“She’s already had the bastard.”
Don’t kill him.
Don’t kill him.
“She wants money even though my son denies paternity.”
“So. What’s the big deal? Get a DNA test.” I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. He cut his eyes at the little fucker lounging without a care in the world.
He was definitely hiding something.
“I don’t believe my sondidn’tfather that child no matter what he tells me.”
“So because she’s telling the truth, you want her dead?”
Don’t kill him.
Don’t kill him.
“She’s threatening to go public. I can’t have some girl and her bastard son messing up my campaign. Besides, she was underage and still in high school. Even if she was old enough to consent, it would still hurt our image.”
“And what happens to the kid?”
“I told you… I want this clean.”
Meaning no loose ends.
Son of a bitch…* * *I took Lucasby surprise when I returned from the meeting. I stood still while he avoided my gaze and buttoned the jeans he hadn’t bothered to remove. Unwillingly, my gaze slid to the bed and the girl he’d just been balls deep in. I tried to keep my irritation under lock and key but failed.
“Fucking seriously?” I spat when she whimpered and scrambled up against the headboard while pulling the sheets up to cover her body. I looked away to give her privacy and regarded my best friend.
“You were supposed to be watching her, not fucking her,” I forced through my teeth.
A sneaky smile tugged up the corner of his lips as he shrugged. “I couldn’t help myself.”
A small gasp wiped the smile off his face. She watched him with tears in her eyes while his avoided her. I jerked my head toward the door, and he followed.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” I questioned as soon as the door was closed.
“No,” he answered honestly.
“Are you even sure she’s legal?” He looked back at the door with a wary look, and I could tell he had doubted his answer before he shrugged again.
“What’s up?” he said by way of changing the subject. I hesitated for a half a second before leading him to my father’s office and launching into a recap of the meeting. I had Z hang back with some of the men to keep an eye on the senator while I figured out my next move.
“Fucking hell…” He blew out a breath and roughly shoved his fingers through his hair. “So the contract on her head—”
“I’m not going to do it.”
“You took the money.”
“He threatened to kill me.” He nodded, satisfied with my answer. “We need to take care of him.”
Lucas’s head jerked back in surprise. “Take care of him? He’s a fucking senator!”
“He may be a blue blood, but he bleeds red just like the rest of us.” Lucas didn’t appear convinced. “If it’s not me, he’ll hire someone else.”
“You care about her.” He said it as if he had just realized it for the first time.
“I’mresponsiblefor her.”
“Your father’s dead. You’re the head of the family, which means your babysitting days are over.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Just admit it, man.” He smiled like he’d just uncovered my dirtiest secret. “She makes your dick hard, and youlikeit.”
“I’m not talking about my dick right now. Maybe after I kill the senator.”
His playful mood shifted into business as he leaned forward. “What’s the move?”
“I need you to pay a visit to Jonny. It’s time we brought Theo up to speed.”Chapter Forty-FourHappy Birthday.
ANGEL
Three Years AgoShe wouldn’t call.
Iwouldn’t call me either.
Mian had this corny tradition of telling me happy birthday at exactly midnight. Birthdays were her favorite, she’d explained with a shrug when I asked the second year she’d done it. It was strange because I was sure she hated me. Since my father was never around, and my mother refused to come to the city, I figured she did it out of pity. I tried not to be angry that she pitied me at all.
It was hard to be upset when she was being so fucking sweet.
But this year, she wouldn’t say it.
Those three words sweetly whispered from her lips had become the one thing about my birthday I looked forward to. I stared at the time on my phone and watched the minute hand change to midnight.
I dropped my phone face down on my chest and waited.
Four months ago, my father made the decision that I couldn’t be trusted with Mian. Taking her from me was the smartest decision he ever made, but that didn’t stop me from resenting myself. Two weeks prior, I convinced my father I needed time away, but the truth was, I needed distance from Mian. It had become impossible to resist her. Had I known the day I came back would have been our last, I never would have left.
My father made Theo believe she could take care of herself. He had been reluctant to uproot her from another home and decided to leave the decision to Mian. He figured Mian still hated me and that would make the decision easier on him. My father, however, knew my feelings weren’t one-sided.