Hello, all! We've been working frantically to get this done. Contrary to what one of us thinks of the other one (jenn), we are not evil...lol! Just a little devious with a sick sense of humor...lol. :)We want to thank everyone who read and/or reviewed the last chapter or any of the others we've written. We really do appreciate all the feedback we get from all of you. Please let us know what you think of this one too.
Yours, as always,
butterflyswest and Erin Allen
16
Neela chewed on her knuckle though the skin was already raw. Her nerves were strung tight as piano wire and her stomach was rolling unpleasantly. She was waiting for Ray to finish dressing so they could go to Ramsey's office. It wasn't something that she was looking forward to, and this certainly was not the way she had envisioned meeting the parent of the man she loved. She could only imagine what Ray was feeling. He'd disappeared into their room without a word just after the phone call from Ramsey. She had left him alone, allowing him a moment to himself.
The elder Barnett was in Chicago. In record time. It had only taken hours for Ray's father to call Ramsey on the phone. Will had actually laughed at that. To him, it meant that his almost schoolyard challenge had been accepted. He was nearly giddy with anticipation. Now, two days later, the man was actually here.
Let the games begin…
She didn't think that Ramsey's attempt at humor was funny. In all reality, she didn't find anything about this funny. She was more terrified than anything. What if Ramsey's little ruse didn't work? What would happen then? She didn't want to think of the consequences that would fall on them all if that happened. She had nightmares about Ray going to prison. Of Emily being forced back to Philadelphia. Of James Barnett coming for her. Those three things alone were enough to drive her insane, but then she had Brett to contend with. He'd started making it a habit to show up unannounced every other day just to make sure they were alive.
And to play Carter's stereo. Yeah, insanity had definite appeal. She wished that she could just chuck both him and the stereo out the bloody window. She grimaced and glared at him when he began to beat out a quick rhythm on the desktop. He shot her a sheepish look and immediately stopped. She tore her eyes away from him and commenced to chewing on her knuckle again, waiting for Ray to emerge from the bedroom so they could leave.
She glanced up as Brett let out a low whistle and felt her heart skip a beat. Her eyes widened as she rose unsteadily to her feet. She closed her eyes and opened them again in case she was dreaming this. No, he was still there, but she could still barely believe it.
Ray walked into the den wearing the suit that Carter had loaned him. She had always thought that he was handsome, but now he was positively delicious. He looked uncomfortable in the dark blue silk and kept shrugging his shoulders as he scowled. A slow smile crossed her face even as the heat stung her blood. What she wouldn't give to just peel that suit away…
"You clean up nice, Barnett," Brett said, actually sounding sincere. He ruined it in the next breath. "Do your little runway model walk so that we get the full effect."
"Shut up, Brett," Ray muttered, tugging at the tie. "I don't know how Ramsey talked me into wearing this thing. I haven't worn a tie…"
"Since the first time I met you," Neela finished for him, moving across the room to straiten it. She smiled up into his face, her hands on his chest. "You look wonderful."
He smiled and touched her cheek with his fingertips.
"Don't get used to it, though," he said. "I'm not cut out for a suit and tie."
"I know," she said softly, edging closer to press against him. "Don't blame me for admiring the view while I can."
He grinned as Brett groaned and covered his eyes with one hand.
"If you're gonna kiss, then just warn me when you're through. Wouldn't want to go blind over here."
Ray glanced at his friend and raised an eyebrow.
"Don't you have a home to go to?" he asked.
Brett grunted and hopped off his perch on the edge of the desk.
"Hey, you were the one who asked me over. Remember?" he said, feigning hurt. "I come over to stay with your sister, and this is the thanks I get."
"You come here to sponge on Carter's stereo and eat his food," Neela said looking over her shoulder with a grin. "Same as you do at our apartment."
Brett's mouth dropped open in a parody of shock. He looked at Ray.
"Are you gonna let your girlfriend talk to me like that?" he asked.
"Yeah, because it isn't anything that I haven't said to you."
Brett grinned, holding up his hands in defeat.
"Okay, then. You got me. Can I help it that your place is better than mine?"
