“Yes, but unfortunately murder in the first degree, which you committed less than a year after moving to Indiana, is.”
Nikolai watched Samantha falter, wondering how she’d handle what was coming next. “How—” Samantha stopped and tried again. “Why do you think I murdered someone?”
Kevin leaned down over the chair she was sitting in to address her now, his voice quiet, as if he were letting her in on a little secret.
“You should know, Ms. McKinley, this area of law gets a little tricky. You see, you murdered your stepfather on your eighteenth birthday. The courts decided to try you as a juvenile so your file was sealed and technically it would be inadmissible in court. But here’s what I think you can understand about me, given my dealings with a few of your shelter clients. I’m a good lawyer. A very good lawyer. And if I didn’t think there was a way to get that file unsealed, given you were technically eighteen when it happened, I would not have taken Mr. Rustanov’s case. I’m not in the habit of losing, and I know I can convince a jury of your peers that not only are you a bad prospect for motherhood, but also a potential danger to your child.”
Kevin grinned at her like the predator he truly was, and leaned even further down to say, “After I’m done you won’t even get weekend and birthday access to your child. You killed a man, Ms. McKinley. You don’t get to sit there and act like you would be a better parent to this child than my client.”
For a moment Samantha did nothing, she simply sat, still as a wood dove, as if Kevin’s words had frozen her. But then she reanimated.
“Fuck you,” she hissed, her eyes wide and angry. “Fuck you and your dirty lawyer tricks.”
Then she turned to Nikolai, her beautiful face thunderous with rage. “You are fucked up for doing this. And obviously the only thing you care about is getting your way.”
Nikolai forced his face to remain blank, despite the rage churning inside of him. “Nyet, you want everything go your way. Me never seeing my child, you getting to raise it with someone else.”
“Yes, I’d rather this child live with someone who loves it and is capable of even being a halfway decent parent!” she screamed back. “So sorry for having the baby’s best interest in mind instead of your ego!”
And then he could no longer contain himself. He leapt out of his own seat and roared, “You do not know me! You do not know of what I am capable! I will not let you keep my child from me!”
“I don’t know you because you don’t talk to me. Like ever! You communicate with me through your assistant and whenever I try to talk to you about anything remotely personal, you shut me out.” She shook her head at him, her eyes full of disgust. “And now you’ve invited this snake into what should have been an adult discussion between you and me. You and me, Nikolai.”
“I invited him because you forced my hand.”
Her eyes continued to burn hot with rage as she answered, “I didn’t force your hand. I made a reasonable decision to move out because I’m an adult who cares deeply about your nephew and I don’t want to hurt him or confuse him. And I feel that way because I’m a good person—maybe not on paper,” She jerked her head toward Kevin, “And maybe not according to this scumbag lawyer you’ve hired, but I know my worth. I’m a good person, and I’ll be an amazing mother because I’ll always put this child first, not my own selfish pride—”
She stopped in the middle of her passionate speech, suddenly looking stricken. Her hand came up to her mouth and she glanced around frantically, before running past Kevin and Nik and into the study’s private bathroom.
Soon after, there came the sound of retching and regurgitated food hitting toilet bowl water.
A stunned Kevin looked over at Nikolai. “Well, I’ve gotten a lot of reactions to my proposed custody suits, but that’s a first.”
Nikolai didn’t respond. Just stared at the door Samantha had slammed closed, her angry accusations still ringing in his ears.
“Should we reschedule for tomorrow?” Kevin asked. “I mean we still haven’t gotten the paperwork signed—”
“You go now.” Nikolai told him. “I will take care of rest.”
“Are you sure?” Kevin asked with a confused frown. Nikolai recognized in him a kindred spirit. Someone who was used to seeing dirty work through to the end.
But in this case, his services were no longer needed. A new plan formed in Nikolai’s head. One he didn’t bother to explain to the lawyer as he headed out of the room to put together his weapons arsenal.
24
Morning sickness was a bitch and a half, Sam thought, as she flushed down the two deposits she’d just made, the lovely breakfast from this morning, along with her dinner from the night before. She fell back from the golden toilet—which she chose to believe was only painted that color, not made of the real stuff. A solid gold toilet seemed a bit much, even for Nikolai.
She eased herself into a seated position on the floor, resting the back of her head on the red and white marble wall. At least this office bathroom was cool. Unlike his office, which had been filled with Nikolai and his lawyer and the disgusting smell of overbearing cologne. Even righteous indignation couldn’t keep her stomach at a standstill long enough for her to make her point. Nikolai was lucky she had made it to the office’s golden toilet and hadn’t thrown up all over his lawyer’s nice wingtips. Tempting as that had been.
God, what was she going to do?
She had no idea, but at least she could take solace in the fact that she most likely wouldn’t be throwing up again. Sam had given Nikolai’s ludicrous toilet every single thing she’d put into her stomach over the last twelve hours. She just wished her stomach would understand that and stop churning already.
She closed her eyes, slowing her breaths down and willing the nauseous feeling to pass. Outside the bathroom, she could hear voices talking low, departing footsteps. Then it went quiet until a few minutes later when someone opened the door and turned on a faucet. Anna, she assumed, feeling too weak to check.
But she was pretty sure Nikolai must have called in his housekeeper to deal with her when a cold cloth was pressed against her head.
“Thank you,” she said, breathing into the wet coolness.
But it was not Anna who said, “I will put towel on back of your neck now. It will help you.”
Her eyes flew open, and yes, there was Nikolai, bent down in front of her, his long fingers keeping the cloth in place on her head.