Chapter
Thirty
By the time Vice and I stalked into the Hawaii resort, I was frantic to see my son and find out what in the hell John and Cammy were playing at. What Mom said couldn’t be real. John handed over his rights to me for Drew. All he wanted was every second weekend, and that was until he’d up and moved away. He wouldn’t fight me for Drew. Not now. Rationally, I knew he didn’t have a chance in hell at succeeding in a custody battle, but that didn’t make my fury or anxiety lessen.
God, I wanted to throw up my stomach was in so many knots of worry.
Vice steered me toward the front counter, while he organized a room. I turned and looked around. Having a chartered flight by private plane organized by Grayson had made everything so much easier. I had no idea how I’d ever repay him, or Vice for arranging everything. It also meant nobody knew we’d arrived. It was nearing dinnertime, so the foyer wasn’t too busy. There were only a few people milling around.
“Adalyn,” Vice started and placed his hand on my lower back. We headed away from the reception desk. “They’re taking the bags to our room. Text your Mom and find out where they are. It’s time to deal with this bullshit.” He rubbed his hand up and down my back. Nodding, I grabbed my phone out and shot a text off and then leaned into Vice while we waited for a reply. Thank God, I’d been around Vice when Mom called. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have moved from my shocked state to make it to Hawaii in the first place. He helped me pack, rang Grayson for his private plane, got us to the airport, and on the plane, all while I screamed, ranted, and silently maimed in my mind.
I wasn’t even sure I’d spoken to Vice after he hung up from Mom. Although, I did remember his first words after the call. “Right, Addy. We’re going there. They aren’t fucking keeping Drew.” Then it was full of frantic movements to get us both here while I silently freaked the hell out.
My phone vibrated. I jumped, and Vice’s arm around my shoulders curled me in tighter again him. “Calm, baby. We’re not leaving without Drew. Do you hear me? No matter what, Drew will be with us.”
“Okay, honey,” I whispered, and opened the text. I believed him. He was Vice Salvatore, after all, and I was sure he’d move heaven and hell to make sure Drew was with us.
Mom: In the hotel’s restaurant.
Me: Coming.
Taking a deep breath, I shook out my arms and came back to myself, then admitted, “I’m not sure…. Vice, I might lose my control in there. If I look like I’m going to hit someone, hold me back because it could cause more trouble.”
He smiled, probably glad I wasn’t a zombie any longer. He kissed my temple and then shifted to take my hand. “You’ll be fine.”
I wasn’t so certain about that.
We made our way toward the restaurant, and each step I took, I kept reminding myself I couldn’t go in there kick John and Cammy’s ass, take my child back, and run from the room. Even when it sounded like a grand idea. If it hadn’t been for Vice’s thumb making lazy circles on the top of my hand, I would have stormed in there like a mad woman. Maybe even grunted and yelled like cave women used to do.
Believe. I just had to believe things would be okay. We’d work everything out calmly, and no one would get hurt in the process. Especially Drew. I wasn’t sure what he knew, or even if John had told him anything or even asked Drew if he wanted to live in Hawaii with him permanently.
Holy shit. What happened if Drew did know everything and wanted to stay?
I wasn’t sure if I could cope with losing my son and only seeing him holidays. I’d have to move to Hawaii myself, but then I’d lose Vice because he had businesses to run.
I clutched my chest. I wasn’t getting in enough air.
“Addy, baby, please, calm down.” Vice brought me around to face him. His hands landed on my shoulders, and then he ran them up and down my arms. “Slow your breathing, sweetheart.”
Nodding, I took a deep breath in and then slowly exhaled. Rubbing at my chest with my knuckles, I face planted into Vice’s chest. I couldn’t lose either one of them.
“Everything will be fine, Adalyn. Promise.” We stayed that way for a while longer, until I was calm enough to function, and then Vice kissed my temple, took my hand, and led me the rest of the way in.
