“Johnny.”
“John.” No one called him Johnny but Alyssa.
“Can’t say I’m not surprised to see you, but I am. What brings you to my neck of the woods?”
Ha. Laughable. His neck of the woods? So sad.
“Well, I’m sure you’re aware by now that Alyssa wants full custody of Brooke.”
John watched Ben grind his jaw, eyes darkening. He knew this was going to grate under his skin. Good. He deserved it.
“I don’t see how this has anything to do with you since she’s my daughter, Johnny.”
“It has everything to do with me, Benny. And seeing as you’re not even on the birth certificate …” He mocked, watching heat rise to Ben’s cheeks. “How about I make you an offer you can’t refuse?”
Ben smirked and cocked his head to the side. “Oh, really? What is this? Godfather hour? Please. There is nothing you have that I could want.”
John got straight to the point. Looking him dead straight in the eyes, he said, “Money.”
“Money? Please. You don’t have two pots to piss in.”
“How about five?”
Ben contemplated for a moment. “Talk to me …”
John huffed under his breath. He knew Ben would take the bait. “What if I told you I could give you five thousand dollars right this minute if you signed your rights over to Alyssa? You can never contact Alyssa again, or look for Brooke once she’s an adult.”
Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Eight thousand and the little bastard is hers.”
Deeps breaths. Deep. Breaths. John needed to take five deep breaths or else he would lose it on this scum of the earth and knock him out cold.
“Eight thousand.” He upped it. “Not that it would ever be enough to put a price on her. Eight thousand dollars and I’ll make the call as soon as I leave here. You have my word.”
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
“You don’t. But at this point, what do you have to lose?”
Ben pondered for a few seconds. “You have a point … but what makes you think I don’t want my kid after I get out?”
John huffed. “Let’s be real. You don’t want your little bastard.” He hated to use that word to describe his cupcake, but he had to if he needed to stoop to Ben’s level. “Hell, you didn’t want her to begin with. I’m not here for myself. However, I am here for Brooke, and I’m trying to look out for her. This has nothing to do with me. I’m not gonna lie, wish it did, but this is more for that little girl.”
“Eight thousand?”
“Eight thousand,” John said, holding out his hand. “The moment I walk out of here, I’ll have the money wired to your account.”
“And you have the papers to sign over my rights? What about a paper where it says you’ll pay me?”
John smirked. As if he wasn’t prepared. “Not only do I have the custodial papers you need to sign to relinquish your rights as Brooke’s father, but I also have two copies of my offer stating you’ll never contact her again. One for you, the other for Alyssa.”
Ben looked surprised. He could tell the guy wasn’t expecting it. “Show me.”
John produced two papers from his green folder and filled in the amount before shoving them over to Ben.
“This states that I am required to pay you eight thousand dollars. I’ve already signed it, so it’s your turn. Sign both and keep a copy.”
“You just automatically thought I would take it?”
“It’s not that I thought you would, I just came prepared, Ben.”