Chapter 29

Six months later

" A re you ready for graduation?" Morgan asks excitedly as she rushes into my room. She has been attached to my hip since I returned from the whole ordeal I went through. She begged me to tell her what happened, but I refused, instead just making up a story about visiting family out of town. I couldn't shake what Steel said about Morgan being the one who betrayed us. I didn't believe it, but she had been acting weird these past six months. Our friendship hasn't quite been the same since I've been back. It's almost like she has been trying too hard. I haven't been able to confront her about it because I don't have any proof. However, maybe I've just been trying too hard to find something that isn't there, and the weirdness between us is because of me. Yeah, maybe that's it.

"I'm as ready as I can be," I answer, putting the finishing touches on my makeup. Taking a look around the room, I see all my belongings packed up and ready to move. My father was insisting that we head straight home after graduation. He didn't want to be waiting around and said he had some important meeting that he needed to be prepared for in the morning. I hated that he couldn't even let me enjoy this moment. I worked hard to get to graduation despite what happened back in November. I deserved to be here with my peers, walking across the stage to get my diploma.

It's exactly the reason why I haven't told him about my plans. Two months ago, I submitted my paranormal romance book to a book publisher, and just last month, they got back to me. The company wants to sign me on and publish my book. They are offering me ten thousand dollars, and they want me to write two more to go with the series and finish it out. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that this was the best offer I was going to get, especially with being a brand new author. If anything, I thought it was too much, but I wasn't going to say as much. This deal would set me up for a little bit while I start my internship at the same publishing house. That means I could move out and no longer be under my father's thumb, at least not completely. I couldn't wait until the opportunity arises for me to tell him. He was going to shit a brick. It'd be glorious. My only concern, though, is Grace.

Since everything happened, my sister has been a little aloof. I know she is attending counseling to talk about what happened, and it seems to be helping, but she still has some hard days. Sometimes, she will go days without talking to anyone. It isn't healthy. I've been trying to be there for her, and I'm hoping that while I'm back hope for a short time it will do her some good. My father doesn't understand why she is depressed and keeps telling her to just get over it. I wish for once he would actually pay attention to us instead of putting us in a box and only taking us out when it’s suits him. It's one of the reasons I wanted to get my book done. I plan on fighting for custody of Grace the first chance I get, I just want to have everything ready so there will be no questions. I know my father is going to fight me tooth and nail over her, not like he actually wants her, but because it would be a blow to his image.

"Why don't you seem excited?" Morgan asks, taking a seat on my now empty bed. "I thought this was what you wanted?"

"It is," I give her a soft smile. "I'm so glad to be graduating on time and getting to go out into the real world and experience life. I just have a lot on my mind. Things are changing, and I'm not sure if all of them will be good." It's not the full answer, but it's the best I can give her right now. "Sorry, Mor, I'll try to be more cheerful today."

"Good! That's all I can ask for! This is going to be amazing! We can finally live out our dreams in the big city and get our own place!" She squeals, jumping up to give me a hug. "Finish up or we're going to be late! The big day waits for no one!"

Fuck! I forgot we had talked about moving and getting a place together. How the hell am I supposed to tell her that isn't going to happen? Damnit. This would be my luck. Only I would manage to fuck this one up. I meant to talk to her about it when I got the internship offer, and it completely slipped my mind. "Hey, Mor," I call out, walking out of my room. My best friend is standing next to a pile of boxes as she puts on her graduation gown, zipping it up the front.

"What's up?" she asks as she looks at me, worry making her eyebrows scrunch together.

"About getting a place together," I start twisting my hands in front of me nervously. "I, umm, accepted an internship position at a publishing house but it's not in Coventry."

"Okay...," she drawls waiting for the rest.

"It means we aren't going to be able to follow our dreams of moving there together and getting a place to share. I know how excited you were and how much you wanted to live together. I'm so, so sorry." I really am. I know how much she wanted this. Even though I'm more cautious around her and still unsure if she helped those men find me or not, she is still my friend and I don't like hurting her.

"Fuck, really?" she pouts. "I had the most perfect place picked out for us to look out, but it's okay. I completely understand. You worked hard to get this position; I know how badly you've wanted it and to not be under your father's thumb anymore. I'm so fucking proud of you, Bestie. You are going to kick this internship's ass. We can just visit each other whenever we have the time." She walks toward me and wraps her arms around me. "Bestie's for life, no matter where we live."

"Thank you, Mor. You are seriously the best. I love you," I hug her back, feeling a huge relief off my chest to know I finally told her the news. "Thank you for always believing in me and supporting me."

"I'll always have your back. Now," she pulls back giving me a large smile. "We need to get our asses to the auditorium or we are for sure going to be late."

"Let's go," I chuckle, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the door. I stop to grab my cap and gown from the back of the couch where I laid them earlier along with all my cords to show my honors.

