Authors: Melanie Codina
“You’d be correct. And in light of his recent death, I have been appointed as the executor of his estate,” Mr. Quinn stated.
“I know damn well he didn’t include me in his will so I don’t understand why you’re here. The last time I saw you it was when you showed up at my hospital bed and informed me I was not allowed back in the house. That my belongings had been packed and could be picked up from your office. And while those might have been fun times for you, Mr. Quinn, I’d rather not revisit them. So, please leave,” Tori snapped. Jason had never seen her temper flare in such a way, and he couldn’t help but get a little turned on by it—no matter how inappropriate the timing. Her fiery beauty was sexy as hell when angry.
“No ma’am, you are not listed, but your daughter is.”
“That’s impossible! He didn’t even know she existed, and he never would’ve put her in his will.”
“If I may sit down and discuss this with you inside, I would appreciate it. Even though I’m well aware I’m not a person you like, I assure you I am not a threat,” Mr. Quinn pleaded. Tori paused to consider his request and looked to Jason before answering. He gave her a nod to let her know he’d be there to back her up if needed. The man wasn’t a threat as far as Jason could tell, and if he had malicious intent, he wouldn’t be asking to sit down and talk it over inside.
“Fine,” Tori said with irritation, “but I don’t have all day.” Then she marched to her door and let them all in. She set Lexi in her play area as Jason motioned for Mr. Quinn to have a seat on the couch. Jason took the chair opposite it, and Tori stood next to him, hands on hips, waiting.
Mr. Quinn opened his briefcase and pulled out some papers. Tori looked to Jason with uncertainty, her rage from a few moments ago fading. He motioned with his eyes to the arm of the chair and she took the suggestion. Sitting on it, he was able to put his arm on her leg and comfort her the only way he could. Once he’d finished pulling papers from the briefcase, Mr. Quinn set them on the table and turned them toward Tori.
TORI soon realized she wasn’t too smart when it came to legal matters. She stared at the papers, afraid to touch them. Unsure what they were, she looked back to the slimy little man she hated, asking, “What part am I supposed to be looking at?”
“I marked it in the margin, but to simplify, when my client, your ex-husband, drew up his will, he made sure to exclude everyone from it.” Tori knew all too well how he made sure everything was his. “The problem was that he had to name someone as his benefactor. He didn’t want to donate it to anyone—no person or charity. He was quite content with the thought of dying and having his assets sit, benefiting no one.”
The distaste in his voice confused Tori. “You talk as if you didn’t like Damien.”
Mr. Quinn shook his head. “He was my client, not my friend. I carried out tasks based on my professional obligations, but I know a selfish bastard when I see one.”
Jason chuckled under his breath, and Tori was more eager to find out why he was there. “Good to know you saw the real him. Please continue.”
“As I was saying, he had appointed no one as his benefactor, but a will is not complete unless one is designated. So, being the selfish bastard he was, he decided to designate his “heir” as the sole benefactor of his estate. Since he didn’t plan on having any children, he figured he’d found a loophole in the system. Little did he know, you’d have the final word.” He finished his statement with a smirk, and Tori found herself smiling. It was almost as if he was pleased that Damien didn’t get what he wanted.
Jason interrupted her thoughts when he said, “So you’re saying that when he designated a child to inherit his entire estate, he did it with belief he would never have any?” Mr. Quinn nodded and Jason continued. “And since Lexi is his only offspring, she gets his entire estate?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“Well, isn’t that just all kinds of funny. Talk about irony,” Jason said with a laugh. Tori didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry. She didn’t want anything from Damien and didn’t need anything. They should give it to charity, she thought.
“We don’t want it,” she blurted without thinking. Finding Jason’s gaze, she added, “We don’t need it.”
“Of course you don’t, baby,” Jason offered as he rubbed his hand on her leg. She smiled, falling a little more in love right then.
“Unfortunately, since you’re not listed, you can’t make that decision,” Mr. Quinn said.
Surprised, Tori stated sarcastically, “Well, I know the one year old can’t make that kind of decision.”
