The pressure builds faster this time.
“Eyes on me when you come this time.I want to watch,” he demands.And I comply.
Because why would I ever deny him?
And when he comes right there with me?The look on his face?Christ, it’s priceless.Precious.Mine.
When it’s over, he flips up and now I’m draped across his chest, breathless, boneless, his heartbeat thundering under my cheek.
I think this is it.
I think this is where we settle into each other’s arms and float.
But Nathan Thorn is not done with me.
Not even close.
He strokes a hand down my hair.“Sparky, I need you to hear something.”
I lift my head, still dizzy.“What?”
“I need you to know that without you, I’m nothing?—”
“Um, no.You’re Nathan Thorn.”
“And without you, Nathan Thorn is just a sad, lonely man in love, missing the best piece of himself.I didn’t marry you to protect Bella—though I swear to do that.I married you because you were always meant to be mine, Ad.And I was always meant to be yours.”
My breath disappears.
Completely gone.
“You want to stay married even after the custody trial?”
“I wanna stay married forever, but I don’t think there will be a trial.”
“What?”
“I hired Sigma International Security to work on Russo.What they found out is a lot, Ad.”
“What do you mean?The mob stuff?My friend Hilary found an article and showed me.”
“You know about the mob stuff?Good, I’m glad because that will make what I’m about to say more believable,” Nathan says and nods.“See, the man’s a fucking criminal, but not a very good one.And from the intel they gathered so far, I don’t think Bella is even his.”
“Not his?”
“No.In fact, my investigators think he’s just some low-level wannabe who might have known your sister a while back.It’s not even clear if they had a relationship.But they think he caught wind of Bella’s passing, found out she had a daughter, and thought he could use it for his own personal gain.See, what we really think he’s trying to do is get his hands on the bakery to use it as a money laundering front.”
“That piece of shit!It makes sense, though.Even in the digital age, the bakery is still a mostly cash business,” I whisper, shocked.
“Yeah, well, Russo and his fucked up plans are over.He just doesn’t know it yet.My lawyers have contacted his, demanding a paternity test.I think he was counting on scaring you and you not having anyone to back you up.He never thought you’d risk losing Bella and go to trial.”
“He’s right.I would have given him everything,” I confess.
“I know, Sparky, but that’s because you’re such a good person.”
“You really believe that?”
“Of course, I do.I know you better than you think.”
