Page 42 of Blake

“Daddy! What are you doing here?”

The man looked at Henrietta, his face harsh before he looked to Pax and smiled softly. Ignoring Henrietta, he took Pax’s hands in his. “Grace, my darling. How are you?” His voice was smooth and bellied his age. Blake guessed he was in his late seventies.

“Grandfather,” Pax said kissing his cheek lightly. Blake could see she was somewhat reserved with him though. She also didn’t answer his question which the man didn’t miss. He also didn’t react to the fading bruises which Blake found interesting.

“And who might this be?” her grandfather asked turning his full gaze to Blake.

The man had wise and cunning eyes and Blake would bet his last penny that this man had a cupboard full of skeletons just waiting to be dug into. He guarded his reaction and smiled instead, stepping forward and offering his hand to the man who he hoped one day to be related to. Not because he had a burning need to be part of this fucked up family but because he was falling in love with Grace.

“Calvin Blake. Nice to meet you. Sorry it is under these circumstances.”

The man shook his hand in a firm grip slowly taking his measure before he nodded. “Albert Lawrence. Very nice to meet you, Calvin. I assume you are with my granddaughter?”

“Yes, I am,” he said as Pax slid her arm through his and around his back making it very clear where things were with them.

The man nodded slowly. “Very good. You will come to dinner while you are here.” He stated it as an order, and nobody argued, not even him. Dinner would be the perfect chance to find out more about Sana.

“We would love that, sir,” Blake replied.

The man turned away from him and Pax and his gaze landed on Henrietta who had moved back into the corner like a mouse hiding from a tiger. She looked nothing like the woman who had propositioned him earlier. Visibly shrunken and almost meek. Blake felt a sudden pang of sympathy for her.

“Henrietta, please go and clean yourself up. You look like a disgrace. At least have some standards,” he barked at her making her jump.

“Yes, Daddy.” She jumped from her seat and scurried to the door in relief.

“Henri?” he called as he reached the door.

She turned to him. “Yes?”

“Clark is outside. Have him escort you.”

Henrietta’s shoulders sagged low as if beaten. “Thank you.”

The words sounded hollow and Blake was keen to get some answers on this family.

He felt Pax bristle beside him and gave her a squeeze of reassurance. She could feel it too and he wondered if things had always been this way or if the strain was starting to make masks fall. Albert sat where Henrietta had been and crossed his legs, resting his hand on his knee, a large gold pinkie ring with a diamond flashing there. The cream slacks and navy shirt and blazer were probably as relaxed as this man got and Blake wondered if that was where Pax had learned to use clothes as armour.

He didn’t ask about Robert and Blake assumed he had spoken to the doctor on his way in.

“You’re British? What is it you do?” Albert asked.

“I was a PPO for the London Met.” He left out the part about working for the Royals.

“Very impressive and what is it you do now?”

“I work for a private security company,” he said giving him the same story as he’d given Pax’s parents.

“How did you two kids meet?”

Pax answered this one as she leaned into him. “Blake was working security at the gallery I work for. We had some high-value artwork come in and the client wanted some increased protection, so he hired Blake. We hit it off and the rest is history.” She smiled and leaned her head up to catch his eyes. Her smile was genuine as she looked at him even if the story was bullshit.

“You make a lovely couple, my dear.”

His affection for Pax was as evident as his disdain for his daughter. It confused Blake. He showed no reaction to the bruises but seemed to care for Pax. He had contempt for his own child and yet had financed her husband’s business. Things were not adding up. He needed to call Waggs or Decker.

“You want to grab a coffee, Gracie?” he asked, and she seemed to catch his mood.

“Definitely.” She turned to her grandfather who was regarding them openly. “Would you like us to bring you anything back?”