“No, she can’t. But I can make arrangements for the assets to be sold, and the funds can be placed in an account. The account will sit there untouched, gaining interest until your daughter reaches age eighteen. Then she can make the decision herself.”
Tori had no idea how much Damien’s estate was worth, and she didn’t want to know. She found herself looking to Jason again, not for answers but maybe guidance. He smiled. “Sounds like a good idea don’t you think? Maybe she could put it toward college.”
Mr. Quinn interrupted them, saying, “I assure you the funds would allow her to pay tuition at any college she chose and she could even bring a few friends with her.”
As if Lexi knew they were talking about her, she picked that moment to throw her toy. It bounced off Mr. Quinn’s head, and while Jason couldn’t help but laugh, Tori quickly apologized before glaring at Jason. He just continued to smile and said, “She’s got great aim, don’t you think?”
~*~*~*~
Later that evening, back at Jason’s, Tori found herself standing over Lexi as she slept in her crib. It had been a long day, and her mind was still processing all of it. Turning the baby monitor on, she left the room, in search of Jason. She found him awkwardly brushing his teeth with his left hand. Smiling, she filled a cup with water and handed it to him. Before rinsing, he gave her a grin full of toothpaste and said, “I could totally be left-handed by the time this is over.”
Tori laughed and shook her head, enjoying his lighter mood. She was glad to see the grumpy giant had left the building, at least for the time being. She handed him a towel, he wiped his face before asking, “What’s wrong, baby?”
He set the towel down and pulled her cautiously against him. Once she knew he wasn’t in pain, she rested her head on his chest and sighed. “I’m glad you can hold me again. I missed your chest.”
“I missed having you on my chest.” He kissed the top of her head as they stood in silence for a little while. “You gonna tell me what’s running through that head of yours?”
Tori turned and pressed her lips against the skin of his chest before saying, “I was thinking about Mr. Quinn’s offer to come back with the papers for Lexi’s trust.”
Jason’s eyebrows dropped in question. “I thought by the time he left you were okay with the thought of Lexi inheriting his estate? You gotta admit, it’s some crazy poetic justice that it happened like that.”
Tori let out a laugh, “Yeah. He must be throwing one hell of a tantrum in hell right now.” She paused before adding, “But that’s not what I’m thinking about.”
“Tell me.”
“Well, I was hoping that maybe I could delay signing them until you’re a little better, and we could go to Idaho to take care of it.”
“Of course, if that’s how you want to handle it, we will,” he said as his hand swept up and down her back. She really had missed being held by him.
She nodded. “Yes, I’d like to go to Idaho. There’s someone there I’d really like to see.”
“Then we’ll make arrangements for as soon as I can fly.” Jason kissed her once before saying, “Now get ready for bed, baby, I finally have use of one of my arms.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively then winked as he left the room. She smiled to herself, loving how playful he was. Facing her reflection, her eyes landed on the older scar. Her hand went to it and slowly traced its path. Then her other hand went to the bandaged side and repeated the motion.
When she let her hands drop to her sides, she grinned and thought about Damien. It was the first time she could recall smiling when thinking of her personal demon. She let her eyes travel from one side to the next, noticing the angles matched. Again, she smirked as she silently acknowledged that he at least made them symmetrical.
Turning to the side, she examined the scars over her right shoulder—the ones she had given herself and thought it funny that these were irregular and blotchy. She harrumphed and faced front again. Pulling the waistband of her shorts down, she exposed the scar low on her belly. Noticing that it, too, was a straight, even line, she let out a laugh. He definitely didn’t have the last word since every attempt he had at marking her, inflicting damage, or trying to destroy her were failed. Sure, he left marks behind, both physical and emotional, but they were her badges of survival. And with that wonderful realization, she put all thoughts of Damien away and got ready for bed with her man.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
JASON and Tori had decided—at Tori’s request to see the house again—to meet Mr. Quinn at Damien’s. Tori had things to do while they were there in Idaho, and he wasn’t about to go sit in an office where they would be made to wait. No, this way, he showed up, Tori signed the papers, and they were done. Especially since they’d requested the papers be sent to an attorney back in San Diego look everything over already, and Jason knew there was no further discussion needed.