Neela kept silent, holding in her laughter. She was feeling much better. The sight of Ray in those clothes and the friendly bashing of Brett had done much to improve her temper. There was no way that Ray's father could discount him while he was dressed to the nines. Not that she didn't love him in just tee shirts and jeans…or nothing at all for that matter. She closed the door on that thought before she could give in to the impulse to just take him back to the bedroom and forget about everything else.
Ray turned as Emily came into the room, chomping noisily on a bowl of cereal. She skidded to a halt, her eyes widening as she got a good look at Ray in his borrowed suit. Swallowing with a gulp, she circled around him, her brows furrowing into a frown. Ray sighed inwardly, knowing exactly what she was thinking. He'd seen the result in the mirror, and had been forced to kill the urge to just take the clothes off and go to Ramsey's office in his own. He didn't like the way he had looked in the full-length mirror. He resembled his father, and that didn't sit well with him. He didn't want anything to do with the man.
"I don't like it," Emily said flatly, her frown a full-fledged glower.
"How can you say that?" Neela asked incredulously, and Ray gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"Don't worry about it, babe. She's just thinking the same thing that I did when I first looked in the mirror."
"And what is that?"
He glanced down into her flashing eyes and offered a small smile.
"Did I ever mention that I take after my father?"
Her mouth opened into a small O of understanding, and she winced.
"I'm sorry…I didn't mean…"
He kissed her forehead.
"You didn't know, and it really doesn't matter."
"Well, it does to me," Emily said angrily. She recovered her composure quickly and took another bite of cereal. "Don't ever dress like that again. Not unless you want me to hurt you."
Ray laughed.
"Don't worry about that. This is a one time only deal." He looked down at Neela. "Are you ready to go?"
She nodded, trying to hide the fear that flashed in her eyes. He appreciated it. He was on edge enough for the both of them as it was. It would be a disaster if both of them fell apart.
"We'll see you two later," he said to Brett. "Try not to blow the speakers while we're gone."
"I'll keep him out of trouble," Emily said cheekily. "I used to baby-sit the neighbors' kids. It can't be much harder."
Brett shot her a dark look, and she laughed.
"Just wait until they're gone, little girl. I'm feeling really lucky today, and I saw a Playstation in the cabinet."
Ray turned to go, but Emily suddenly hurled into his arms, holding him as tightly as she could.
"Be careful, big brother," she whispered.
Ray returned the hug, needing the contact as much as she did. Everything was hinging on this meeting with their father, and he didn't blame her for being scared.
He felt the same way.
"Everything will be fine," he told her, hoping that he sounded convincing.
He gave her a kiss on the top of her head and pulled away. Forcing a smile of reassurance that he didn't feel, he left the room with his arm around Neela's shoulders.
"Jesus, I don't want to do this," he muttered under his breath.
"I know," she answered softly, wrapping her arm around his waist. "But, I'll be right there with you. And Mr. Ramsey knows what he's doing. He won't let anything happen."
Ray blew out a breath, wishing that he could be as confident in the lawyer's abilities as she seemed to be. He hadn't been sleeping for the worry. Neela kept silent about the restless nights, but she knew. She got up with him sometimes, often just to let him hold her, sometimes soothing him with the comfort of her hands on his skin. He wanted to give her so much more than this nightmare.
But first, he had to deal with his father.
Carter's driver was waiting outside for them. As always, the man was like a brick wall, his face betraying nothing until he saw them. Ray couldn't help but grin when he glanced at Brett's van and back at the house, for once showing something other than calm.
"He's not coming," Ray assured him, and laughed out loud at the relief in the man's eyes.
He opened the back door for them, and they slid in. Ray took the window seat, his mind already on the role he was to play today. He had learned over the years to be a good actor. He'd been forced to play the part of a good son. Someone who was happy with his life. His entire childhood was built on playing a part. Now, he was going to have to do it again, but there was more at stake if he failed. His sister's future, his own.
Neela.
He glanced at her as the car began to move. He didn't know what he had done to deserve her, but he knew that he would find any way possible to show her how much he loved her and appreciated her. She was absolutely beautiful in her simple white shirt and black skirt, the heavy jacket she wore over it all pulled close around her throat. She had left her hair loose, and he watched as the weak winter sunlight brushed it with red. He couldn't help but smile at the picture she made. And when she turned her head to smile at him with a question in her eyes, he had to squash the urge to just yank her into his arms and kiss her senseless.
