“Incorrect. I have gained ten pounds, have several university degrees, and I’m married.”
“You’re married? And I thought the shocking news of the day was Zane having a baby.”
Miles barks out a laugh. “How is it shocking that Zane has a baby?”
Mom purses her lips. “Miles Raider, behave.”
Miles bats his eyelashes at her. “I am behaving. It’s not my fault Zane is a player.”
Mom sighs. “Yes, well…”
Silence falls. Uncomfortable silence during which I question every decision I’ve ever made in my life. Am I the asshole? Should I have been more careful? More discreet?
“Should I get more chairs or ring security?” the receptionist asks.
Siena sighs. “No need for security. Besides, the Raider brothers probably know all the security people on Smuggler’s Hideaway anyway.”
“Only those who attend Mermaid Karaoke,” Miles claims and I groan.
Referring to Mermaid Karaoke – when single women descend on the island in search of love – is not helping me make the case of being an upstanding citizen who can care for a baby.
There I go again. Worrying about Adele’s future. Her future isn’t my concern to worry about.
“We’re good,” Rhett claims before pulling out a chair for Mom. “No more chairs needed.” He sits in the only other available chair while Jaxon, Miles, and Kai lean against the wall.
The receptionist waits for Siena’s nod before exiting the room and shutting the door behind her.
“Now,” Mom says. “How are we going to ensure baby Adele stays in the Raider family?”
My heart warms at how fierce Mom’s words are. She doesn’t know if Adele is mine, but she doesn’t care. She’s going to include this child in our family no matter what.
How could anyone abandon this woman? She’s beautiful, loyal, and funny. But my dad did abandon her. And I carry his genes in me.
“We need to prove she’s Zane’s child before we can begin.”
Mom scoffs at Siena. “Have you seen her eyes? Adele has the Raider blue eyes.”
Siena purses her lips. “I’m afraid judges don’t accept eye color as proof of paternity.”
“What proof do they accept?”
“A paternity test.”
Mom looks to me. “When are you doing one?”
“I already scheduled it for tomorrow,” Eli answers.
Mom nods. “Okay. That’s settled. What next?”
“If Adele is Zane’s child, we—”
“When,” Mom corrects. “When we prove Adele is Zane’s child.”
The lawyer sighs. I bet she didn’t expect to be confronted by all six of the Raider brothers this morning. It’s a good thing Eli’s a billionaire or she’d probably run from the room screaming. Although, she’s a smuggler. Smugglers are made of stern stuff.
“After we receive the paternity test results, we can begin with filing for custody.”
“I assume custody won’t be an issue since the mother abandoned her child.”