It doesn't take us long to make it across campus to the auditorium where our graduation ceremony is being held. All students are to go through the back entrance, the front being saved for friends and family who were wishing to attend. I'm honestly not sure if my father is even going to show up. I told him about it but he said he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to attend or not. I know he was having our cook, Mrs Francine, bring Grace to the ceremony to support me, and honestly that's all the family I needed here today to support me. The only other people it would have been nice to see are the women who I made friends with at Rockport Security. Several times I thought about reaching out to let them know when graduation was but then I remembered my father's threat; if I had any contact with them he would sue them to kingdom come, his words, and would make sure none of them were ever heard from again. I couldn't risk that. They had families to take care of and I refused to be the reason any of them had to go up against my fathers lawyers. So instead, I deleted the texts I had written, and even the emails, and just ignored the hurt I felt at the action. Grace and Mrs. Francine would be enough for me today.

Stepping inside the building, I noticed the students of our class were already in their gowns. With Morgan's help, I was able to get my dark blue gown on, as well as all three cords to celebrate my honors. It only took a couple of minutes to find the rest of the girls in our friend group so we could chat with them until it was time to line up. According to the assistant walking around backstage, we had ten minutes before the ceremony was to begin and we needed to take our places.

"Don't fall and break a leg," Morgan whispers, giving me a quick hug before leaving me to find her place in line. With her last name starting with a "C" she was ahead of me in line.

Thanks to the multiple practices the school had made us do over the last several days, it wasn't hard to find my assigned spot among my classmates. Silently I stood among them waiting for our line to begin filing out the door and heading to the front of the building. We were to enter the doors to the auditorium and walk down the center line before separating into our respective rows. Three front sections of the auditorium were reserved for all of us to sit. Taking several deep breaths I tried to calm my nerves. There was no reason to be nervous but clearly my body hadn't gotten that memo. "You got this, Illeana," I mutter to myself, pushing my shoulders back and raising my head when our line began to move. I followed my classmates from backstage and all the way through the building and the auditorium before taking my assigned seat in the tenth row on the right. I made sure to keep my eyes forward, stopping myself from looking to see if my father was here or not. I didn't want to get upset about it either way. Today is for me.

"Welcome students, staff, and family!" Dean James began his speech. As he started talking, I let my mind wander, not wanting to listen to his speech. We had already sat through it multiple times during practice and I really couldn't stand to hear it again unless I wanted to fall asleep. Instead, I just let my thoughts wander not really thinking about one thing or another. I was just counting down the minutes until this ceremony was over. Several times I had to nudge the guys on either side of me to stop their snores. I guess everyone was tired of hearing all the speeches today. "Thank you for that very enlightening speech, Mrs. Watson," Dean James states to our valedictorian. "It's now time to hand out the degrees."

With that cue, the students in the front row all rose and began to walk to the edge of the stairs. It takes thirty minutes before Dean James finally get's to the G's. Rising with my row, we slowly make our way up to the stage. The nerves I was doing so well trying to ignore before are back ten fold. I can feel my hands shaking with every step I take up to the stage. "Illeana Granger," Dean James calls out, signaling my cue to begin walking across the stage to collect my degree.

Loud shouts sound from the upper level of the auditorium, making me turn my head and almost trip as I cross the stage. Holy shit! They're here. Everyone from Rockport Security is seriously here! All the men and women. Even Steel is standing beside my sister clapping with a large smile on his face as he shouts for me.

Somehow, I manage to make it across the stage without falling, shaking Dean James’s hand and collecting my degree. It feels like I'm floating on clouds as I make my way back to my seat. It's the last place I want to stand but I know I need to finish sitting here until the end of the ceremony. Then I can go say hi to everyone and I can't wait.

What felt like hours finally passed and our graduation ceremony came to an end. All of us tossed our caps into the air with shouts of excitement. One of the guys in the row ahead of me turned around to hand me mine back, after he caught it as it came back down. "Thanks," I give him a soft smile. I waited, not so patiently, for the others to leave my row before I was finally able to get out and make my way to the front doors. The first people I saw were the crew from Rockport Security. I started taking hurried steps over to them when I heard my father's voice, causing me to stop in my tracks.

"Illeana Granger," he calls out sternly. Slowly I turn to look at him. He's glaring at me and I know he has something to say about the direction I was headed.

"Hi, Dad," I state, walking up to him. I try to keep a smile on my face afraid that something will set him off. I don't want him going after any of them just because they came to support me. I already know he's going to blame me and accuse me of inviting them when I didn't.

"What are they doing here?" he snarls, looking past me to where everyone else is standing. Looking over my shoulder I realize that the group is actually getting closer to us with Steel leading the charge.

Oh shit!

"It's nothing, Dad," I state quickly trying to come up with something to say. "Didn't you say that we needed to leave as soon as graduation was over? We should probably get out of here and go get my stuff."

"NO," he growls, shoving me hard to the side as he steps forward to confront Steel.

Thanks to Trevor's quick reflexes, I manage to not fall on my ass. I didn't even realize the group was as close as they were. "Thanks," I mumble, before attempting to pull out of his hold. When he doesn't let me go, I look up at him and he just shakes his head no and shuffles me until I'm partially hidden behind him.

"What are you doing here?" my father demands staring at Steel.

"I'm here for Illeana," he answers not backing down.

