Page 12 of Forbidden Vow

He watched as Raven buried her face in her hands.

"You had his child," he bellowed. Raven tried to stand up. "Sit the fuck down."

“No, what the hell was Lexington thinking? I don’t want any of this. I just want to take my son and go.”

Nope. Not happening. His father had given, literally, half of everything to this child. Raven looked angry, but Darius was hurt. Why would they do this to him?

"You had a child?" he repeated.

“Yes,” she swallowed. “And by placing my son in his will, Lexington has ensured I’ll forever have a fight on my hands where the Kent family is concerned. I can’t with you people.”

Damn right. No way would he stand by while she walked away. Not if a Kent heir was involved.

“I want you and the Kent heir on the estate by nightfall.”

"My son," Raven defended, “is not a fucking computer part, Darius. Lexington knew my feelings about raising him without the Kent family influence. Lexi deserves a normal childhood, filled with people who will love and protect him.”

“Wait…fuck. Dad helped you hide, didn’t he? Four years ago. He hid you and his—”

“Stop right there. You can attack me, but I swear if you say one damn word about my son, I’ll kick you and your balls back to Britain.”

“I’ve had enough of you dragging the men in this family by the balls, babe. My brother has a right to know who he is,” he rallied.

“So, you’re going to teach him to be an asshole, too? No, thank you. You didn’t know he existed until five minutes ago. You never even picked up the fucking phone when I called. Don’t tell me about his rights.” Raven was actually screaming. “I’m his mother.”

Phone calls. What was she talking about?

“I want to meet Lexi.”

She shook her head. “No.”

Darius’s control snapped. His posture, once proud and defiant, was reduced to a low and burdened man. "You," he bellowed, "and my father robbed me not once, not twice, but three times. And now, you would deny me access to my own flesh and blood?”

"Darius, please,” Raven’s voice softened, “don't do this. Lexington has orchestrated—"

“I don’t care what the will says,” he snapped. “I will fight you every damn day of my life.”

Raven bared her teeth. “Fuck you, Darius. You think you can threaten me over my own son? Bring it, asshole.” Darius had never witnessed Raven this ferocious. Damn, motherhood had made her sexier. “When I’m done your ass will be gray and bald.”

Shit, how could she piss him off and have him clamoring to be inside her?

“This is what my father wanted,” Darius bellowed, fighting to keep from springing a boner. He had a responsibility, and though it would gut him to be the stand-in father figure to Raven’s love child, he would not allow another man to step in. "I want to meet Lexington."

"No. I'm his mother. I have every right to protect my child. I loved Lexington, but he will not dictate how I raise my son or force me to include you in our lives."

“There’s one more stipulation,” Clarence interjected. “If for any reason Darius Kent and Raven Radell cannot reach an agreement involving the child, Lexington D. Kent, one hundred percentage of Kent Technology assets will be transferred to the Cancer Research Grant within thirty days of this reading.”

“What the fuck,” Darius roared. “Penniless.”

“Not if you and Raven can come to an agreement,” Clarence said in a rush.

So everybody lost. When Darius looked at Raven, his heart stopped at the anguish carved in her face.

“Darius…I had no idea he would do this.”

"I understand how my father could fall in love with you. Hell, you had me under your spell, too. But for him to take everything my brothers and I have helped him build because of you…” He shook his head. “You tell me why he tied our entire fortune to the woman who bore his child. Why did he help you hide our little brother?”

Raven got to her feet. "Mr. Drake can keep the money, the stocks or whatever, and the house. I’ll contact you with a date and time in the next four weeks when Darius can meet Lexi.”