"I love you," he said quietly.
She grinned happily and took his hand, twining her fingers with his.
"I love you, too," she whispered. "Where did that come from?"
He shrugged, not wanting to embarrass himself with the thoughts that were swirling through his head. Instead, he scooted close to hold her against him.
The ride was shorter than he would have liked. It didn't seem like any time had passed at all when the car slowed to a stop. The driver came around and opened the door for them. As Ray stepped out onto the sidewalk, he couldn't help but be impressed.
The high rise was a masterpiece of glass and concrete that seemed to touch the pale blue sky. Weak as the light was in the Chicago winter, the place still found a way to reflect that light and turn it into something dazzling. Ray let out a low whistle. He couldn't even imagine what it would cost to rent office space in a place like this let alone an entire floor.
"Bloody hell," he heard Neela whisper beside him, and he smiled. She was just as awed as he was.
"Come on," he laughed. "Before we get mistaken for slack jawed yokels."
She shot him a sidelong look.
"You started it."
He took her hand, and led her into the building. Each step he took seemed to bring more weight down on him until he felt as if he couldn't breathe. His eyes darted around as they walked, fully expecting to meet his father on ground level. There wouldn't be any need for a meeting then. Ray didn't think that he could control his desire to just finish what he had started three years ago. He tried to calm down as the elevator took them to the fifteenth floor where Ramsey waited for them.
There was no one in the hall as they stepped out of the lift, and Ray breathed a sigh of relief. He'd even had visions of meeting the man in the hall and having to duke it out with him. He laughed inwardly at his stupidity. He should have guessed that his worries were for nothing.
Ramsey's office was at the end of the hall and they let themselves into a small reception area. The receptionist looked up and gave them a warm smile.
"May I help you?"
"We're here to see Mr. Ramsey."
She nodded. "You must be Dr. Barnett." She reached for the phone. "I'll just let him know you're here. She pressed a button and Will's voice answered.
"Yes?"
"Dr. Barnett is here, sir. Should I send him in?"
"Yes, thank you, Sheila."
She smiled and waved her hand toward the door behind her.
"Go right on in."
Ray nodded, his heart starting to pound in his ears. Christ, why had he ever agreed to this insanity? He pasted an expression of indifference on his face, and crossed the room to the door. He forced himself to turn the knob and open the door, bracing himself for the worst.
After three years, the shock should have been less than it was. He'd done everything he could to forget the man who sat at the table in Ramsey's conference room. It didn't help when he told himself these things. His first impulse was to leap across the table at him. Just the smug look on his face was enough to make Ray want to beat it off. With a large stick…or maybe a baseball bat. He straitened his shoulders and glared right back, not willing to show how much the man was getting to him. Ray glanced down at Neela to find that her eyes were glued to his father as well.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was as if some sort of magic mirror was between them. To look at James Barnett, was to see Ray in twenty years. Very little gray had invaded his hair, and he seemed ten years younger than what she had imagined him to be. She took in the expensive watch on his wrist and the fine cut of his custom made blue suit. His red tie was perfectly tied and tightly enough that it almost cut off circulation. He looked perfectly relaxed as he sat at the table beside Randly. She raised her eyes to his face, and got another shock. This time, her anger overrode her urge to simply stare. His eyes were blue, not like Ray's at all, and cold. She had never seen such a chilling look in anyone's eyes before and couldn't help but shiver. It was a look that she imagined would be in a predator's eyes just moments before it struck. It chilled her to the bone, and she wondered how Ray could have lived with such a thing.
"Dr. Barnett…Dr. Rasgotra," Will said from his place on the opposite side of the table from his father. "Please have a seat."
Ray took the seat to Will's right, his eyes never leaving his father. Neela had no choice but to follow as he was clinging to her hand with a death grip.
Will waited until they were seated before he turned his attention back to Ray's father. She glanced at him in surprise as he began to speak, unable to believe the chill in his voice. She actually shivered, feeling as if the cold of the city streets had suddenly blown in this office.
"As you know, sir, I asked you here to discuss Emily."
"I came for a hell of a lot more than that," his father snarled. "I was told that that little bastard was in jail."