Thankfully the restaurant wasn’t busy, which was how we spotted them quickly. John was talking to Drew about something, Cammy was glaring at Mom for some reason, and Mom was wiping her eye with her middle finger toward her other daughter. That actually brought a smile to my face.
“Ready?” Vice asked as we made our way through the tables.
“No, but yes.” I squeezed his hand, and he returned the gesture. We’d nearly made it to their table without being noticed, until Cammy looked over her shoulder for some reason, and the evil smile that graced her face I wanted to knock right off.
“Oh, look. Adds is here.”
“Mommy! Vice!” Drew cried, his beaming face misted my eyes and wobbled my bottom lip. Yes, I would do anything to make sure my boy was still with me. He was out of his seat in seconds and ran the few steps to land in my arms first. After he got a forehead layered in kisses from me, he moved into Vice’s arms for a big, tight hug. With his arm still around Vice’s waist, he planted his chin in Vice’s stomach and looked up at him. “What are you both doing here? This is so awesome. I can show you the beach.”
Vice smiled down at Drew. “Looking forward to it. We thought we’d fly in to surprise you before you come home.” Drew missed the evil eye Vice sent John because Drew was telling his nana how cool he thought it was we were there.
Cammy scoffed, rolled her eyes and muttered, “We’ll see about that.”
“Mom,” I called. “Great to see you. Drew my boy, can you take Nana to the ice cream shop I saw on the way in. I just want to talk to your dad for a bit.”
He sat on Mom’s knee and eyed me, then Vice, then John. He didn’t bother with Cammy; it showed me he wasn’t a fan of hers.
“Why?” he asked.
“Just adult talk, kiddo.” Vice winked. “We won’t be long.”
Cammy snorted. Drew swung his gaze to her and lowered his eyes into a glare.
“Okay, Mom.” He stood and gave us another hug before taking Mom’s hand. On her way past me, she took my arm and gave me a reassuring squeeze.
Cammy got up and moved to Mom’s seat and then took John’s hand on the table. Vice moved forward, took her seat and Drew’s, shifted them close to one another, and then he waited for me to sit before he did.
Cammy sneered at me. “You going to introduce us, Adds?”
“Vice, Cammy and John.”
Vice nodded to them both but said nothing. I glanced out the corner of my eyes to see he had a death stare going on with my ex.
“John,” I started. He looked at me. “Why are you doing this?”
Cammy rolled her eyes, leaned forward and said, “John was telling me how you worked in a sex shop, Adds. That wasn’t a suitable place to be in when you have Drew living with you.”
“I don’t work there anymore, you know this,” I pointed out.
“So, that doesn’t matter. You chose to work there in the first place.”
“Maybe you should stay out of mine and John’s business over Drew.” I glanced to John. “You know it was the only job I could find at the time.”
John opened his mouth to reply but Cammy butted back in. “You should have waited for another. John left you with money to get you by.”
“I’m leaving it for Drew’s college fund.” Every word out of her mouth was pissing me off more and more.
“Do you have anything to say?” Vice asked. I saw he was watching John.
John smiled, and it wasn’t a pleasant one. “Actually, I do.” Cammy smugly sat back in her chair and wrapped her arm around John’s. My ex finally looked at me. “I don’t like the company you keep, Adalyn.”
My head jerked back. “What do you mean, who?”
“The man next to you.”
Vice snorted, relaxed back into the seat, and placed his arm around the back of my chair. “I had a feeling it would be this type of play.”
“What type of play?” I asked.
“Please, continue,” Vice gestured to John. Then he leaned in and kissed my temple. If I hadn’t been looking Cammy’s way, I would have missed her deepening glare. “It’ll be fine,” Vice whispered into my ear.
“Adalyn, I’m filling for full custody for Drew to come live here with Cammy and myself. He’ll be safer here.”
Shaking my head, I asked, “Safer from what?” I pointed to Cammy. “And you hate kids. You’ve always told me this.”
