Hotshot (The Bennett Brothers 1)

I motion for her to come in and walk to my desk.

“Crenshaw Bennett.”

“Come on over. Results are on the way. So are Sasha and her lawyer.” Caldwell’s breezy tone spikes my irritation.

“Fucking great.” I blow out a breath and look at the ceiling. “On my way.”

I hang up and reach for my jacket.

“Where are you going?” Nick leaps from the sofa.

“To seal my doom. Results are in.”

“I’m coming with you.”

I stop mid-stride and turn to face him.

“Don’t even try to stop me. I may be pissed, but I’m still family, and I’ll tell you like I told Bizzy. You’re not doing this alone.”

It’s not an apology, but it’s the closest he’s going to give.

He moves to the door, kissing Gail on the check and actually apologizing to her. She pats him on the back and slaps him upside the head. I chuckle until she faces me.

“This time, I’ll clean up. But the next time you boys decide to duke it out, you’ll answer to me.”

“Thank you, Gail.”

“Good luck, Shaw.”

Yeah, good luck. Sure could use some luck right now.

“How are we going to play this?” Nick asks, on our way to the conference room.

“We aren’t. I don’t speak. Caldwell speaks for me unless I feel the need to. It’s best if I stay quiet.”

“What the fuck? Why?”

“You’ll see.” I open the door and sigh when I see Sasha already seated with a smug grin.

Nick, Caldwell, and I all exchange handshakes, and I take the seat furthest from Sasha.

“Surprised to see you here, Nicky. It’s been a few years. I hear your career is going well.” Sasha tries to engage Nick.

“My name is Nick,” is his only response.

She rolls her eyes and focuses on me. “Ready for this?” She takes the envelope in front of her and rips the top.

“Wait, there’s something we need to discuss prior to the results.” Caldwell holds up a hand and she stops, looking at her own lawyer. He nods in agreement.

“Mr. Bennett would like to make it clear, if this baby is his, he will take full responsibility. His number one priority will be the health, safety, and well-being of the child. He also—”

“Well, isn’t that righteous of you?” she snarls, cutting him off.

“As I was saying,” he speaks over her. “However, if this child is not his, he asks that you both walk away from this table with no further contact.”

“This is ridiculous!” She slides the paper out of the envelope and reads through with her evil smile widening with every word. Then she starts laughing, loud and wicked, the sound bouncing off the walls.

My stomach drops, knowing the worst has happened.