The blood drained from Sienna’s head. The one thing she couldn’t do was outright lie to her half sister. “I…”
“I knew it. You are pregnant!” Olivia spoke too loudly, but it wouldn’t have mattered if she’d kept a level tone of voice, because Ian chose that moment to show up in the open doorway.
“Repeat that one more time?” he said in a deadly sounding voice.
“Oh shit. Ian, that wasn’t meant for you to hear.” Olivia jumped up from her seat while Sienna scrambled for an explanation. “Sienna, I’m sorry.”
She couldn’t worry about Olivia now, not when Ian stood over her waiting for an answer. “I’m not pregnant … I mean, I am but…” Her words trailed off.
Why was it her half brother could merely act like the caveman scary man they feared while simultaneously projecting the fact that he was the caring parent they all needed and they caved, revealing information that never should have been made public?
“That’s what the fainting spell was all about?” he asked, holding on to his famous temper.
She nodded. “But I’m fine. Really.”
“Who’s the father?” he asked, his tone low and steady, but she could see the throbbing at his temple and knew he was upset and concerned.
“None of your business,” Olivia said, pulling at Ian’s arm. “Back off, big brother.”
He shot Olivia a glare. “While that may be true, I’m going to ask again.” He met Sienna’s gaze. “Because I care about you and it matters. Who is the father?”
She swallowed hard. She didn’t have to tell him. She didn’t owe him answers. But she also knew Ian well enough to understand he wouldn’t let this go. Somehow he’d dig and dig until he discovered the truth anyway.
Secrets are bad, honey. We all know this firsthand. Her mother’s words came back to her.
“It’s Ethan Knight,” she said, closing her eyes as the words escaped. “And he’s going to hear it from me, not you.” She jumped up from her seat, but Ian was faster, his long legs taking him out of the office quicker than she’d thought possible.
She glanced at Olivia. “Help me.”
Together they ran after Ian, but from the yelling in the hall, they were too late.
* * *
Ethan hung up the phone with Sebastian, happy to hear his brother and Ashley were talking about having a family in a way that meant Sebastian was open to the possibility, no longer shutting Ashley out because of his fears of repeating their father’s mistakes.
Next he planned to walk the construction area with the foreman. He needed to make sure the schematics worked with the security keys. He didn’t want a repeat of the California debacle with Keystone. The keys KTT installed weren’t physical, per se, but used via a smartphone or special key configured to wirelessly perform the opening and closing process of any door in the stadium. But there were also mechanical parts, and those had been what Mandy had purchased substandard. Ethan wanted to see the parts for himself firsthand this time.
He rose from his seat in time to see Ian burst into his office, with what could only be described as rage contorting his face.
“Ian, what–”
“I sent my sister to you to look after and protect, and what do you do? Knock her up?” Ian let his right fist fly before Ethan could even process the other man’s words, taking the hit and falling against the wall.
Head ringing, he forced himself to a standing position. “What the hell?”
“Sienna’s pregnant and you’re the father.”
Ethan’s hand went to his jaw, which hurt like a motherfucker, the reason for Ian’s anger just now penetrating. “Sienna is pregnant?”
Ian raised his fist again but Ethan caught the man’s wrist in his hand. “You get one shot. You took it.” He met Ian’s furious stare. “Because I have a sister, I’m going to let that go.” He drew a deep breath. “And for the record, I didn’t know.”
“And that makes it okay?” Ian shook his hand free of Ethan’s grip.
“Ian, back off!” Sienna ran in, Olivia behind her, just as Ian pulled his arm away, and she grabbed for her brother. “Leave him alone!”
Heart firing in his chest, Ethan drew a deep breath, his gaze on Sienna’s. Her eyes were wide, her face pale, her entire body shaking with fear.
He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and protect her. He also wanted to run far and fast. “We need to talk,” he said gruffly.
“You’re off the project, Knight. Pack up your things and get the fuck out,” Ian said.
Sienna narrowed her gaze. “This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen!” she shouted.
Both men’s gaze turned her way. “I’m sick and tired of being the center of drama, whether it’s two families or a business,” she said tiredly. “Ian, this is between Ethan and me. Not you.”