“I’ve changed. People can change.”
Shaking my hands in front of me, I said, “Wait, how and when did this happen? I thought you were with Daphne.”
“Cammy and I got to know one another again, and I realized I’ve always had a thing for her. We’re in love.”
I snorted, then laughed and laughed some more. I laughed so hard my eyes were watering, and I had to hold my stomach it ached so much.
“Adalyn,” John snapped.
“Oh, God. Really? In love? Wow, congrats and happy Tonka, wait.” I turned to Vice, “That’s a toy car isn’t it.”
He smirked. “It is.”
“Well then, happy whatever it is. I wish you all the happiness you both can carry.” Vice chuckled. “One thing though, Drew is not staying here with two people who are mean, hurtful, and fucked up in general.”
“How dare you,” Cammy cried.
“He will be staying here, and he’ll never want to be around you again because of the man beside you.”
“Vice is safer and more normal than you’ll ever be,” I bit back to John.
Cammy’s smile grew vindictive just before John’s hand slammed down on the table. “He owns sex shops and porn studios, Adalyn, and you have my son around that man.”
My eyes widened. Cammy looked like the cat that got the cream. Still I asked John, “How did you know?”
“Cammy found out his name from Drew and researched him. Are you seriously with a man who films porn for a living? What would Drew’s school think? Or the parents of his friends? Did you think about Drew at all?”
“That’s rich coming from a man who cheats on women,” Vice snarled.
“I don’t even want to speak to you or hear anything come from your mouth.”
I wanted to slap John in the face. He had no right to speak to Vice like that. Heck, if Vice wanted to own strip clubs, I wouldn’t care because he was an amazing man. He was caring, sweet, smart, the perfect man my son could look up to. He was driven, courageous, and looked around ready to blow his top. Maybe it wasn’t me who would have to be held back, but Vice.
“You think this shit will keep me from her?” Vice asked deeply. “You think you can keep Drew away from us? Think again.” Vice stood, held his hand out to me. I took it and straightened beside him.
John jumped up, so did Cammy. “My son will never be in your presence again.”
“Yeah? Why? Because of the businesses I run? Tell us the real reason you want to drag this crap up? Is it maybe because you don’t want Addy to move on? You discard her and expect her to listen or do everything you want or say. Tell me, how long have you and Camila been together? Camila’s been in your ear for a fucking long time, and because she has some serious issues against her sister, she’s making you do things you’re not really thinking about, but instead jumping into because that trash there tells you to. How do you think Drew will feel without his mom? Has Camila proved herself to be a good role model like his mom already is? Addy works her ass off to make sure Drew and even her mother has everything they desire.”
My hand went to Vice’s chest. It was bouncing up and down from his rapid breathing. But what he’d said made a lot of sense.
“Tell me it isn’t true, John. Was Daphne even here, even the girlfriend you left me for?”
“I’m sorry, but yes, it’s true. Cammy and I hooked up for a few nights a long time ago. And Daphne was real, until I rekindled things with Cammy while staying here.”
“So, you and my sister… years ago started something while we were married?”
He actually looked remorseful.
“John, you don’t have to say anything,” Cammy said.
Turning my gaze to Cammy, I asked, “You slept with my husband before we’d even divorced? What did I ever do to you?” My eyes welled. Vice’s arm wrapped around my shoulders. “Why do you hate me so much?”
Sick, I felt so sick in the stomach from the thought of my sister betraying me so long ago along with my ex. It wasn’t that I lost John out of it all, but Drew lost his father. All because of her and the way John couldn’t keep it in his pants.
Cammy’s hands fisted. She then placed them flat on the table. “You always got everything. I got nothing.”
“Jesus, Cammy,” John sighed. He shook his head. Maybe he was finally realizing her play had nothing to do with Drew’s safety, but to hurt me some more.
“How can you say that? Mom and Dad always tried to bend over backward to make you happy. I didn’t get to do dance or tennis or anything else you tried.”
