Aeromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 3)

“It’s impossible,” he finally said.

She opened her handbag, retrieved the blood test results, and offered the report to him with a shaky hand. He lifted one hand from behind his back and took the piece of paper. She watched him closely as he read it. His eyes widened and narrowed again. She presumed he was looking at the age of the child growing inside her, doing the calculation in his head. Emotions she couldn’t place played across his face. Was it sadness, envy, or anger that made him press his lips so tightly together? When he finally he lifted his head, she didn’t like the way he looked at her.

He handed the report back to her. “Congratulations,” he said in an impersonal voice. “Who’s the father?”

The words punched the air from her lungs with the same ferocity as when he’d cut her airflow during lovemaking. Then it had given her an earth-shattering orgasm. Now it caused her pain, with the same intensity. She couldn’t believe he’d said that. Hurt and anger blurred her vision.

She drew back her hand, and, before she could stop herself, slapped him. She took a step away from him, biting back the tears. The trace of her fingers lay red across his cheek. Lann accepted her abuse with a stoic expression, without uttering a word.

“You bastard,” she whispered. “You needn’t feign your innocence by insulting me. Are you afraid I’ll ask you for child support? Do you think I’ll expect you to play an unwilling role in this baby’s life? Maybe you think I’ll try to emotionally blackmail you into marrying me.” She clutched her bag to her chest. “I didn’t come here expecting anything from you. I only came because you had a right to know.” She took a ragged breath. “And to ask why you lied to me.”

When he still didn’t speak, she nodded, the unwelcome tears threatening to find their way to her cheeks. He wasn’t going to offer any explanation, any solace, or any excuse.

“I see,” she said. “Then we have nothing more to say to each other.”

She turned for the door, but Lann’s voice halted her. “Please stay. You’re upset. I’ll take you home when you feel calmer.”

To her dismay, a small gasp escaped her throat. Did he honestly think she’d stay after what he’d just said? Not looking back, she ran downstairs, not caring that Lann was calling after her loud enough for the building to hear or that his employees were staring at her from the library window.

The security men who’d been following her since the day she’d left Lann’s home for good waited outside. Lann had said it was for her protection. She wasn’t involved with Lann any longer. She didn’t need them. She didn’t want them or anyone else to witness her humiliation and pain.

She walked in the direction of the bus stop, breaking into a run long before she got there. When she passed the fresh food market, she went inside and stole a look over her shoulder as she snaked her way through stalls. The heavy flow of shoppers hampered the guards’ advance. The men pushed forward, looking around as they searched for her. Ducking low, she made her way to a side exit. Once outside, she ran for two blocks and only slowed down when they didn’t follow.

She didn’t stop until she was home, in the safety of her own apartment, where she collapsed on the sofa with one hand on her stomach and the other on her forehead.

Diana appeared in the frame, her gaze sympathetic. “It didn’t go well, did it?”

Kat wiped her windblown hair from her face, gathering the long strands at her nape. “He didn’t tell me why. He didn’t even try to lie himself out of why he deceived me.” She took an elastic from her wrist and tied her hair into a ponytail. “He insinuated he’s not the father.”

Diana gasped. “That son of a bitch! Oh, Kat, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m glad. Now I can just get on with my life.”

“Just like that?” Diana took a few steps into the room. “You’re just going to let him off the hook?”

“He knows. I’ve done my duty. At least he’s not going to be a part of my future, constantly hurting me every time I have to look at his face.” She was so damn tired. All she wanted to do was go to bed and sleep forever.

“If you never planned on holding him accountable, you shouldn’t have told him.” Diana crossed her arms. “I knew he was going to upset you.”

“He had a right to know. How he deals with it is his problem.”

“He’s a first-class asshole and I’ll give him—”

The sound of the doorbell gave them both a start.

“It’s Enrico,” Diana said on the way to the door. “I’ll tell him I’m staying.”