Rachel Bailey - Return of the Secret Heir

“You can work for me,” JT said decisively. “I have a large legal department.”

Despite being touched by his white knight attempt, she grinned at the irony. “Oh yeah, that’s the solution. Intertwine our lives even more because it’s worked out so well this far.”

He chuckled, his face relaxing for the first time since she’d walked in the door. “I guess you’re right. But listen, don’t worry about money and the baby. I swear I’ll always make sure you’re both provided for.”

She had no doubt of that. He was nothing like his father-JT would never leave her and the baby to struggle, she knew that in her heart. He was a good man, JT Hartley. Yet fate had dealt him an unfair blow today in destroying his chances to claim against his father’s will. She needed to do something to rectify that.

And suddenly she knew exactly what to do.

Pia sat in Ryder Bramson’s large office, moonlight streaming in through the tall windows. Her pulse echoed through her body on every beat as she looked around at the gathered people. Ryder sat to her right, holding tight to Macy’s hand. Seth was opposite them, his arm around April.

The office vibrated with the tension of people who rarely sat in the same room. As far as she knew, Ryder and Seth had only joined forces once-against JT. At the thought of JT, her heart lit a stubborn flame. She’d told him she needed to go out and he hadn’t questioned her, had merely arranged for the security guards to accompany her and checked she had her phone. He’d said he had an appointment of his own. She’d left and quickly made the calls to organize this meeting. Luckily everyone had been able to make it on short notice.

Her hands trembled in her lap. This could either go well or end in disaster-and she’d lose the good will of the only business people left in New York who trusted her. But she was willing to gamble the remnants of her professional reputation. For JT. For the future of their child.

She cleared her throat. “Thank you for coming.”

Ryder nodded. “We owed you. Telling us about the private investigator reports despite your connections to Hartley took integrity.”

“Not to mention the heads-up you gave us the day his challenge was lodged,” Seth added.

Macy smiled encouragingly. “But you said on the phone you’re not working for that firm anymore?”

“No,” Pia said. “They fired me.” It’d only been a few hours ago, but already the sting was wearing off. In its place was a feeling strangely similar to…freedom.

“What?” Ryder said at the same time Seth said, “There’s a job working for me, anytime you want it.”

Pia’s eyes stung with tears at the unexpected job offer and its implicit support. These men-JT’s brothers-were magnificent, noble men. Like JT himself.

“Thank you,” she said and meant it. “But I didn’t ask for a meeting to discuss my employment.”

Ryder leaned forward in his chair. “Perhaps you should tell us why you did request it, then.”

She nodded and drew in a shaky breath. Showtime. She had one chance at this, to get it right. If things didn’t go to plan, their resistance would deepen and prevent a second opportunity. There was no room for failure.

“Ryder,” she said, looking him in the eye, “Macy is what? Seven months pregnant?”

“Six,” he said with a glow lighting him from within. He turned to Macy and a look passed between them of such love and beauty that Pia’s heart ached.

“Tell me,” Pia said, finding her voice again, “what would you do for that baby?”

As his chest expanded, Ryder’s eyes took on a formidable glint. “She’s the most important thing in the world. I’d do anything for her.”

Pia’s glaze flicked to Macy. Ryder had said “her.”

“You’re having a girl?”

Macy placed a hand over her swollen belly. “Yes, we are. Georgia.”

A ball of emotion lodged in Pia’s throat. She had a scan booked for next week when she’d find out her baby’s gender and suddenly, she was desperate to know. But more than knowing the sex of the baby, she wished she had with JT what Macy had with Ryder. JT had been to her appointments and was more supportive than a woman could hope, but she wanted it all. She wanted breakfasts together and nights in his bed. She wanted to see his face light up when he was happy and comfort him when he was down. She wanted to be held in his arms and to have more of his children.

Oh, God, she loved him.

The earth tilted to the side. Loved him as much as she ever had. More-it was rooted deep in her heart. How had she kept herself blind to this?

“Pia, are you all right?” Macy asked.

“Sorry,” she said, gathering herself with great effort and focusing back on the plan, then turning to Seth. “Forgive me, but would it be intrusive to ask if you and April plan on children?”

With eyebrows raised, Seth looked to April, who nodded assent. “Yes, we’re planning on having children,” he said.

Pia couldn’t restrain a sentimental smile. Whether this plan worked or not, more cousins for her baby were being planned right this minute. She laced her fingers and met Seth’s gaze again. “When you have those babies, how far do you think you would go for them?”

Seth didn’t hesitate. “No limits-a father should put his children first. Always act in their best interests.” His eyes hardened. “If I learned nothing else from my childhood, it’s that children should never be treated as afterthoughts.”

Ryder’s eyes flashed as he met his half brother’s midnight-blue gaze. The air was suddenly electric, resonating with power, with understanding. Pia had a feeling that they’d just connected in a way they never had before. There was silence in the room, as if everyone was aware that something fundamental had changed.

