Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
“I don’t know. But in the morning, we’ll call this lawyer and find out what’s going on.”
She chewed her lip and Quaid set everything onto the bedside table to draw her close. “I don’t want you worrying about this. Whatever is going on, I’m going to take care of it. I promise.”
74
Indie frowned as the lawyer explained that he needed to meet with her in person about the contents of Billy’s will.
“Can’t you just do it over video call?” she asked. “I’ve got a baby in the neonatal unit and I don’t really have time to go to your office.”
Especially as he was located in Birmingham.
“Actually, I’m not working out of an office at the moment,” Mr. Hughes said with a sigh. “It was broken into a week ago.”
She glanced over at Slade and Quaid who were in Slade’s home office with her, listening in. The lawyer didn’t know they were there, of course.
Slade nodded, then wrote something on a piece of paper.
“I’m sorry that happened,” she said as he turned the paper around.
“Yes, well, I’d really like to tie this all up, Ms. Madden,” he said impatiently. “I was overseas when I received the news of Billy’s death and then it took me a while to locate you.”
Was he expecting an apology?
Sorry I was hiding from the bastard who beat me.
But she sucked in a breath and then glanced at the piece of paper. “We can meet at my new boyfriend’s business but it’s in London.”
“Actually, that will work,” he said. “I have to be in London tomorrow for business. Can you meet me around five?”
“Sure. I’ll email through the address.” She ended the call and glanced over at Slade. “What do you think Billy left me?”
“I don’t know. But the lawyer seems desperate to get everything wrapped up,” Slade said. “Whatever it is, Boo, we’ll deal with it. Like we deal with everything from now. As a family.”
She smiled at him, getting up to walk over and sit in his lap. “I like that. As a family.”
Indie held Quaid’s hand as they sat on the sofa in Slade’s office at Club Slade and waited for the lawyer.
The bell buzzed and Slade turned to look at the cameras. “There he is. Go let him in.” Quaid nodded and stood, letting go of her hand.
“Do you think he’ll be upset that we had him meet us at a BDSM club?” she asked Slade.
“Who cares if he is,” he replied. “This is his job.”
Her phone buzzed and she checked the message. Spencer had sent a phot to the group chat of him with Hope cuddled to his chest.
She had to smile. She might be biased but she happened to think that her baby was the cutest baby in the world.
And her guys were the sexiest.
“She’s so beautiful,” Slade said as he looked at the photo as well. “I can hardly believe we have a baby.”
“I love the way you guys always say we,” she told him.
“We’re in this together,” Slade told her. “We’re a family.”
They were. They were a family.
Quaid reappeared with a heavy-set, sweating man in a cheap suit huffing behind him.
“This isn’t where I thought we’d be meeting,” the man said immediately.
“Hello to you too,” Slade said with a frown.
Mr. Hughes swallowed heavily. “Ah, yes, hello. I’m Evan Hughes, Billy Moray’s lawyer. You’re Ms. Madden?”
“Yes.” She might have stood and shook his hand if he hadn’t been so rude when he first walked in.
So she stayed sitting and Quaid joined her on the sofa.
“Right. Well. I don’t have much time. In accordance with Billy’s wishes you are to have this.” He drew a small metal box out of the leather bag he carried. “This was kept in a secure location and Billy’s will stipulated that in the advent of his death, I was to deliver it to you in person. He told me that I should hire a bodyguard while delivering it. Honestly, the guy was so paranoid. A code is needed to open the box. It’s meant to be indestructible. He said that you’d know the code.”
Odd. What was in the box? And what would the code be?
“Is that it?” she asked. “There was nothing else?” Like a written note or something?
“That’s it. Goodbye.” He strode out.
“Wait. I’ll see you out,” Quaid said, rising.
“Uh, right,” he said, sweating more.
Quaid disappeared with him.
“I didn’t even have to show ID?” she asked.
“There was definitely something off about all of that,” Slade said. “Have you got any idea what the code is?”
Quaid walked back up the stairs. “What was up with that guy? What a dick.”
“I don’t know what the code could be,” she said.
“It also has a fingerprint reader,” Quaid said, studying it.
“What? How am I meant to open that when Billy is dead?” she asked.
“Maybe it’s not his fingerprint,” Slade said. “Try yours.”