Poor thing.
Braden did not, as Killian expected, settle behind his desk again once the office door closed behind his wayward wife. Instead he made his way over to the wet bar and poured them each a generous glass of Killian’s preferred whiskey.
“Are we celebrating? Or commiserating?” Killian asked as he took the offered glass.
“A bit of both.” All but vibrating nervous energy, Braden lifted his whiskey to his lips. “I’m going to tell you something, and I need every bit of what I’m about to tell you to stay between us. Nobody, not even your people, can know. Can you do that for me?”
“I may not have many virtues, but discretion is one I can claim.”
“Right.” Braden gave a distracted nod. “I know that. I’m just… this is very sensitive information.”
Alarm bells rang in the back of Killian’s mind as he watched his friend pace around the room. It was all very un-Braden-like, and worry began to edge out curiosity. “Are you sick?”
“What?” Stopping his pacing, Braden frowned and shook his head. “No, nothing like that. It’s not about me. It’s about Aria.”
For one terrifying second, Killian’s heart stopped. Was she sick? In danger? What could possibly be going on that Braden needed his help with his daughter? “What about Aria?”
If Braden noticed the way his voice sharpened, he didn’t show it. “She’s pregnant.”
Now it wasn’t just his heart stopping, but the entire world. Time slowed, the edges of his vision went dark. “Pregnant?” His voice sounded hollow, distant, but that could just be because he could barely hear anything over the ringing in his ears.
“Yeah.” For the first time since Killian had stepped foot in his office, Braden smiled. And not just any smile, but a full-on grin that threatened to split his face in two. “I’m gonna be a grandpa.”
And you’re about to have a criminal for a son-in-law.
No. He wasn’t going there. Just because they’d slept together the one time didn’t automatically mean he was the father. A woman like Aria could have her pick of men, and given her curiosity about kink, it seemed likely she’d take advantage of her good looks and charm to learn as much as possible.
Jealousy, raw and ugly, clawed at his chest. It wasn’t fair, or even right, considering he was engaged to another woman. But the very thought of another man putting his hands on what belonged to him had him clutching the glass in his hand, desperately fighting the urge to hurl the heavy crystal at the wall.
Breathing through the agonizing jealousy, he lifted his glass toward his friend. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I’m deliriously happy. Terrified and a bit ‘I’m not old enough for this shit’ but happy. My baby’s having a baby.”
“It’s a good thing. But I’m not sure where I fit into the conversation.” Because if Braden had any inkling Killian could possibly, maybe be the father, he had no doubt he’d already be dead. So what did he want?
Braden’s expression soured. “Aria won’t tell me who the father is. When I pressed, she just told me he ‘isn’t the man she thought he was’ and asked me to leave it at that.”
Doesn’t mean anything. She could say that about anyone.
But he knew. Deep in his bones, he knew.
He was going to be a father.
Holy shit.
“I want you to track him down.”
The words jolted Killian back to reality and he stared up at his closest friend. A man he considered a brother. Whose daughter he’d apparently gotten in the family way. “Pardon?”
“The father. I want you to figure out who he is.”
Fucking hell. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? If Aria asked you to leave it be…”
“I know. I just want to make sure he’s not someone I need to worry about. She assured me he didn’t hurt her, but for my own peace of mind I’d like to know he’s not a danger to her or the child.”
“I understand.” And he did. He’d likely do exactly the same if it was his daughter.
His daughter. He could be having a daughter. One who would be as sassy and bold as her mother, no doubt.
