A shroud of black spots began consuming his vision while the walls started closing in around him. A cold sweat broke out all over his body as bile rose in the back of his throat. And as his knees threatened to give out, Austin gripped the exam table.
“How far along is she?” Doc Knight directed his question to Johnny.
“I-I’m not sure. We just found out a few weeks back. She took one of those home test things.”
A few weeks? She’s known the whole time we’ve been together and didn’t say a word? Didn’t even hint that she was carrying that cocksucker’s baby?
A white-hot rage flashed through him.
Hot on its heels was the bloodthirsty urge to snap Johnny like a twig.
“Does Raymond know about this…baby?” Doc asked incredulously.
“Oh, yeah. We told him. He’s over the moon. That’s why me and Paige are gonna get married,” Johnny gloated. “I mean, we’d been planning on it before this. But now, we’re gonna have to speed things up a little.”
Body quaking with fury, Austin clenched his hands into fists as a low, snarl rumbled up from deep in his chest.
Doc Knight sent him a sympathetic frown as Paige’s eyes fluttered open.
“W-where am I?” she asked, voice quivering in fear.
“You’re in my office, Paige,” Doc Knight answered reassuringly. “You got a bit too much sun out there and passed out.”
“Oh, no. I’m—”
“Pregnant…so I’ve heard. Is it true?” Austin spat.
“Yes, but—”
“Well, congratulations. I hope you and Johnny have a long and happy life,” he bellowed before turning on his heel and storming out of the office.
“Austin…wait,” Paige cried.
For what? For you to dice my heart into little pieces instead of crushing it? No thanks.
He headed toward the front door, then stopped. He’d rather crawl through broken glass than greet the mob waiting outside. He wasn’t about to let that school of hungry piranhas sink their teeth into him and tear tidbits of information from his flesh.
Paige wasn’t his business or his problem anymore.
She’s Johnny’s.
Doing an about-face, Austin stormed out the back door, slammed it shut, then climbed into his truck and sped toward home.