaliate in kind." Stella stands up and leans across the desk. "Be very careful, Mr. Pemberton. I have little patience where you are concerned. I know what you are and exactly what you do to your child. As for his mother returning, how worried must she be if it's taken her over three days to return home to her ill child?"
Mack steps back from the desk, a shade of crimson appearing on his face and neck at my grandmother's verbal smackdown. He didn't think anyone would call him on his child abuse and his wife's lack of interest.Motherfucker.
"Mrs. Stratford, let's not threaten each other, shall we?” Vincent grimaces with distaste. “I am sure no harm will come to Carter in his own home with his loving parents." Vincent gives Mack a warning look at that statement.
"We are all adults here; I am sure we can come to an agreement that doesn't involve one party threatening to shoot the other.” Vincent stares right at me, making my skin crawl. “As for my son, he will be returning to his rightful place at the Saint-Lambert estate. This situation is becoming taxing. Isn't that right, Theodore?" Vincent stops in front of Theo. Close together, you can see their identical features, the same eyes, nose, and jawline. Theo's a little wider in the chest and shoulders than his father, but his dad looks to be in top physical shape.
Theo doesn't stare back at his father. He looks over his shoulder directly at me and then moves his gaze to my grandmother. "I will remain here with Carter for the night and then return to the estate in the morning." He shifts his eyes back to his father, hardening his glare.
We all see Vincent's immediate anger, his body going rigid at being rebuked by Theo. When Theo doesn't back down, he nods and steps back from his son—returning his attention to my grandmother.
"Mr. Saint-Lambert, it goes without saying the same warning is implied regarding Theodore. In fact, all four boys are now under the Strafford protection from you and your distasteful minions. Be wary of trying my patience, you may be powerful, but you’re dealing with someone with just as much power." She sits back down in the chair, dismissing Vincent and Mack entirely as if they are insignificant and not the powerful men they believe themselves to be. "Oh, and Mr. Saint-Lambert, the next time you wish to try to do damage to me or mine through the President, you might want to check he's not a blood relation of my husband. Now get the hell out of my house."
I let out a laugh;priceless. The idiot didn't even bother researching before attempting to come for us. I look over at Theo; his eyes are wide at my grandmother's dismissal of his father. Carter, the dumb ass who literally has no sense of self-preservation, is grinning at my grandmother, pure unadulterated joy across his features.
