“Maybe it’s fate.”
I punch his shoulder, but there’s no real force behind it. “Since when do you believe in that shit?”
“Since I became a family man.” He takes a measured sip of his drink. “Changes your perspective.”
“I mean, having a kidisactually pretty damn exciting. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the idea until I got the results today. Never thought I’d have kids because I never thought I’d want to settle down with a woman.”
Dario’s quiet for a moment, studying my face. “This about that shit with your dad?”
He’s one of the few people who knows the whole story. He had a front-row seat to the fallout, watched seven-year-old me try to understand why my father walked out. We’ve always been close as brothers, despite him being a few years younger.
“Yeah, I guess so.” I stare into my glass. “I mean, I like Nina.”
Like.What a pathetic word for what she does to me.
The truth is, she’s already under my skin. In my blood. Messing with my head in ways that terrify me.
“We’ve been fucking around. Keeping it casual.”
“Casual.” Dario’s eyebrow arches. “You seeing anyone else?”
“No.”
“Is she?”
Red floods my vision at the thought. “Absolutely fucking not.”
“Sounds real casual to me.” His tone drips sarcasm. “Face it. You’re already in a relationship. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”
I want to argue, but the bastard has a point. We’ve been together every day since this started. She’s all I think about. The way she gets my dark humor. How she looks at me like she sees past all the bullshit to something worth wanting.
But she also lied to my face about Austin. Told me he was her ex's kid when she knew damn well he was mine. Six years I didn't know my son existed because she made that choice for me.
Part of me gets it. She was protecting herself and the kid from some stranger who coerced her into sex that first night. But it still stings. Makes me wonder if I can really trust her not to keep secrets when things get hard.
And that’s not even touching the bigger issue.
“She’s not part of this world,” I say quietly. “What happens when she realizes what being with me really means?”
“You mean like Paige did?” Dario shrugs. “She hated us at first. Now look at us.” He drains his glass. “But honestly, you don’t have to be with the woman to be a dad to the kid.”
“Yeah, but...” I stare into my glass. “That’s the problem. I might want to be with her.”
“Then get over your dad leaving.” His voice turns blunt. “Your father was a pussy who let himself feel inferior because he knew he could never measure up to the men in your mother’s life. That doesn’t mean every woman will bail when things get tough.”
That actually does make sense now that I think about it. Nina’s not some weak-willed woman who’d crumble at the first sign of trouble. She’s been handling shit on her own for years.
Maybe I’ve been so busy protecting myself from getting hurt that I never stopped to think about what I might be missing. A real relationship. A real family.
For the first time, I let myself actually picture it. Coming home to Nina and my son every night. Being the kind of father mine never was. Building something real instead of just fucking around with whatever woman catches my eye.
I should be running from the thought. Instead, it brings this weird sense of relief.
Before I can say anything, though, movement at the casino entrance catches my eye. Five men stroll in like they own the place.
Suits and leather. Bratva and MC.
They know damn well they’re not welcome here.
