Page 90 of Untroubled Heart

“She doesn’t want me involved. She doesn’t want me to fix it.”

“Yet here we are? Getting involved?”

“I don’t want this guy to be a shadow over her head for the rest of our lives, cos that’s how long I plan on having Callie and Navie in mine. I don’t want her always waiting for him to show up with the next demand. I need to know he’ll be out of our lives for good.”

“So tell her first that you know of his demands and you want to help. Don’t make it about fixing things for her, make it about securing the future for you both.”

“She’s proud, Anna. With everything her mum went through—is still going through—I know she’s determined to be able to stand on her own two feet. She was so fucking strong standing up to him—fuck, I loved her in that moment. And it worked. Her lawyer applied the pressure after that, and he signed the paperwork this morning, so she did fix it, all on her own. But I will never not protect her happiness. This is ensuring that.”

Anna still doesn’t seem convinced. Her shoulders drop with an air of defeat, and her eyes turn soft, dejected, as she watches her thumb rub over the angel wings tattooed on her wrist. “Sometimes actions, even with the best intentions, have a way of working against you.”

I don’t know much about Anna’s personal life. Our families grew up in the same social circle, with her dad climbing the ranks with the federal police, and her mother the daughter of a Greek shipping magnate. They were often guests at the same charity events my family went to.

I know there was a short time when her parents were pushing for her and Caleb to be together. Even though she’s closer to my age, Caleb was the one already creating a foothold in the business world. They spent a few months being seen at events, but nothing eventuated between them. I’m wondering now if the reason was my brother not being keen on settling down back then—as I had initially assumed—or was it something to do with Anna’s past?

“That’s what the NDA is for,” I say with a hand lightly pressing Anna’s back, urging her up the driveway until we reach Derek’s apartment.

I knock on the door and hear shuffling on the other side, along with the low hum of music.

After a few seconds, it pulls open, and the same guy from last week stands on the other side. He’s not wearing a shirt, the whole right side of his body is covered in tattoos. His hair looks wet, as if he’s just come out of the shower. I’ve never been a jealous guy—never needed to be—but I hate that there are parts of Callie he knows as well as I do. They were on and off for years; they practically grew up together. This is the guy who helped make Navie.

He huffs, leaning against the door frame. “She send you here?”

I shake my head. “She doesn’t know I’m here.”

That gets his attention. A fist clenches by his side.

“I know you tried to get money out of her. Money that came from me.”

“Yeah, well, I signed the paperwork. She can have the kid. I don’t want her. I’m getting the fuck out of this place anyway, headed interstate.”

“I guess that should make this easy for you then,” I say.

Derek tilts his head, eyes flicking to Anna.

“This is my lawyer, Anna Calhoun. We have a proposition for you.”

“A proposition?”

“Yeah, so we can both get what we want.” My heart beats in my throat while I try to hold my composure.

“And you want…?”

“Callie.”

“Looks to me like you already had her.”

My blood boils as my hand clenches at my side. “She and Navie are my future. I’m here to secure that.”

I give Anna a nod, and she opens her bag, pulling out a written offer.

Derek’s eyebrows raise as his eyes run over the document in his hand. “I’m quite sure you can get any chick in your bed for less than this.” He waves the paperwork at me. “I don’t remember her being that good in the sack.”

I step forward, but Anna stops me with two hands on my chest. “I can only protect you so much, Mason. Please don’t make this harder for me or you,” she warns.

I take a deep breath while Callie’s ex looks at me, both smug and amused by the way he’s affecting me.

“Then you should be glad to sign that,” I say, trying to remain calm, but every word burns in my throat with the way I’m restraining my anger.