“You said no to be the good, perfect little girl, so they felt they had to spend the money on me. They hated me, loved you.”
Throwing my hands up in the air, I groaned and then wiped my face. I would not cry over her any longer. “You can think what you want. I really don’t care anymore, Cammy. Do you hear me? I don’t care about you because I no longer have a sister.”
Her eyes widened for a fraction before slanting into a scowl. “Whatever. At least Little Miss Perfect can’t have everything. Drew will be staying here with us or else your man there will be paying big bucks to shut us up about his life and what trouble it could cause for Drew now at school and when he’s older.”
“Drew won’t be staying with you,” Vice growled.
“You can’t—” Cammy started.
“Cammy,” John warned, his eyes searching Cammy for something before they flashed with disappointment. “This has nothing to do with what Addy has or hasn’t got, and it certainly hasn’t got a goddamn thing to do with money. We’re doing this for Drew’s sake.” Cammy reached over and patted John’s leg.
“Of course.” She nodded.
“Are you seriously going to stand there and listen to your woman’s words? She hates her sister to a point she’ll use anyone to bring Addy down. I know I won’t let it happen ever again. You need to think of your son, not the woman who’s leading you around by your dick.”
“I am thinking of my son. I won’t let Drew be around a person like you if it could cause problems for him in any way. Kids can be cruel.”
Vice smiled. “Then it’s a good thing two weeks ago I sold those businesses.”
“You what?” I gasped.
“Yeah, baby. I sold them because I knew having you and Drew in my life were more important than those businesses. You think I want Drew to come home one day asking if I make porn? I don’t, so I made sure that won’t happen.”
“But, but…,” Cammy began.
“No one knows. It isn’t public. The change is happening though, and everything about my name associated with porn and adult stores will be gone from any search engine on the net. The films I’ve already produced will have a cover change with the new owner’s name on there.” He turned back to look at John, with his lip raised in disgust. “Adalyn and Drew are my world. I’d do anything for them. It’s something you should have done because, man, they make my world shine bright. They would have yours if you hadn’t fucked them over. Your loss, my gain, and I’m gaining big.”
“This… you… fuck.” John turned to Cammy. “You egged me on and all for what? To mess with Adds more and because you saw dollar signs.” He shook his head and glanced back to John. “I don’t—”
Vice’s hand came up. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say right now. Take the trash at your side and go. We’ll be leaving tomorrow with Drew. If you want to see Drew the next school holidays, organize it, but you’ll fly to see him in our town and without her. If you think you can play more games with us, think again. I have the means to tear your lives apart even before it went to court.”
Holy shit.
Vice was so getting lucky.
I was giddily ecstatic with how my man handled the situation.
“Adds, I’m sorry, I—”
“Don’t you apologize to her,” Cammy screeched, stamping her foot.
“Shut up, Cammy,” John barked in her face.
Running my hand up from Vice’s belly to his chest, I caught his eyes when he looked down. “Can we get out of here? Drew wants to show us the beach.”
“Sounds good to me.” He smiled, touched his mouth to mine, and we walked away.
Getting closer to the doorway, I said, “You know I wouldn’t have cared if you kept the business?”
“I know. But I wanted to. I’ll have people living with me soon. I didn’t want to be run down with work. Besides, I’ll have to keep up my energy for all the sex we’ll have to make more babies.”
I stopped. “You want to have children with me?”
“Fuck yes,” he whispered against my lips and then ran his tongue around to my ear. My legs quivered along with my clit when he bit down before adding, “Speaking of which, I’m not getting any younger, we should start tonight.”
Pulling back, to see if he was serious and he definitely seemed it, my heart jerked inside my chest and then galloped along in excitement. Even my belly was tumbling in joy at the thought of having Vice’s child. Still, no matter how big I was smiling, I had to ask, “Can we wait at least until Drew and I have moved in?”
“We’re moving in with Vice? Wicked!” Drew yelled.