"Harper." She stands and pulls me into a hug, the mix of tobacco and jasmine hits my nostrils. "Sit. I ordered food. And I've got a bottle of Macallan that cost more than your car."
She pours two glasses and slides one across the table.
I stare at it.
"I can't," I say, shaking my head.
She pauses. The glass halfway to her own lips. Her dark eyes drop to my stomach. Stay there. Then lift back to my face.
"How far along?" she asks.
"Just over twelve weeks."
She sets her glass down and leans back in her chair. She studies me with an expression I can't read.
"The cowboy's?"
I nod.
Something crosses her face. Gone too fast to name.
"Does he know?"
"No."
"Does Hudson?"
"He found out. He showed up at the scan. Told me he might have to put his name on the birth certificate,” I tell her, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Her jaw tightens. She picks up her cigarette, lights it, and smokes in silence for a moment.
"Harper, tell me what you came to me for..."
I press my hands flat on the table. My fingers are trembling. "I need help. And you're the only person I know who understands what it's like to be trapped by powerful men."
She watches me through the smoke. She doesn’t speak. So I continue.
"Hypothetically," I say carefully. "If someone were blackmailing you. Holding something over you. Controlling your life. What would you do? Especially if you had to think about your baby?"
She doesn't blink. "Kill them."
"And what if..." I swallow. "What if your friend was connected. Had people. Could arrange it?"
Gianna takes a long drag and then exhales slowly.
"Harper, I'm going to be honest with you, because I respect you. And because I meant it when I said I want to be your friend."
She leans forward.
"I can't get involved. Hudson and his parents are one of my family's biggest investors. Real estate, development, other ventures. The Milano name is attached to the Blake name in ways that go back decades. Although they don’t know their money funnels into mafia business." She taps ash into a crystal tray. "My position in LA is already under threat. The Greeks tookmy brother. They're pushing at every border I have. I can't afford to lose the Blake’s money on top of it. And I can't be tied to anything that happens to Hudson. Not directly."
My heart sinks. I knew it. I knew it was a long shot. But hearing it confirmed is a door slamming shut on me.
"I understand," I whisper.
She holds up a finger. "But."
I look up.
