Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Ford

Anyone would think someone has died, the mood somber since we received the news the roads are now safe to drive. Lenny is upset even though she says she’s okay, but then she disappeared to take a bubble bath with the excuse her muscles are sore. Though after yesterday, she is walking like a cowgirl who rode a horse for the first time.

My phone rings, and I see my father’s number on the screen.

“What?” I snap. “I don’t have time for you today.”

“It’s good to know you’re still alive, son.”

I roll my eyes at his fake concern, putting the call on speakerphone so Zeph and Taylor can hear.

“Of course I’m still alive. Why the fuck wouldn’t I be?” I hate how this man brings out the worst in me.

“Did you hear someone stole the Franklin piece?”

I audibly inhale. “No, I’ve been stranded without cell service for the last few days. I don’t know if you noticed, but the storm was pretty bad. I guess being trapped in your mansion with my ex-wife?—”

“Cut the shit, Ford. I know your little criminals stole my fucking painting. I want it back or I’ll call the authorities.”

“Call them—we have an alibi. We have been locked away with a woman and been very busy.”

The distinct sound of my ex-wife scoffing has my smirk widening.

“I highly doubt that,” she retorts.

Lenny walks into the room, dressed in an oversized hoodie. Her dark-blue hair is wet and piled on the top of her head.

“Are you jealous?” Taylor jokes.

“Yeah, have you seen Ford?” Zeph adds.

I smirk but don’t take my eyes off Lenny as she walks toward us with a smile on her face. “Daddy, are you coming back to bed? We only have a few hours left, and I need you to spank me. I’ve been a bad, bad girl.”

Zeph and Taylor slap their hands over their mouths, and I smile at Lenny. “Is there anything you actually needed, Dad? Otherwise, I have a very, very, fucking beautiful woman to pleasure before I leave to head back to that hellhole.”

“I want my painting back,” Ford’s father snaps and ends the call.

Dropping my phone into my pocket, I stalk toward Lenny. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, it was the perfect ‘fuck you’ to your ex.”

I place my hands on either side of her face. “I’m so sorry, but we have to get going, though I wish we could stay longer, but?—”

“No, I get it, Ford,” she interrupts, cutting me off. “You don’t need to apologize. We all need to go back to reality.”

“I’ve left my business card on the table. If you need anything, please get in touch.”

I did this to leave the ball in her court, so if she wants to contact us, she can. Who knows what will happen when she goes home? Her slimeball ex could weasel his way back into her life. From the little time I’ve spent with her, the thought pisses me off, but she’s a grown woman and capable of making her own life choices.

“Thank you, all of you. These last few days have really opened my eyes. I was a mess when you first met me, and I didn’t know how I was going to live without Blake. Now I’m excited about figuring out what I want in life. I will miss you all.”

“We will miss you, too, little gift,” Zeph says, moving closer to us. Taylor joins the group as well, and they both wrap their arms around Lenny and me in a group hug.

“We mean it. If you need anything, contact Ford. Even if it’s coming to beat up your ex, I promise to do it in my Santa suit and the glow mask,” Zeph Jokes, making Lenny snort.

“I’ll keep it in mind, but I think I will be fine when it comes to him.”

Saying goodbye is a lot harder than I expected. I knew Taylor would take it hardest with his attachment issues. It’s why he never gets close to anyone. His attachments can be instant, and they grow to obsessions at times. Zeph can act like this isn’t bothering him, but I can tell by his body language it is affecting him more than he expected. I don’t think any of us thought we’d like this girl so much. But now the real world is calling, and Lenny needs time to stand on her own two feet. She doesn’t need us getting in the way of her future. Three overbearing men aren’t what she needs right now. Although, if it was up to us, we would kidnap her and take her home.

Lenny pulls on some warmer pants and boots to walk us out, opening the gate for us. With one last hug, we each climb into the car. Taylor is last, and as he gets in, he slams his door.

“Remind me again why we have to leave,” he spits out.

“Because she’s just gotten out of a long-term relationship and doesn’t need us to stand in the way of her figuring out who she truly is. She has my card. If she wants to use it, she can.”

“Doing the right thing fucking sucks. Sometimes being a dick who doesn’t care about anything or anyone but yourself comes in handy.”

Zeph snorts at Taylor’s tantrum. “We had our fun, and now we have to get back to our jobs. Plus, you still have me.”

Taylor flips Zeph off, and he laughs.

The drive home is slow, but once we get there, I’m glad to be back in my own house. We did make a pit stop along the way to offload the painting somewhere safe until Zeph can get a buyer lined up. The upside to his skills is he is well acquainted with the dark web and covering his tracks. In the year I have known him, he has done well at not engaging in anything highly illegal.

