Page 85 of Guarding Truth
He ran his good hand through his hair. “My attorney doesn’t think their lawsuit has merit. But I’m going to take a trip to visit them with Ivy. Over Christmas. If we meet face-to-face, maybe they’ll change their position. I’m not trying to keep them from her, but she belongs with me.”
“I’m sure they’d love that.”
“Maybe you’d like to join us?”
She snuggled under his good shoulder. “There’s no place I’d rather be for the holidays. Or right now.”
A knock at the door ruined the moment. Juliette dashed to open it. She ushered Georgia into the living room.
This woman would be raising her son on her own while her husband served time behind bars. And she just looked so young. Why would Theo put her in that situation?
“Thanks for letting me pick up the check here.” Georgia sat on a chair opposite the couch. “I’d rather get it now than wait until the office reopens. Blake is a hard man to track down.”
Juliette busied herself cleaning up the kitchen. Caleb stood and handed Georgia the envelope. Blake and Caleb had agreed to give her a substantial severance—even though her husband had tried to ruin the company—and Caleb had insisted that she have the money right away. It was the right thing to do, take care of a family in need. Theo had left Georgia and his son in financial ruin. After his business had gone under, he’d spent all of their money on his plan for retribution.
Georgia took the envelope. “Thank you for this. I know what Theo did was terrible, but this money will help with childcare, because…I’ve got to find a job.”
Ivy headed out into the living room and froze. Her eyes widened and her face paled. He noticed a tremor in her arms.
He watched Georgia, who had her back toward Ivy. He glanced into the kitchen to see if he could get Juliette’s attention, but she had already keyed in to Ivy’s reaction.
Something was off.
Georgia stood. “I’d better be going. I left my son with my sister.” She turned and saw Ivy.
“Ivy, what are you doing here? I thought you were at the robotics competition.”
How would Georgia know anything about that?
Ivy’s expression turned from fear to anger in a flash. “You. You tried to kill my uncle. You said your name was Layna.”
Before Caleb or Juliette could act, Georgia pulled a gun from her pocket and aimed it at Ivy.
“All I needed was this check and I’d have been in the clear. Theo made sure no one could point a finger at me.”
Caleb caught Juliette’s eye, and she responded with a nod. Who needed words when they were so in sync?
They sprang into action. Juliette inched toward the left, allowing her room to take Georgia down from the side. Ivy dove behind the couch. Juliette’s swift kick sent the gun flying from Georgia’s hand while Caleb launched himself forward. He knocked Georgia back with his good shoulder. Juliette caught the woman and had Georgia’s hands zip-tied behind her back before the woman could blink.
Georgia. The General. Layna. The mastermind behind Rushmore sat on the floor of Caleb’s living room, face beet red.
“You ruined everything.” Georgia squirmed and fell onto her side, wrestling with the cuffs.
Caleb gave Juliette an exaggerated high five and she smiled. “Teamwork.”
Georgia groaned.
“You just happened to have zip ties in your pocket?” he asked as he helped Ivy up off the floor.
“What? I’m still a bodyguard, even if you don’t need me to protect you.”
“I always need you, Jules.”
Heat crept up her cheeks like a beautiful sunrise.
Officer Matt Williams was at Caleb’s doorstep in record time, thanks in part to living in the building and always keeping his police radio handy. Caleb opened the door. Matt and another officer carted Georgia away. Now Georgia’s son would be raised by her sister because of their greed.
Ivy raced to Caleb’s side once Georgia was escorted from the apartment. He wrapped his good arm around Ivy and Juliette in an embrace.