The Blackstone Heir

Unease rippled through her body. She knew she’d had good reasons for her choices, but when she looked at it from his point of view... “I’m not denying you access to Carter out of anger or revenge, Jacob. I simply want to know that he’s in good hands. That you’re willing to make a place for a baby in your life. Not hand him over to a well-paid nanny.”

His eyes searched hers. “How can I be sure he’s in good hands with you?”

“I— Well—” Words failed her for a moment.

“Face it, KC. You ran halfway across the country to hide my child from me. I’m not the only one with something to prove. The question is, how?”

Three (#ulink_4106e5e3-1c63-538a-9b5f-10f1a486138b)

Jacob hadn’t felt so out of control since the last time he’d had KC in a bed. Only, anger wasn’t nearly as pleasurable. Still, he used the impetus to propel himself through the door to his brother Aiden’s study at Blackstone Manor, knowing John Canton was there for a meeting.

This morning, Aiden had mentioned an appointment for the lawyer to drop off some paperwork for their grandfather’s will. Canton still had control of the Blackstone inheritance, for now. There were some final hoops to jump through, then Jacob and his brothers would be free of James Blackstone and his minion.

“You bastard,” Jacob growled, absorbing his brother’s shocked look as he passed. But his focus was trained wholly on the lawyer.

The same lawyer who had assisted their grandfather in blackmailing Aiden into marrying Christina, their mother’s nurse, terrorizing them with threats of compromising their mother’s health and care if they didn’t comply.

“I knew you would force two people to get married to suit James’s purposes. Threaten, and bully, and even ruin an entire town on the whim of a dead man. But I seriously thought any decent human being would draw the line at cutting a child completely out of a man’s life.” He let his momentum carry him until he loomed over the smaller man. “Guess I thought wrong.”

From behind the desk, Aiden asked, “Jacob, care to fill me in?”

Canton didn’t even blink...or pretend not to understand what Jacob referred to. “I did as your grandfather ordered.”

“Didn’t you think I should have a say?”

Canton shrugged. “That was not for me to decide.”

With a growl, Jacob reached forward, but arms made of steel were there to stop him. Slowly, Aiden inched him back until there was enough room for him to stand between Jacob and the man he felt like killing.

“I’ve obviously missed something,” Aiden said. “Tell me now.”

From the other side of the barrier Aiden provided, Canton spoke. Brave man. “I believe Jacob is referring to a conversation his grandfather had with Ms. Gatlin.”

“What?” Aiden looked surprised.

Jacob turned away, relieving his brother of guard duty. At least not looking at his grandfather’s lawyer would help him regain control. In thirty-three years, he’d never experienced this many emotional twists. He didn’t like it. He needed stability. All the more reason to stay away from KC—but that wasn’t an option anymore.

He turned back, focusing on his brother. “I went to see KC Gatlin.”

Aiden gave a short nod. “So it’s true? The baby is yours?”

“He’s three months old.” Jacob felt the need to clarify, now that he had more facts. “I met KC on one of my flights home and...” How did he put this without making it sound as if KC was simply a booty call? “Okay, I was sleeping at her place whenever I came to town.” Why sugarcoat his selfishness?

Aiden’s thick brows went up. “Wow, Jacob. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Not the time, Aiden.”

“Really? You brought it up.”

Jacob ignored the brotherly razzing and moved on. “The baby is definitely mine.” That shut down his brother’s grin. Real quick. “Dear ol’ Grandpa threatened her until she skipped town, never telling me about it—my son.”

Aiden narrowed his gaze on the lawyer. “How would Grandfather even find out KC was pregnant? Medical records are confidential. Was he rummaging through her trash for a pregnancy test?”

Jacob barely held his control as he waited for the answer.

Canton smirked. “Anything can be had for the right price. Turns out, one of the little nurses at KC’s doctor has a serious cash-flow problem.”

Jacob was rushing forward before he even thought. Only the barricade created by Aiden’s body stopped his attack. His own heavy breathing sounded loud in Jacob’s ears; his heart thudded as he realized the full magnitude of his grandfather’s invasion of privacy. Jacob wanted to do bodily harm all over again.

“Easy,” Aiden murmured against his ear. “Let’s get our questions answered, and then he’ll be gone. Forever this time.”

Silence reigned as Jacob tried to gather the remnants of his self-control. His thoughts whirled, reminding him if he hadn’t come home for good, he might never have found out he was a father. Pulling back, he announced, “It was only by accident I found out that KC had my child.”

Canton spoke again from a safe distance across the room. “Then I don’t understand the issue.”

Jacob rounded on him but didn’t move closer. He didn’t trust himself. “The issue? You tried to separate me from my child.”

“But by your own admission, we didn’t succeed.”

The guy simply didn’t get it. “Would you ever have told me?”

“Your grandfather demanded complete loyalty. And discretion. Of course I wouldn’t have.” His weasel-like face didn’t change expression. “And since Ms. Gatlin moved without contacting you and didn’t come home during the remainder of your grandfather’s lifetime, she’d fulfilled our terms. In which case, there was nothing to tell.”

“I’m glad you think so. I guess that clears your conscience.”

The man didn’t bother to defend himself. “I don’t have a conscience. I have a job.”

“That’s enough,” Aiden interjected. “Canton, we’re done for now. I’ll reschedule with you at your office later and we will finish up the last of the paperwork for Grandfather’s affairs.”

The lawyer was smart enough to take an out when it was given to him. He scurried through the door without so much as a by-your-leave. But his departure ratcheted down Jacob’s anger by a few notches.

“Man, I’ll be glad to see the last of that guy,” Aiden said as he straightened the papers on his desk.

“How much longer?”

Aiden had spent the year dealing with his grandfather’s lawyer after James had blackmailed him into marrying Christina. Luckily, it had all worked out for the best, but the lawyer’s presence was an annoying reminder of their grandfather’s manipulations.

Aiden waved the papers at him. “This is the end of it. The year is almost up and we will be free from it all. Including Canton. I just wish there was a way to punish him for what he’s done rather than be rewarded with the money Grandfather left him.” Aiden settled back into his chair, looking every inch the sophisticated Manhattan art dealer, though he now lived in South Carolina instead of New York. “KC Gatlin, huh? Beautiful, but definitely different from your standard of socialites and fellow businesswomen.”

“Tell me about it.” Jacob started to pace, hoping to expend the energy thrumming beneath his skin. Hell, he just might have to go for another jog, even though he’d done five miles this morning. Especially as he thought about KC’s earlier accusations.

“Where do you want to go from here?” Aiden asked after several moments.

More of that loaded silence.

Finally, Jacob said, “I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to see her again. Didn’t wish we could pick up where we left off when she disappeared. But—no.” He glanced over at his brother. “She’s not right for me long-term.”

“Why not?”