“Thank you for your honesty,” she finally said to Seth. Then she looked at each man in turn. “I’ve been working with and watching your family for some time now. Seen the pressures you’re under, seen some of the challenges you face, and if you’ll excuse the audacity-” she drew in a lungful of air “-your father didn’t support and protect either of you, the way you will your children. Although he made sure you had the things you needed while you were growing up, he put you in difficult circumstances all your lives, then pitted you against each other with his will.”

The room was still, as if no one could quite believe she’d said the words aloud. She couldn’t believe she’d said them, and just prayed this hadn’t made things worse between the brothers. She saw Seth’s eyes flick to Ryder, then away again, and Ryder look down at where his daughter was cradled in Macy’s womb. Macy squeezed his hand, but still no one spoke, so Pia plunged on into the void.

“And he did even worse by JT. He followed his firstborn son’s progress from the time he was a little boy, during the nomadic life his mother was forced to lead, and all through his troubled teens. Warner was aware of the struggle that Theresa Hartley had as a single mother and yet he did nothing. Less than nothing-he was so set on keeping JT out in the cold that he paid an investigator to keep track of them for decades, making sure they weren’t a threat to him rather than try to offer the tiniest bit of help.”

Ryder’s brows shot up. “Does Hartley know you’re doing this?”

“No, he doesn’t,” she said, praying JT would understand when she told him. She looked at the thoughtful look on each man’s face, could see the likeness to JT in the expressions on their faces, the pensive narrowing of their eyes. They were obviously thinking about her words, weighing them-the same way JT did when she challenged him. At least they weren’t dismissing her out of hand. Her heart squeezed painfully with a tiny glow of hope.

“I’m having JT’s baby and I know he’ll do everything in his power to ensure our child has a good life-the same way that you’ll both do for your children. You’re good men. The three of you. You’re not like your father. Warner spent his whole life keeping you all isolated in different ways.”

As she watched them, tears in her eyes, Pia felt a tightness across her belly. She waited, holding her breath, but there was no other sensation, so she relaxed again.

She gathered her thoughts and looked back to them. “Please don’t let his death compound that wrong. I want my baby to know its family. All of its family.”

“So do I.” Macy ran a hand over her belly as she stood. She crossed to Pia and hugged her.

“Me too, Pia,” April said, joining them. Then she whispered in Pia’s ear, “Thank you.”

Pia felt a tear run down her cheek. These strong, loving women would make sure her baby would know its cousins. And hopefully one day that would pave the way for JT to have a relationship with his brothers. He didn’t want her love, but she could give him this.

They turned to look at the two men still seated who eyed each other warily, like two lions circling. Pia held her breath and had the sense that Macy and April were doing the same. Then the men nodded almost infinitesimally, in some male code.

“We’re outnumbered,” Seth murmured, a wry smile on his lips.

“And outgunned,” Ryder said. “But they’re right. Maybe it is time to bury the hatchet.”

Seth sighed and nodded. “Maybe it’s past time.” He stood and held out his hand. “To be frank, it was never our hatchet.”

Ryder took the offered hand and shook once before sitting back down. “Besides, I’ve a hankering to meet our brother. I’m suddenly more of a family man than I realized.”

Macy smiled broadly, her arm still around Pia. “And JT must be someone very special-Pia loves him.”

A spasm flashed across Pia’s belly again and she gasped. April touched her arm and looked into her eyes. “Are you okay?”

Pia shrugged one shoulder, telling herself that it wasn’t a problem, wasn’t like fourteen years ago, but her heart was racing. “I’m fine. I’ve just been having some twinges.”

“It’s probably Braxton-Hicks contractions,” Macy said, reassuringly.

“I think you’re right.” She hoped she was right.

They moved back to their chairs, then another twinge hit and panic flared in every nerve and cell of her body. Her hands went to her stomach, terrified that she knew what it meant. This couldn’t be happening. It was too early. Too early. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps. Darkness and memories of that night fourteen years ago threatened to engulf her, but she struggled to keep her head above them, to keep control of her mind so she could protect her baby.

Macy put an arm around her shoulders.

Pia didn’t even try to hide her fear. “I lost JT’s baby once before. It was at the same point, and there’s a risk it’ll happen again.” No, she wanted to scream. Don’t let this happen.

Ryder was on his feet and behind his desk. “I’ll get an ambulance.”

Seth reached for Pia’s cell, where it lay beside her bag. “I’ll call Hartley.”

Two hours later, Pia was in a hospital bed, undergoing tests, more terrified than she’d been since she was sixteen. They hadn’t been able to reach JT-his cell was switched off, and his secretary had refused to disclose his whereabouts to his half brothers. Her gaze darted around the stark room, her heart fluttering against her ribs. She’d been trying to hold her fears in check, but it was only the flimsiest of barricades that prevented them from flooding her. Seth and Ryder were out in the waiting room, and April and Macy had stayed with her, but she wanted only JT. His voice would soothe her more than the doctors’ calm smiles, his presence would lend her more strength than Macy and April’s carefully chosen words.