Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

M atteo

Layla is so happy on the back of the pony that I wonder if she's going to explode from it.

"Dada, no up." She clings to the saddle.

I sigh. She's not able to hold herself up. And my back is aching.

"I've got her, Dada." Amy's hand is at my back.

"You sure?"

"Go on." She urges me.

Dropping a kiss on her cheek, I straighten and head for the deck.

Rafe has Stella in his lap. I sink into the chair beside him.

"You're getting old." He chuckles.

"Shut up. She's had me bent over that pony for almost an hour." I defend myself.

Javi appears with Joaquin, who still looks mad he's awake. "He's been sleeping all day. I had to wake him up. I'm not trying to have Hope up all night. He's got his days and nights confused."

I shake my head. "Sleep training not going well?"

"Nope, this kid can sleep whenever the hell he wants. He just only wants to from noon to eight." He sighs. "Where did Abuelo go?"

I'm tense at the question. "I don't know. He was here a minute ago."

"Him and Mom were arguing. When she got loud, he went inside, and she followed him. What the hell are they arguing about now?" Rafe sends a hand into his hair.

Biting my tongue isn't easy. All I want to do is tell them what I know. I hate being the only one who knows.

Layla lets out a shriek. I look to where she and Amy were a few minutes ago. Amy is carrying Layla away from the pony. And Layla is fighting like mad.

"What's the matter?" I'm up.

"She's soaking wet. I need to change her."

"Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't even notice." What kind of dad am I to not notice?

"Dada," Layla screams for me.

Amy shakes her head. "It's fine. I've got her. You might want to clean up the saddle, that poor pony."

I'm up, but one of the two handlers who came with the animals is already doing it. "I apologize."

He chuckles. "It's fine. I've had worse things happen with little kids. At least it's just pee. She's got some lungs on her for sure."

"That she does."

Riley is playing with Elena and Walter on the lawn. Walter comes running up to me, barks a few times, and then runs back to Elena—barking his head off the whole time.

"Thanks, by the way. Now, Carrie is talking about getting a dog. Which we don't need with Stella being so small."

"I'd rather have a dog than a cat." Javi shakes his head. "I swear the cat is trying to kill me. It's always underfoot."

I shrug. "I got the dog for Amy, but he's not so bad. Seeing Amy with him, I'll fill the house with dogs if she wants." I'm looking around. "Where did Santos go?"

Hope laughs as she sits down in Javier's lap. "Poor guy was overwhelmed with all the babies and went upstairs to take a nap. I couldn't tell if he really was or if he was just hung over."

I look to Rafe. Rafe answers. "Both. And now that Matteo is getting married the day after tomorrow, Mom is already talking about he's next."

We're all laughing at that.

"He told me last night that Mom was trying to fix him up with a date to your wedding." Javi shakes his head. "I have a feeling he's going to try and hitch a ride on the jet out of Dallas with you guys."

"Where are you guys going for your honeymoon, after all?" Hope is curious as she takes Joaquin and bounces him to keep him awake.

"Florence, followed by Spain, a week in each. We'll get Florence to ourselves, and then Doris will fly out with Layla when we go to Madrid. I appreciate you checking in on Mom, Layla, and Doris while we're gone."

"No problem. I know how anxious Amy will get while she's gone. It's not easy spending the night away from your kids. But Layla did really good last night. Doris was surprised and Elizabeth was smiling ear to ear. I think it was smart to do a test night before you guys left."

I nod. "I have to admit, I was a bit hurt that she didn't seem very excited to see me and Amy when we arrived today."

Amy is back with Layla, who is still red-eyed and sniffling. The moment she spots me, she holds out her arms for me.

Rolling her eyes, Amy puts her in my arms. "Hey, baby girl." I kiss her cheek and she cuddles into me. Then surprises the hell out of me when she pushes away to get down. Curious, I let her slide down off me. Her little hand is on my thigh, holding her up. "What? What are you doing?"

One hand is up, and she's pointing at the pony across the yard. "You want the pony? No, you've been on the pony long enough. How about a cupcake?"

She lets go of my thigh and wobbles on her own two feet. "You think you're going to walk to the pony?" I can't believe her. From the corner of my eye, I see Javi whip out his phone, and he's recording her. "Layla…"

Her hand is out and she takes one step, then another. And another. "Holy shit. She's walking to the pony."

Five steps, and then she trips over the edge of the cement patio. I scoop her up before she hits the cement. "What a big girl you are."

Amy's eyes are wide as she shakes her head. "We are not getting her a pony."

"We'll see," I shrug as I hug a squirming Layla close.