Neela winced and glanced at Ray at the petty shot. He didn't even betray that he had heard. He just stared in determined silence.
Ramsey smirked.
"Not even close," he said pleasantly, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
"Then why am I here? Where is my daughter?"
Ramsey sat back in his seat, his elbows resting lightly on the arms of the chair. His eyes narrowed at the tone of Barnett's voice. This was a man used to giving orders and having them carried out without complaint. This was the man who liked to beat up on children. Ramsey wondered how a man could possibly do such a horrendous thing, but shoved the thought away. He wasn't here to explore the intricacies of the sociopathic mind. He'd leave that to the shrinks. He was here to eliminate the threat to his client.
"Your daughter is under the protection of Chicago Children's Services, and is residing with her brother until an agreement can be reached."
James narrowed his eyes and let a slow grin cross his face. Neela actually flinched away from the look. She could well imagine why Ray and Emily were so terrified of him now. If that look had been arrowed at her, she would have just fallen apart in fear. It was cold, calculating…utterly without emotion other than greed. Like the grin of a shark.
"How much?"
"Excuse me?" Ray burst out. He ignored the narrow look Will leveled on him. "You think that you can just come in here and…"
"Ray…"
He glanced at Will, who was staring at him sternly, and shut his mouth. Grinding his teeth, he settled back in the seat, trying to control his anger. He couldn't believe the audacity that it took to just offer money after what his father had done. It just blew his mind that he even shared a common gene with him.
"This isn't about money, Mr. Barnett," Will continued as if Ray had never spoken. "This is about your daughter."
Ray's father raised an eyebrow, watching the lawyer carefully.
"Perhaps you should explain what you mean, Mr. Ramsey. It was my understanding that my son…" He spat the word as if it was something nasty, and gave Ray a look of contempt… "Wanted a deal. If he doesn't want money, then I can't fathom what he would want."
Ray would have laughed if he hadn't been so pissed off. He had never asked the bastard for a cent. Not once since it had been made clear that he meant nothing to the man. Why would he want money from him now?
"Dr. Barnett doesn't want money," Will assured him firmly. "What he does want…and what your daughter wants, is to be left alone. They want no contact with you."
Barnett actually laughed.
"You, sir, have much to learn about the laws concerning minors and custody," he said as if the ink on Will's law degree was still wet. "I am my daughter's legal guardian…"
"I beg to differ, sir," Will broke in smugly. "As of last week, Chicago Children's Services has legal guardianship of Emily. Perhaps you should pay more attention to the legalities. That is the way things work when there is an accusation of child abuse."
"Child abuse!" Barnett laughed. "Is that what she said? You should know that kids make things up when…"
"I'm afraid that that excuse won't fly, Mr. Barnett," Will snapped. Ray glanced at him in surprise. Up to this point, the man had not shown an ounce of emotion other than cool competency. It truly showed the depth of his anger that he was letting even a little of it show.
"As of right now, I could have you arrested on charges of child abuse, sir. Emily has sworn out her statement to the detective in charge of the case."
Barnett narrowed his eyes.
"You would never make the charges stick," he said in a deadly voice. "I would slap you and your client with so many lawsuits that you wouldn't know which way was up."
Will smiled coldly.
"I realize that. Meanwhile, you still wouldn't have your daughter. She would continue to be in the custody of her brother until the red tape was cleared up." He reached for a thick file folder and pulled it toward him. With carefully deliberate movements, he opened the folder and glanced at the top sheet. "The fact of the matter is, Mr. Barnett, you have bigger problems."
Ray felt his pulse quicken. Everything hinged on this, and he was suddenly excited. Just seeing his father again had sent him into a tailspin. He wanted this over with, and Will held the key to that end in the folder before him.
"What are you talking about?"
Will glanced at Ray, giving the signal.
"I want you to sign over custody of Emily to me," he said clearly. "Today."
"Like hell." His father turned his icy gaze on Ray. "You think I don't know about you, boy? I do. I know about the bars, and the booze. I know about the band and how you dress like a thug. I know that you are useless. You always were." He glanced at Neela and smirked. "Is this the groupie of the month? How much does she charge?"
