Chapter Twenty-One

Even a half day without her son had her a nervous wreck, but Oriana had to admit, she got more done without looking at him every other minute just to watch him smile as he slept. Chicklet’s father and stepmother had come down to catch a few pre-season games and had been eager to spend some time with Westy. Which gave her an opportunity to get on top of player evaluations with the team doctor, and discuss tailored workout schedules with the trainers. Responsibilities that impacted the game she loved so much.

But she’d stick to working part-time for the next year at least. When she’d begun looking into adoption with Max and Sloan, they’d contemplated long and hard on how having a baby would impact their careers. How difficult it would be for her men to leave their son for weeks at a time, especially when he was still so young. Her plan had been to continue working, but not on the grueling schedule she once had.

Family was her priority. Giving Westy the kind of love and security she and Silver had lacked as children.

And Ford…Ford had it so much worse, but now had a family of his own. A son she couldn’t wait to meet, as soon as it wouldn’t overwhelm the poor boy. Ford had called her this past weekend and told her how well things had gone when Jaxon met Cort and Akira. He sounded encouraged. Ready.

He’ll be a great father. He just needs a chance to prove it. He needs to take his son home for good.

Oriana sighed, wishing she knew more about why Jaxon was still staying with their father. She didn’t want to be suspicious, not when everything was starting to look up in their relationship with him, but she wasn’t a fool. When she visited, things seemed almost too good, even though Jaxon and his aunt and uncle were never around. Anne was pleasant, father was attentive and so sweet and loving with Westy…

Anthony Delgado was practically a different person. Not the one who’d had paperwork drawn up to disown so he could challenge her right to inherit the team. Not the man who’d threatened to bring her husbands to court and have her found mentally unfit. Therapy might have helped her move past the pain he’d caused in his constant quest for power, but it would never repair the trust he’d destroyed.

Which might have something to do with her being nervous now. Akira had asked to meet with her today. She’d sounded uncertain on the phone, as though unsure she should be talking to Oriana at all.

If it’s about Ford…

No, Oriana wouldn’t start assuming it had to be something bad. Ford had grown a lot. His changes were easier to believe because they came with him being free of the corruption and violence of the man who’d raised him. Roy Kingsley had forced Ford to be sneaky and underhanded. Her brother didn’t have to be that way anymore.

The question was, did he know that?

At a soft knock at the door she stood and walked around her desk. “Come in.”

Guess I’m about to find out.

Akira stepped into the office, a warm smile on her lips as she crossed the room. She was wearing her Ice Girls tracksuit and her sleek black hair was in a high ponytail—she’d probably just come from practice with her girls. The scent of ice clung to her as she hugged Oriana and the sweat on her temples dampened Oriana’s cheek.

“Shoot, sorry about that.” Akira ducked her head when Oriana dried her cheek with her sleeve. “I hope now’s a good time to talk? I have plumbers coming to my rink today to start work in the bathrooms, so I won’t keep you long.”

“Now’s perfect.” Oriana motioned to one of the two padded chairs in front of her desk, taking the other as Akira sat. “Is everything all right? I spoke to Ford on Sunday and he mentioned you’d met Jaxon. It sounded like you all had a great day together.”

Folding her hands on her lap, Akira nodded, a tender smile on her lips. “We did. Jaxon’s a sweet kid. Rough around the edges, but once he’s with us, I think he’ll be able to let go and just be a little boy. He’s guarded and I don’t blame him at all.”

“Do you know why he’s not with you yet? I told Ford I’d help him with the lawyer if that’s the problem.”

“It’s not that… Well, not just that. He doesn’t want Jaxon dragged into a messy court battle for custody.” Akira’s jaw hardened. She clenched her hands. “And if Ford tries to get him now, there will be one.”

Oriana took a deep breath. “Because of my father.”

“I don’t think it’s only him. He started it—I don’t know why, something to do with the team. But Jaxon’s uncle. Kyle. He’s been…pressuring Ford.”

“To do what?”

“To sleep with him.”

Stomach flipping with nausea, Oriana sat forward. “In return for what? Custody of his own son? That bastard doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”

Akira bit back a grin.

Confused, Oriana stared at her.

“Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting that reaction. I thought you’d try to make excuses for your father and figure maybe Kyle wasn’t all that bad.” Akira dropped her gaze and rubbed her thighs. “But I know you love your brother.”

The idea that anyone would think she’d take Anthony Delgado’s side over Ford’s pissed her off, but looking over the last few weeks, she understood why Akira would doubt her. While Ford had been fighting for his son, apparently against his own father and this…fucker, Kyle, she’d been stopping by regularly for tea and family time.