Now that she’d handed over the signed papers and that was behind them, they stood together looking at the remains of Damien’s house. The house that Victoria had lived in. He had no idea what was going through her head, but he let her have her space. Taking hold of Lexi, he tried to keep her busy as Tori processed whatever she needed to.
It had been two months since Damien died, and all of their injuries were finally healed. Lexi was comfortable walking now, and Jason let her roam around, keeping her attention away from Tori. When she tripped on the edge of the grass, Jason picked her up and dusted her off. Once he finished, he noticed a man standing at the edge of the property, looking apprehensive but determined. He knew immediately who it was. Jason walked right over to him, extended his hand, and said, “Mack?”
Mack smiled and took Jason’s hand, returning the shake, he said, “Jason. It’s great to meet you. When I saw you out here, I hoped it was you guys.”
Mack was in his sixties and was probably pretty imposing in his days. With a full head of salt-and-pepper hair, a mustache, and shorts paired with a Hawaiian shirt, he reminded Jason of
Magnum PI
. Concealing the humor of his thoughts behind a smile, Jason said, “Yeah, we came to town for Tori to sign some papers, and she wanted to stop here.”
“This must be the little one; she’s beautiful,” Mack said as he reached out and touched Lexi’s hand. She smiled pretty for him, showing off what baby teeth she had.
Jason kissed her and agreed, “She sure is. Looks just like Mommy.”
Just then Tori walked up next to them and stood silently for a moment. Jason watched as tears formed in her eyes before she smiled and said, “Mack … I’m so glad you’re here.”
Tori threw her arms around Mack and hugged him tightly. The endearing look on his face made Jason appreciate him even more. Besides the fact he helped Tori escape the evil clutches of her husband, he had taken the time to seek her out when he thought she might be in danger. They were indebted to this man forever.
A minute or so passed before Tori finally let Mack go. She stepped back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Sorry, I promise I have self-control, but I seem to very emotional today.”
Mack smiled. “No need to apologize, sweetheart. I’m just glad I got to see you.”
She nodded, apparently still trying to compose herself. Jason wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her against him. Tori leaned into him as she asked Mack, “Can we take you to lunch? I’d love to spend time with you. You only know the parts of my life that were dramatic.”
“I’d love to,” Mack said as he motioned over his shoulder, “Let me just lock the house up.”
They stood for a few moments before Mack returned and they set out to have lunch together. Jason enjoyed spending time with Mack, reminding him of his own father. As they waved goodbye to Mack and set out for their next destination, Jason made a mental note to have lunch with his dad when they returned.
TORI wasn’t sure why she was nervous; there was no reason to be. Maybe it was just anticipation, she thought as Jason passed through the rod iron gates. Taking in the scenery, she tried to remember where they needed to go. Having only been there the one time, she hoped she would recognize it when she saw it. The grass was a healthy green, cut tightly to the ground. In some areas, it just looked look like a large lawn to roll around on and play. She supposed that was their goal in those areas, to hide the stones and make it look less like a cemetery.
Jason drove slowly, asking, “Does anything look familiar yet? We could go to the office and get a map I think.”
Tori took Jason’s hand and squeezed. “Just keep going please, I see some things I recognize. I’m certain I’ll know it when I see it.”
“Okay, just tell me when.”
She nodded and turned back to the lawns. Her mother’s stone wasn’t a large one, but it wasn’t flat. The day she’d laid her to rest, Tori was mesmerized by the large tree that stretched over her plot. Because her mother had wanted to be cremated, she was able to choose the spot under the grand tree in hopes that she would have visitors. It made Tori’s heart hurt to think that she hadn’t been back since that day. But deep down, she knew her mother understood. After all, she believed she was watching over her all this time. How else would she have been saved in so many ways?
When the car came over an embankment, the glorious tree came into view, and Tori’s eyes filled with tears. Squeezing Jason’s hand, she pointed. “It’s over there, beneath the tree.”
“Wow, that’s some tree,” Jason said in awe. Tori smiled; it was so like her mother to pick that spot. Jason parked the car on the small road in front of the tree and turned off the car. Tori stared for long moments before he asked, “Would you like me to go with you?”