“Yes. Everything.” Danny stepped behind the desk. “Please let your wife know how happy I am she’ll finally be able to meet her father. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
“Wish I could say the same.” Derrick stubbed out his cigar on the desk, leaving a burn mark on the wood. “You need to find a new line of business.”
“A new line of business? This is my business.”
“You’re stealing people’s money. I can’t allow you to continue to do that. You have one week to close this place down.”
“What? I gave you everything! Who do you think you are? You can’t come in here and threaten me.”
“The art of intimidation, my boy, is to make your opponent believe every word you say. Look them dead in the eye and never flinch. Never let them see weakness.”
Derrick looked Danny in the eye without flinching. “I can, and I did. Trust me, you don’t want to tangle with me.”
After that pronouncement, Derrick rose to his feet and started toward the door. He stopped with his hand on the knob.
“If it means I have to buy this building and put you out, I will.” His icy stare didn’t waver, and even though he could tell by the rigid set of his mouth that Danny was furious, the other man didn’t utter a word. “You have seven days.”
****
Derrick entered the house to a flurry of activity. Eva had hired some help to decorate the house and grounds. Last count they had three Christmas trees, including a huge one out front. Other decorations included lights, holly, a couple of Santa Clauses, snow on the windows, and heaven only knew what else.
The scent of cinnamon and other delicious aromas filled the air, and the faint sound of Christmas carols came from the room in the back where he assumed the party would be taking place.
“There are my girls,” he said when Eva made an appearance with Violet in her arms.
She wore an early Christmas present he’d given her. The simple necklace had a diamond pendant, and with her hair swept atop her head, the matching diamond studs twinkled like stars in her ears.
“She got through eating about ten minutes ago,” Eva said, rising up on her toes for a kiss.
“Mmm.” He dipped his tongue between her lips and got a taste of ginger. “You taste good,” he said, going instantly hard. “How much longer?”
“We’re supposed to wait at least six weeks, which means we have a couple more weeks,” Eva reminded. He knew exactly how long the wait was. He had the date marked on his calendar.
“I don’t know if she’s worth all this trouble,” Derrick teased, looking down at his daughter. She looked warm and comfortable while she slept, bundled like a little ball against Eva in a pink outfit. Her skin had darkened to a golden hue over the past month.
“Stop.” Eva dropped a kiss to Violet’s cheek. “Roarke, Celeste, and Arianna are already here. They’re spending the night.”
“Okay.” Derrick pulled the folder with the information from under his arm. “I went to see Danny Jackson today.”
Eva grew still. “Derrick, what did you do?”
“Nothing. He gave me this file for you.” He opened it and showed her the papers.
“Where did all this come from?”
“According to him, this information recently came in. He planned to get in touch with you, but since I was there, he gave it to me instead.”
Eva stared down at the photo of her father in uniform. “I look exactly like him.”
“I thought the same thing.”
She looked up at Derrick with tear-filled eyes. “Oh my goodness. He found my father.”
He nodded. “After the party, we’ll review the file, okay?”
She nodded, too emotional to speak. “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” she finally said, her voice filled with emotion. “My baby’s here, and she’s safe, and I’ll finally get to meet my father.” She reached up and gently touched his face. “See, Derrick, I told you. The world’s not all bad.”
“I know,” he replied. Then he said what he always did whenever she chided him about one thing or another. “Bear with me. I’m a work in progress.”