Well, the ‘tea’ is about to be scalding. I can forgive some of what my father did to me. But not what he’s doing to Ford.

“I need to know everything, Akira.” Oriana stood, her mind racing too fast for her to sit still. As though moving would help her come up with a plan. Life had been rushing by while she’d been standing still. But no more. “I understand Ford not wanting a messy custody battle, but what else? He wouldn’t leave Jaxon there if he thought his son wasn’t safe.”

“Kyle is Jaxon’s legal guardian. He could take him back to Detroit.”

“Not if this went to court.”

Akira tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. “Which means lawyers. Who Ford doesn’t really trust. He lost Cort once because of the legal system. Sure, we had great lawyers who kept Cort from going back to jail, but I think part of him worries it’s too much of a risk. We got lucky once and might not this time.”

“This has nothing to do with luck. Ford has a strong case.”

“And Cort has a criminal record. Which could be used against us.”

She had a point, one Anthony or Kyle would have thrown in Ford’s face the second he resisted taking part in whatever sick game they were playing. He loved Cort. He loved his son. He’d do anything to avoid having to choose between them.

“Blackmail doesn’t look good either, but it would be hard to prove at this point. We need to know more about Kyle. A good man doesn’t show up out of the blue with his nephew and use the child as a pawn. I’m sure we could dig up some dirt on him.” Oriana went to her desk, held up a finger, and grabbed her phone. Called a number she rarely used, but kept handy. “Asher, I’d like to schedule an appointment for later today.”

“Hello, Oriana.” Asher’s tone was smooth and pleasant as always, with a hint of surprised laughter to lighten it. “It’s been a long time. Are you calling because Silver needs help with her new contract? I thought me and her were still friends. She couldn’t call me herself?”

Holy Mother of God, what’s Silver up to now? Oriana tipped her head back, then sighed. “No, but we can discuss that as well. Can you fit me in?”

“This is a paid consultation, I assume?”

She rolled her eyes, then shot Akira a quick smile at the younger woman’s worried look. “Yes. Of course.”

“Perfect. Let’s meet after lunch. You know, considering the…issues your siblings deal with, you really should have me on retainer.”

“One o’clock. Goodbye, Asher.” Turning off her phone, she went back to sit across from Akira. “Asher is sneaky and plays dirty, but he’s damn good at his job. He’s used to getting celebrities out of trouble by finding out anything he can use against the opposition. If Kyle is hiding something, he’ll find it.”

“Shouldn’t we get a private investigator for that?”

“Asher works with several. Don’t worry, sweetie. I wouldn’t trust him with something this important if I didn’t believe he could do it. And I won’t be relying on him alone. I still have my father to deal with.” Her lips thinned as she pictured Anthony holding Westy, asking about playdates and gushing about how big his grandson was getting. All while he was manipulating his own son. “If he’s desperate enough to play the doting father, while forcing Ford to do…whatever he’s having him do, he’s not as well set up as he’d like us to believe. He wants the team, that much I’m sure of. That he’ll do anything to get it is where he’ll have crossed some lines.”

“So we find out which ones and take away both his and Kyle’s power over Ford.” Akira let out a relieved exhale through her parted lips. “This sounds doable. What do you need from me?”

“Anything you’ve observed, anything Ford or Jaxon might have said that we can work with.”

Akira’s brow furrowed. She started shaking her head. Then went still. “Jaxon’s aunt. Jaxon seems to like her, and he mentioned her feeling trapped. She didn’t want to leave Jaxon alone with Kyle.”

That poor kid. Oriana wanted to go to her nephew right now and give him a hug. Get him out of that damn house and never look back. But she had to make sure this was done right.

Maybe his aunt was the key.

“Find out what her name is. Where we might be able to find her when she’s away from the house.”

This time, Akira didn’t seem so sure. “If I start trying to get information out of Jaxon, it might make him uncomfortable.” She tapped her finger against her lips thoughtfully. “But what if you and I went to visit after school one day? You keep your father and Kyle distracted and I’ll ask her to take a walk with me and Jaxon. Give her my number and get her to call me.”

“That could work.” Oriana wasn’t looking forward to another visit with Anthony, not with all she knew, but surprisingly, she wasn’t devastated to know his doting behavior had all been fake. Part of her had always known. She’d made an effort to let Anthony be part of his grandson’s life.

One he didn’t deserve.

Squaring her shoulders, she reached out to squeeze Akira’s hand. “Let’s end this.”