Her Guardian: A Steamy Security Romance Stand-Alone Novel by Cassia Leo

Author:Cassia Leo [Leo, Cassia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gloss Publishing LLC
Published: 2017-09-25T18:30:00+00:00

Dec. 28, 1999

I saw her playing at the park on 188th today. Sally takes her there a lot. It’s a decent park. You wouldn’t guess that three blocks west is one of the worst neighborhoods in the Bronx. More than once they’ve had to leave in a hurry to get away from the hordes of teenagers smoking cigarettes and fighting among themselves. But when they’re alone at the park, that’s when Kristin shines. My daughter has the brightest laugh I’ve ever heard.

“Daughter?” As Sabrina whipped her head around, I realized I’d said this word aloud.

“What are you doing in here?” she shrieked, wiping hastily at the streaks of mascara running down her pale cheeks.

“The door was open. I—I was just coming for my last check. I gotta pay rent tomorrow.” I nearly stumbled over my words as her gaze bored into me.

Her icy blue eyes flitted back to the open notebook, then she slammed it shut and turned back to me. “What did you see?”

I cocked an eyebrow. Maybe she didn’t hear me say the word “daughter.” Maybe if I denied seeing anything, I could escape Sabrina’s wrath.

“Nothing,” I replied. “I saw you, and I saw the room, but that’s it. I just want my paycheck and I’ll get out of your hair.”

She clutched the book tightly against her breast. “He had a daughter.” Her eyes were closed as she spoke very matter-of-factly. “Judging by the dates on these entries, I’d guess she’s about twenty-two or twenty-three now.” She sighed heavily as she opened her eyes and looked up at me. “They’ve never known each other, and from what I see here, it looks like the mother didn’t want her daughter to know Michael.” She sniffled and wet her lips as she sat up straight. “He could be a difficult man. I know that. But anyone who could hurt him this way, who didn’t want to be a part of his life, doesn’t deserve to be a part of his death. Do you agree?”

I closed my mouth as I realized it was hanging open in shock. Did Sabrina really think it was a good idea to keep the news of Michael’s death from the only family he had?

Michael had no siblings, and his parents were both dead. If he had any other family—aunts, uncles, cousins—he certainly didn’t have any contact with them. Sabrina had told me as much when she informed me that she had been appointed the executor of Michael’s estate and the new CEO of Becker Holdings in an emergency meeting with the rest of the management team this morning.

I didn’t know much about New York State probate law, but I was pretty certain that a last will and testament could be contested by the deceased’s living offspring. Sabrina and Becker Holdings could be held up in probate court for years trying to sort that out.

Sabrina’s face softened. “If this gets out, I won’t be able to give you your severance.”

“Severance?” I repeated the word.

Sabrina had told me to come to the beach house to pick up my last check.

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