Beauty and the Billionaire

“Are you shitting me?” Dane's eyes come to me as he listens to whoever is on the phone. “I can do that. We’ll be there shortly.” He pauses again. I get up, needing to get dressed for whatever is going on. “Fine but who else is on your team that’s here?” I wring my fingers together, dying to know what the heck they are talking about. “I know that, but I’m not fucking leaving her alone,” he growls into the phone.

Ryan lets out a whistle, drawing both our attention. “I’m here.”

Dane thinks it over for a long moment. “I’m on my way,” he says before ending the call.

“What’s going on?”

“Between Roman and me calling in some favors we got a judge to sign off on everything for Faith.”

“What?” Hope blooms inside of me. “How is that even possible?”

“Oz always gets his way when he’s after something. What is this something?”

“We’re filing for an adoption,” Dane answers.

“The fuck?” Ryan almost comes out of his chair in shock.

“I’ll explain later. I need to get dressed and head to the judge’s office.” He grabs my hand, leading me back toward the bedroom.

“It’s happening?” I ask, needing him to give me some reassurance. I want to make sure I understood exactly what he was telling me.

“Ryan wasn't lying, baby. When I want something, I’m going to get it.”

“I still don’t get how this is happening so quickly.”

“Let me worry about that. You get dressed and eat. The office isn't far, but you don’t leave this suite. Understood?”

“Yes,” I answer instantly. “Go get our girl.”

16

DANE

“I don’t want anyone coming or going from here,” I tell my brother.

“Got it, bro.” He gives me a mock salute.

I stare him down, not in the mood for his antics. He needs to be serious for once. I was hoping college would do that for him. I suppose he might need a girl to come along and knock some sense into him. It worked for me.

“Seriously. I got it. No one in and no one out.” For once he gives me what I ask for. “Go do what you need to do.”

“Thanks. Try and get her to eat something when she comes out.”

“On it,” he says before I’m out the door.

It’s about time something started going right for Kennedy and me. Even with as much pressure and shameless money Roman and I had thrown around, I still thought this might take a while. Luck was on our side when we found out the mayor was up for reelection as well. We’re both now top donors to his campaign. It will be worth every damn cent if it gets us Faith.

“I need a car,” I say when I get to the concierge desk. I drop a hundred on the table in front of him. He snatches it up.

“Right away, sir.” The kid is out of his seat to do my bidding.

I wait at the front entrance. The kid pulls up with a black car as my phone starts to go off. I don’t answer it until I’m on the road.

“I’m on my way.”

“Oz.” My mother’s voice comes over the speaker. I didn’t think rage and anger could hit me so quickly, but the sound of her voice proves otherwise. “I know we have our differences, but did you have to cut off everything?”

She’s trying to stay calm, not wanting to lose her composure. Even now she’s trying to fit into the world of the wealthy. It wasn’t too far from where Dad found her in a run-down bar after he’d gotten a flat tire. He swore it was fate.

I’d dismissed her shit before now, knowing it was her insecurities from her past that made her the way she is. That was until she went too far. Until she tried to take everything from me. When it comes to my wife and baby, I won't give even an inch.

“I know what you did.” I don’t even try to hide my anger. I want her to hear it.

“Of course you do. I told you months ago what I did.” She huffs, acting annoyed.

“I warned you. I told you if I found out there was more I’d make your world crumble. Mother or not. I don’t care what promise I made to Dad.”

“Dane Osborne. What the hell are you talking about? I’m a lot of things but a liar isn't one of them.”

“It doesn't matter at this point what you have to say. I know you hired someone to hurt Kennedy. My wife. The woman carrying my child!” I shout the last part. The line goes quiet for a long time.

“You both should come back home. We clearly need to all sit down and talk.” She’s lost her ever-loving fucking mind if she thinks I’m ever bringing Kennedy near her again.

“I don’t have time for this.” I end the call. The conversation is pointless. I toss my phone into the passenger seat. I’m almost at the judge’s office and need to calm down and focus. This is too important to fuck up.