"I told you what would happen if you came near her ever again. Are you sure this is what you want to do? Here?" my father replies. My eyes widen as I realize what he said. He's the reason that Steel didn't come talk to me and was ignoring my calls and texts. I thought he was still mad at me, that he couldn't forgive me for being the reason that we had been found. Now I know it was because of my father. What did he threaten him with to make Steel stay away?

When I try to step forward, Trevor stops me, pushing me back once more to keep me out of whatever is happening. I know he wants to protect me but honestly, it's pissing me off. I'm not afraid of my father, not anymore at least.

"You really think that would keep me away from the woman that I love?" Steel laughs in my father's face. "I stayed away while I let Illeana finish school. I didn't want you to try to punish her. Now that she has graduated, I'm here to win her back. Your little threats mean nothing, especially since I have this." Steel pulls out a large folder from his pocket and hands it to my father.

I watch both of them carefully, Steel smiling while my father's face morphs from anger to confusion and back to anger again. Whatever papers Steel handed him have my father at a loss for words. I'm almost positive that he is about to blow a gasket and I'm not sure if I want to be standing here for it. Shit, I should probably get Grace far away from him before he does something. I won't let him use my sister against me.

"Grace is safe," Emma whispers softly in my ear for only me to hear.

"How?" I ask, confused how she knew where my mind went.

"I could just tell," she smiles. "Grace is with my daughter Alexis. Both of them are with two of Sky's husbands. They will keep them safe and far away from this fiasco. Promise."

"Thanks" I whisper before turning my attention back to Steel and my father. I really want to know what is in those papers.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" My father asks Steel again, calmly, almost too calmly for my liking. "She won't forgive you for this."

"She will, in time. And she will understand exactly why I did it too," Steel answers.

Now, I'm really concerned. I don't know what Steel did that my father thinks I won't forgive him for and I need to know. Sure, we have a lot we need to discuss but at the end of the day, I'll still choose him. It's always going to be him. I don't want to fight or love anyone else. That's something I realized while in therapy. She told me I needed to live for myself and fight for the things I want instead of letting other people dictate my life for me. That is exactly the reason I break out of Trevor's hold and step up next to my father and Steel. "What's going on?" I demand.

"Steel is threatening to expose me for double dipping and receiving kickbacks," my father answers.

At first I'm surprised, but I'm quick to cover my reaction, though I know Steel caught it. I can't believe my father actually admitted to it. Trevor and Valentina told me what my father did before his aide had picked me up from their office. I didn't want to believe it but the more I thought about it, I realized the signs were all there. I asked them what they were going to do about it but they were tight-lipped. When nothing broke in the news, I figured my father threatened them with something to keep it quiet. I wouldn't put it past him to do that.

"That's not the only thing in that folder," Steel states. "Tell her what else is in there." I cut a look to Steel but he doesn't bother to look my way, as he keep his eyes on my father. Turning back to him, I wait to see what he is going to say next.

"He is demanding custody of Grace to be turned over to you," my father grounds out, the words barely making it past his lips. His disgust is clear, and it almost makes me want to laugh.

My god, Steel really did think of everything. It's like he knew I wouldn't be able to walk away from my father until I knew Grace was taken care of. Damn the man for knowing exactly how to get to my heart. He really is perfect for me, even with how much we argue. Good thing, I love our fights. The make-up sex is completely worth it and we have six months of making up for us to do. I really want to leap forward and give Steel a huge hug but I don't think I need to rub this in my fathers face any more than Steel already has with all of the paperwork.

"So," Steel begins. "What choice are you going to make?"

"Is this really the type of man you want to be with Illeana?" he turns to look at me. "You want a man who is going break up our family?"

"No," I answer, cutting my dad off before he can say anything else. "I choose a man who will give anything to protect not only me but also my sister. A man who puts me and my wants first. A man who isn't afraid of going after what he wants and isn't going to put me in danger to get ahead in life. That is the man I'm choosing." I step around my father and link my fingers with Steels. There was never a choice to be made. I had every intention of fighting for Steel as well, as soon as I had custody of my sister.

"You all will pay for this. Take them, both of them. Good for nothing useless daughters. I wanted a son and was given two daughters who would amount to absolutely nothing. Good luck with them," my father snarls. Before turning around and walking away leaving all of us to watch him walk away.

"Well that went better than I expected," Knox chuckles, pulling me out of Steels arms and giving me a hug. "Welcome to the family, Illeana."

"Thanks," I smile up at him and return his hug. Behind me Steel growls and yanks me out of Knox's arms to wrap me up in his.

"Mine. You no touch," he growls, pulling my back to his chest as his arms hold me against him.

"Yes, caveman, I'm all yours," I tilt my head back to look at him. "I love you." My heart literally feels like it could explode. This was more than I could ever ask for. I never believed I could have everything I wanted and of course Steel just had to come along and show me just how wrong I was. Having him assigned as my bodyguard was the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me. It was fate. That battle of wills I thought neither of us could win? Well it turns out, it wasn’t one that needed winning. No, all I needed was Steel. Together we can do anything.

"I love you more, Princess," he smiles, leaning down to kiss me. "I'll never let you go again."