Isla had planned to tell me she was pregnant. If she hadn’t been at my estate, she wouldn’t have seen Courtney riding me like her life depended on it, so fucking high and tripping on speed. I’d been taken off guard when she jumped on me. IfIsla had stayed a little longer, she would have seen me blow up at my old friend.
Cazzo! How did I allow this to happen? I scanned the tiny living room and recalled my first impression of the apartment building when Paolo and I arrived…
“Areyou sure about coming so late? It’s after ten o’clock. Tomorrow would be better.” Paolo found a spot to park on the street.
“I’m not waiting another day to confront Isla.” I took a moment to breathe and look over the surrounding area.
Paolo didn’t reply like a good, obedient employee. But it wasn’t lost on me how he was becoming more vocal with his thoughts. I might have to reel him in and remind him about his position within our family.
In the dark, it didn’t look like a safe neighborhood. Older model cars and garbage cans lined the roads. I cringed at the thought of my child living in such worn-down conditions.
The Bay Area was expensive to live in. On her own, working in a bistro, there was no way Isla could afford a decent, safe place to live. She was probably on public assistance too.
“Cazzo!” I slammed my hand onto the dashboard. “If I’d known about the baby, I would have provided for them.” What good was it having all the money in the world, if I wasn’t taking care of my family? My family. All this time, I had a child, one I didn’t want and had refused to entertain the many times Isla mentioned a baby. Despite my rejection of the idea, my daughter existed. Or so I believed she was mine.
“Don’t blame yourself, boss. She deceived you and hid the baby.” His words pushed me closer to losing my fucking mind. Paolo was right. Isla hid the baby and deceived me.
“I could strangle her.” I fisted my hands, needing to punch something… or someone.
“You need to calm down, boss.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I nearly spat the words at him. “But a baby? This is too much.”
“All the more reason to go back to the hotel and work through your emotions before talking to Isla.”
“I’m not leaving.” I opened the door.
“Let me go check things out.”
“No. Stay here.” I exited the car, and slammed the door, not waiting for him to challenge me.
I assessed the unkempt landscape of the complex and the homes across the street. Paint was peeling on the vinyl siding. Moss covered the brick accents, which didn’t appear intentional. The building had seen better days. If I could see the flower beds, I was sure they were overrun with weeds.
Isla and the baby lived in a rundown dump.
I might explode. I was so furious and livid.
How could she think this was a good home for my child? Had she told me about the baby, I would have…
Would have what? Let her move in with me at the estate?
Christ, this was becoming complicated, and I hadn’t even talked to her. Even if I asked her to move to Canada with me, Isla was a proud, independent woman. She’d probably think I was only doing it for the baby.
After all this time, I could bet my billions she wasn’t going to make things easy for me. Of course, it didn’t matter. If the baby was mine, and my gut said she was, I would do whatever it took to have my daughter in my life. In my home. Except, what about her mother?
I couldn’t think about Isla and me right now. How could I be with someone who betrayed me in this way?
I shook my head. My thoughts were utter bullshit. Once I calmed, I hoped I’d feel different.
The glass entrance door was locked, so I lurked around until someone exited the building. The cool air helped to calm the fire crackling inside me. When a man exited the complex, I ducked in and a musky smell hit me hard.
How in the fuck could she live in this disgusting place?
Finding her door, I refrained from pounding on it. What if the baby was asleep?
I ran my fingers through my hair to get my emotions under control. This wasn’t how I imagined meeting my baby for the first time. Sure, I’d imagined having a child, but the first time I met them would’ve been fresh out of the womb, not when they were seven months old.
I lifted my hand and knocked twice on the door, my heart racing at Mach speed.