I’m sitting on the couch when my phone buzzes in my pocket, and I reluctantly pull it out. But I smile when I see it’s a text from Lenny:

I wanted to thank you all and let you know you restored years’ worth of my self-worth in just days. I’ll forever cherish our time together and would love if we could, at the very least, be friends.

“Is it from Lenny?” Zeph asks, snatching the phone from my hand.

“Hey, did you learn nothing when you did that to her?” I ask, and he laughs.

“Nope. Though since she has nicer tits than you, I genuinely felt bad. But you can’t gatekeep her messages.”

“I wasn’t gatekeeping her messages,” I huff. “It only just came through when you snatched my phone. We need to head into the office, as my father is there causing issues because he thinks we’re still away.”

“Fine, I will go make sure Taylor showers. He is not taking this well at all, and I fucking hate how his insecurities make him feel like shit.”

“Tell him I will let him slip in a few verbal jabs at my father and my ex-wife. That might make him feel better.”

Zeph snorts and hands me my phone back, and I see his reply to Lenny:

Daddy misses your lips already.

I roll my eyes, but the little bubbles are already popping up on my screen, and I wait patiently for her reply.

I miss you too Zeph ; )

A second message pops through straight away.

Please tell Taylor if he needs to talk, he can call me. I saw how sad he was, and I know he has some abandonment issues. Tell him I’m here for him.

And this is for you, Daddy.

***Picture Message***

In case your ex doesn’t believe you.

I almost swallow my tongue. The picture is of Lenny in her white lingerie, and fuck me, images of her on her knees with my cock in her mouth flash before my eyes.

The only thing that could make the picture better is those pretty lips wrapped around me.

Shit, another message comes through, but this time it’s from my assistant, telling me if I don’t get there soon, she’s going to hit my father over the head with a paperweight and quit. I pocket my phone and rush to get dressed.

By the time I’m ready, both Zeph and Taylor are in suits and waiting. They both follow me down to the garage, and Zeph snags the keys to the SUV. He likes to be the driver, and I let him because it makes him feel useful. He teases me how men as rich as me shouldn’t be driving themselves, even though he knows I refuse to let other people do anything I can do myself. I reluctantly hired a full-time maid, but it wasn’t until they moved in, as I realized while Taylor is clean, Zeph is a hurricane and manages to make a mess without even moving. Just a few weeks ago, he pulled apart a motorbike engine in my living room. Stella, my maid, found the parts in the dishwasher.

We reach the company building’s underground parking and security buzzes us in. Zeph pulls the SUV neatly into my spot, then we head upstairs and find my father in my office. He smirks at me over the shoulder of my ex, who is perched on my fucking desk.

I close my eyes and picture Lenny.

“Have fun with your little whore?” Amanda quips, a smirk on her fucking face.

“Oh look, it’s the cradle snatcher and the whore who likes old man balls,” Taylor snipes back, and Zeph chuckles. “Do you need any little pills to keep you hard? I’m sure we could acquire you some.”

“Fuck off, you petty criminal. You’re a nobody,” my father spits.

Zeph steps forward, and this time I don’t stop him.

“Want to say that again, old man? I will lay your ass out and smile for the picture when I’m arrested. Don’t fucking test me. I’ve bitten my tongue out of respect for your son, but Taylor is mine, and if you fuck with what is mine, I will bury you. And you,” Zeph spits, looking at Amanda. “Talk about our little gift like that again, and I will not hesitate to send your body parts to your family, gift-wrapped and all.”

“Are you going to let that psychopath talk to me like that? Did our ten-year marriage mean nothing to you?”

I laugh, a full-bellied, obnoxious laugh. “Are you fucking serious right now? If our marriage meant anything to you, there is no way you would have fucked my father. Any loyalty I had to either of you went out the fucking window,” I say. I don’t mention Lenny’s name because my father is a spiteful prick. “It’s funny how I meet a new woman, and in just a few days, she manages to charm me and my best friends. Without even trying, she fixed what you broke in me. I couldn’t care less about your fucking feelings, Amanda, and right now I feel like I have made the biggest mistake of my life letting her go. Get the fuck out of my office, the both of you. I have better shit to do. I’ll have my lawyers draw up paperwork—I want to buy you out. Name your fucking price.”

My security is standing at the door. “Do you need us to escort them out, Mr. Wells?” Carl asks, and I nod.

“Please, I have work to do. They shouldn’t even have access to this floor.”

Carl moves into the room, and my father and Amanda both stand and leave without having to be forcibly removed.

I turn to Zeph. “I want you to find everything you can on Elena, her family, and specifically her ex-boyfriend.”

Zeph raises an eyebrow at me and nods his head. Taylor gets an excited look on his face, and I give him a curt nod. Yes boys, we’re going after our girl. We were kidding ourselves—there’s no way we can stay away.