Page 41 of The Tower

I can’t read his expression at all, and I hold my breath until he says, very softly, “The cat’s safe for now.” He turns away, heading out of the room. “Come on, kitty. Let’s get you some kibble.”

I grimace as I follow him to the kitchen. “I really am sorry. I woke up and⁠—”

“It’s fine. I set no rules.” His eyes meet mine. “At least, not about looking around. But defy me in any way that matters, and you’ll find yourself back with your father in a heartbeat. Do you understand?”

I swallow, then nod.

“I’m glad we’re on the same page.” He gestures for me to take a seat at the kitchen island, then opens a white bag. Immediately, the smell of warm bread and fried beef hits me, and I stifle a moan. Or, I try to. From the way he looks back at me over his shoulder with a grin, I think my moan may have been a bit over the top.

“Fan of the burger?”

“More like an admirer from afar,” I admit. “My diet’s pretty restricted.”

“I’m aware. Want to stick to that? Or do you want to taste the forbidden?” He’s looking right at me, something in his eyes suggesting the question is about more than a burger.

“Forbidden, please,” I say, dropping my gaze. “Forbidden with fries.”

He chuckles, then passes me a wrapped burger loaded with cheese and a sleeve of French fries.

I’ve just taken my first bite of cheesy, beefy heaven when he slides a large envelope onto the counter.

“What’s that?” I ask, wishing he’d brought a milkshake, too. That would have been so very extra.

“Your father’s first parry in our little war.”

I drop the burger, all thoughts of fries and milkshakes and cheeseburgers evaporating as I jump off the stool and take two steps back.

“It won’t bite you,” he says. “Not literally, anyway.”

“What is it?”

“Open and see.”

I want to shake my head and back away slowly. Instead, I take a deep breath, then pull the envelope toward me. I open the flap, then reach inside and pull out a thin stack of legal documents. My stomach goes queasy as I read the cover letter on the familiar stationery of Beckett & Stein, my father’s attorneys. “Ex parte Emergency Relief? Temporary guardianship?” I drop the papers as if they’re infectious. “Is this what I think it is?”

“That depends. If you think your father got the court to temporarily appoint him as your guardian, then yes.”

“A guardian? I’m almost twenty-seven years old. He can’t do that.”

Grimm’s face is hard. “He can if he can prove you’re mentally unfit. Incapable of managing your own life. Unstable. Vulnerable. A danger to yourself. Any one of those and he’s in.”

“But I’m not any of those things. Am I?”

Grimm meets my eyes, his like ice. “You aren’t,” he says firmly, though I’m not sure I believe him. “But if your father can make you look broken enough, the court will hand him the keys.”

“But this says he’s my guardian now. As in right now.”

“It does. Yes. A process server was waiting at the entrance to the garage on my way back.”

“But that doesn’t explain how he did this. I mean, doesn’t the court need to—oh, ask me questions?”

“That’s the ex parte part. It’s immediate relief by the court granted in favor of your father, but setting a full hearing in just over a week.”

I hug myself tight, my whole body feeling like I’ve been covered in tiny ant bites. “No. No way. I can’t go back. Not even for a week. Hell, not even for just a minute.”

I start to pace, staying far away from the window. It’s still blocked, but I know what’s behind that opaque glass. And right now, just the knowing is enough to send me spiraling.

“I have to leave,” I say, as Grimm silently watches me. “I have to run. To go where the courts don’t have jurisdiction. Where he can’t just pay off a judge to get what he wants. I—I have to go overseas.” I whip around to face Grimm. “Can you get me a flight? Ruby has family in Munich. Maybe I can stay with them for a while and⁠—”