Ray held onto Neela when he felt her move in angry indignation beside him. It wasn't anything he hadn't heard before, but it didn't change the fact that Ray would have loved to just beat the living piss out of him. Ray suddenly wondered what the hell he'd been so afraid of all those years. The man was pathetically predictable. Anything he did was a ploy to get a rise out of someone and give him an excuse to hurt them any way he could.
"Believe what you want," he said with a shrug, feigning indifference. "I want Emily, and you're going to give her to me."
"Now why the hell would I do that?"
"Because if you don't," Will broke in, "I'll make sure that the IRS gets a really good look at these."
He shoved the folder across the table and waited while Barnett scanned the contents. He held in his grin as the man's face went red then stark white. He looked up at Will.
"How did you come by this information, might I ask?" he said tightly, his voice trembling with fury.
"I have my sources," Will told him cryptically. "As things stand, I could take that file directly to the IRS or send it to the police in Philadelphia. Either way, you are going to go to prison for a very long time. Or, you can do as my client asks and sign over all rights to his sister to him."
Barnett's face twisted into a snarl.
"That is blackmail," he said.
"Blackmail is such a harsh word," Will said lightly, his eyes flashing. "Considering your sins, what I'm doing is a mild infraction."
Ray watched as his father digested this. He managed to remain still as the man turned his cold blue gaze on him.
"So this is what you've sunk to?"
Ray leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. A thousand different things he wanted to say shot through his head. He wanted to tell the man how very much he hated him. How much he hated what he had done to him, to Emily. He burned to just jump across the table and beat the man to a bloody pulp right there. Instead, he smiled.
"I learned everything I know about cruelty from you," he said quietly, making certain that the barb hit home.
Barnett rose abruptly to his feet. Randly followed suit, looking as if he'd just been sideswiped by a garbage truck. Ray wondered how long it would take before the man was looking for another job.
"This meeting is over."
"And your answer?" Will asked, getting to his feet to face him.
Barnett glared first at him, then at Ray.
"I'll think about it."
With that, he was gone, taking the oppressive chill in the air with him.
Ray blew out a breath and sat back in his seat. He was suddenly exhausted, his emotions in a turmoil. He'd won one small victory, but the war was still not decided. Until his father either agreed to the terms or went to jail, nothing was certain. He didn't know what he was going to tell Emily when he got back.
"Don't worry about a thing, Ray. He'll see that he has no choice."
Ray glanced at Will. He didn't feel so confident. The only thing he was grateful for was the fact that the offer was on the table. No matter what his father decided, Emily wouldn't be going back to Philly. He turned to look at Neela. Her eyes were bright and her lips pressed together in a thin line of anger.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"I cannot believe that wanker!" she said harshly. "He's lucky that I didn't just leap across the table at him."
"You don't know how to fight," Ray said with a smile.
"Well, I'd bloody well learn, wouldn't I," she snapped, glaring at him. "And don't grin at me like a fool, Barnett. I don't know how you could have just sat there when he was saying those things about you."
Ray pulled her to her feet as he stood and took her into his arms.
"By remembering that I have you and Emily. I don't need him, and I don't care what he thinks of me." He dipped his head to kiss her lightly. "You love me, and that's all that matters to me."
He looked at Ramsey over her head.
"What now? He didn't take the offer."
Will sighed, gathering up his papers.
"He'll either take the offer or he won't. Right now, he needs a minute to call anyone he can and try to dig up what he can about us. He's looking for a way out." Will tucked the thick folder under his arm. "The thing is, he's screwed and deep down he knows it. He can try to go to the police with this, claim that we're blackmailing him, but he won't. I know his kind unfortunately. He has too much to lose."
Ray closed his eyes and shook his head.
"I thought that I would feel better about this," he said quietly.
"And that's why I like you, son. You're still human. I'll call you when he calls me," he said before he left the room.
Ray nodded, and looked down at Neela.
"Let's go home, babe."
She nodded, and smiled suddenly.
"I need to stop at the market though."
"Why?"
"Because your sister ate all your cereal again."
Ray could only laugh, remembering the night that had started all this.
"No problem," he said, grinning. "Just so long as we get some for you, too. Brett got hungry yesterday."
She shot him a look that said, "Paybacks are a bitch" and walked with him to the door.
"Maybe we'll be lucky and they will have killed each other by the time we get back."
Ray laughed again, closing the door behind him.