Matteo

Tomorrow is my wedding day. Yesterday was a perfect day, celebrating Layla's birthday. I'm only in my home office checking out the prices of ponies—I'm not going to get her one. Yet.

I'm checking to find out if there's enough room on our property to build a stable when my cell phone rings.

The display has me cursing. It's Sean.

"Sir, I'm sorry to inform you that he's sitting on the address from the protection order."

Fuck.

"A little warning would have been good." I bite out.

"I apologize, sir. He never said anything out loud about coming for her. There's a woman here in the city he's sleeping with. The last time he was here a week ago—he didn't so much as say her name. This was completely unexpected."

That's not the truth. There's a reason Sean and other men were assigned to Daniel Richards. As well as men protecting Layla and Amy the moment they stepped out of the condo.

I expected him to come after Amy. Once he saw she was about to marry a billionaire, he'd be back for more than thirty thousand dollars.

Out of my office, I find Doris with Layla as they walk around what was once the sitting room but is now taken over by Layla's toys. "Where's Amy?"

Layla reaches for me. I take her and kiss her cheek.

"She's lying down with a headache."

"I need to run to the clinic. I'll be back in a little bit."

She nods. "I'll tell her if she wakes up before you return."

With a kiss on Layla's cheek, I hand her back to Doris. "Be right back, baby."

A drive that would normally take fifteen minutes takes less than ten.

He jumps when I knock on his window. It's a few seconds before he gives in and rolls his window down. "Yeah."

"Can I help you with something?"

A hand runs over his face. "You took advantage of me."

"I took advantage of you? In what way?" I'm genuinely curious.

Swearing, he gets out of the car. He points a finger at me in anger. "You knew if I knew you were a billionaire that I'd want more money. I deserve more money. I supported her?—"

I shake my head. "You'll get nothing. Stay away from me, Layla, and Amy."

"Hey, don't fucking walk away from me. I can contest the divorce. And Layla's custody. I'll say you threatened me to get me to sign."

"That might work—if I hadn't recorded our entire encounter."

His eyes go wide. "No way. You can't be recording people. That shit is illegal."

This guy is painfully stupid. "Texas is a one-party state."

He's thinking hard.

"It means, dumbass, that only one person of those recorded needs to give permission to be recorded. I was recorded, and I gave my permission. I don't need your permission. It's perfectly legal. You're too late on everything. With your convictions of abuse against your previous girlfriend and her brother, and the evidence of you beating Amy, a judge approved all of it. The divorce is already finalized, as is your loss of rights to Layla."

Shaking his head, he opens his mouth to argue.

I cut him off. I'm done with this fucker. "Go for it. You interrupted the lawyer, warning you that if you say a word, the NDA you signed automatically gives me five million dollars. And lawyer's fees for suing your ass. Cross me, and I can tie you up in a courtroom and bury your ass in lawyer's fees. You'll never recover."

He's finally getting it. Hanging his head, he doesn't say a word.

Exactly. I turn around to leave him to stew in his stupidity.

"Asshole. Don't walk away from me. You think you're better than me? Hey!"

The fist comes where I know it will, and I let it connect. I want him to leave a bruise—the better to send his ass away for a very long time. There are men recording us from two different views.

Now that he got his hit in, it's my turn. I send my right fist into his soft middle. Then I give into the burning need to leave a mark on him and send my left fist into his face, aiming for his cheek. Hopefully, my fist doesn't pay the price for hitting all bone.

He goes down, but I'm not done with this motherfucker. I send a kick to his stomach and watch blood fly from his mouth. Almost. Grabbing him by the front of his stained shirt, I pull him up.

"If you ever even say my name, Amy's, or Layla's again, I'll bury you six feet under. I can make you disappear, and no one will go looking for you." I send him back to the ground with another blow to his mouth.

The lights are flashing on top of the cruiser behind the vehicle Sean is driving. I nod at the cop talking to Sean. He tips his cap at me as I walk to my car.

In my own car, I sigh. Fuck, my hand hurts. I watch with satisfaction as the cop pulls him off the ground and cuffs him. His head is still swimming, and the cop has to practically carry him to the patrol car.

The moment I'm through the door, Amy's eyes are on me. "Something is wrong."

I shake my head. "Everything is right. Your ex thought he was going to get to you. That will never happen. He'll never get close again to you or Layla. I promise you that."

Her eyes widen as she moves to me, her arms going around my neck. "Are you okay?" She runs a finger over the bruise on my cheek. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not. The bruise turns the charges he has on him up."

She tightens her arms around my neck. "Thank you for loving me and Layla the way you do."

"I'm the lucky one," I assure her.