Dangerous Relations

“I can provide the same thing.” He’d even consider church attendance for Chloe’s sake.

Shelby lifted one arched brow. “Your family owns a bunch of gentlemen’s clubs. That’s hardly the environment for a little girl to grow up in.”

He clenched his teeth. The woman was judging him for his father’s activities after she’d had nothing to do with Chloe because she was too busy or too snooty or just plain didn’t care.

When he spoke, ice edged his tone. “I’m not my family.” At least not his father’s side. Instead, he’d been closer to his mother, especially after his parents divorced when he was seven. At age twelve, he’d found a father figure through his best friend. A recently retired military man, Kyle’s dad had adored his wife and made his children the center of his life. Ryan’s ideals had been on an increasingly separate path from his father’s ever since.

A detective holding a small notepad approached from inside the apartment. He glanced at them both, then focused on Ryan. “What is your relationship with Mia Adair?”

“I’m the baby’s uncle. My brother is the father.” At the detective’s request, he provided his contact information.

“How often did you see Mia?”

“Three or four times a week.”

“Where?”

“Here. I’d pick up Chloe and take her to the park and places.” He’d call Mia and let her know he was on the way. She was always fine with it. Except today she hadn’t answered. Since he’d already been in Seattle on another errand, he figured he’d give it a shot.

“Have you and Ms. Adair ever dated?”

“We’ve never been more than friends.” If not for Chloe, she wouldn’t have even been that. She was too shallow to be someone with whom he’d seek out a friendship.

“Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt her?”

“No. I didn’t think she had enemies. She seemed to get along with everybody.”

At the end of the hall, the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Addy stepped off and approached. The detective gave her a brief glance, then continued his questions. Once finished, he turned to Shelby.

“What about you? What is your relationship with Ms. Adair?”

“Her sister.”

While he jotted her name, address and phone number in his pad, Ryan smoothed Chloe’s curls, so soft against his palm. She lifted her eyes to his. They were green with gold flecks, just like her mother’s. Like her aunt’s, too.

“Are you aware of anyone who’d have wanted to hurt her?”

Ryan watched Shelby’s gaze shift to him before going back to the detective. Uneasiness brushed the edges of his mind.

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“The people who own and manage the club where she worked.”

Ryan’s jaw dropped. “Come on.” The objection slipped out before he could stop it. The woman would resort to anything to get Chloe.

The detective shot him a warning glance. “What club is that?”

“The Satin Cabaret.”

“Why do you believe her employers would want to hurt her?”

“She told me there was something shady going on at the club. She’d seen or heard something. She said if she stumbled on what it was, her life would be in danger.”

“When did she tell you this?”

“Two weeks ago.”

“Did she say what she’d seen or heard?”

“No.”

“Could she have been talking about patrons rather than the owners?”

“Possibly, but that wasn’t the impression I got. Since she said something shady was going on at the club, I assume it’s something the owners are involved in. Or know about, anyway.”

He finished his notes, then looked up. “Anything else you can tell me?”

“Not that I remember.”

“Call if you think of anything.” He handed each of them a card with a case number. “Will one of you be taking the child, or shall I call DSHS?”

Shelby jumped in. “I’m taking her.” She looked at Addy. “Will you continue as Chloe’s nanny?”

Addy nodded. “I go wherever Chloe goes.”

“Good.” Shelby returned her attention to the detective. “I’ll file the necessary paperwork to make it legal. Based on what Mia told me, Chloe’s daddy is out of the picture. I’m expecting him to sign away his parental rights.”

Ryan held up a hand. “With all due respect, even though Ms. Adair is Chloe’s aunt, Chloe has seen her only a handful of times. She needs to be with people she knows, people who love her.”

Fire lit Shelby’s eyes. He wasn’t accusing her of not loving Chloe. But based on the glare he was getting, that was how she’d taken it. “His brother manages the club where my sister worked. His father owns it. These are the people my sister was afraid of.”

“According to you.”

Addy frowned. “Mia told me the same thing.”

“That has nothing to do with me.” Ryan struggled to keep his voice level. “I’m almost finished with twenty years in the Navy. I’ve never been involved in my family’s business.”

Shelby spread her arms, palms up. “We don’t even know that Randall McConnell’s name is on Chloe’s birth certificate. According to Mia, they’ve never been in a committed relationship.”

The detective closed his pad. “Until the courts can sort it out, it makes sense for the child to go with the deceased’s sister.”

Ryan sagged against the hallway wall. How was this happening? After he’d spent countless hours bonding with his niece, how could Chloe’s absentee aunt walk in and lay claim to her?

He’d let it go tonight. He’d lost the initial battle, but not the war. Shelby had said she was filing the necessary paperwork. He would, too. He’d fight her every step of the way.

His brother wasn’t going to be any help. The idiot had gotten himself arrested a week ago. It wasn’t the first time. He’d been able to beat the other charges or accept pleas for reduced sentences. Ryan had warned him—one more time and they’d put him under the jail. Randall hadn’t listened. This time he’d sold heroin to an undercover cop. He probably wouldn’t see freedom for the next fifteen years. Or longer.