Page 171 of Ruthless Claim

And in the six weeks I’ve known Finn, I’ve grown to care for him. Plus, I know what it is to grow up without a father.

I know what that absence does to a person.

Finn’s real father is out there somewhere, probably not even knowing this kid exists, and Finn is going to grow up thinking⁠—

I stop. Not now. I can’t do this right now.

Claire steps forward ahead of Finn, her smile apologetic. Except I look at her eyes while she’s smiling, and there’s nothing apologetic in them.

Her eyes dart to me, Valentina, then zero in on the folder on the table.

“I’m so sorry,” she says as she moves the chair back to place her bag on it, the chair legs screeching against the floor. “I couldn’t find anyone to watch him on such short notice.” She then turns her attention to my wife. “Hi Valentina,” she says, her voice distinctly cooler. “I didn’t realize you’d be joining us.”

Valentina’s smile is razor sharp. “Of course I’m here,” Valentina says coldly. “This concerns our family. Our finances. Naturally, I’d be involved in any decisions about trust funds.”

Claire’s smile tightens. “Of course. That makes sense.”

There’s an awkward pause and even Finn feels it, glancing between us and his mother. Claire seems to notice that because she pastes on another fake smile.

“Would you mind if we just…” She gestures lightly toward the counter. “I’ll grab a coffee and get Finn a hot chocolate. We’ll be right back and then we can talk properly? Just a few minutes.”

“Of course,” I say, relieved she’s decided to do that. It gives me a moment to rein myself in because fuck me, I didn’t expect Finn to be here.

Claire smiles and takes Finn’s hand, steering him toward the counter. He goes cheerfully, already chattering at her about something, completely unbothered.

I turn to Valentina. She’s already looking at me, eyes wide. “I didn’t even think she would bring Finn,” she hisses.

“Shit,” I mutter, rubbing my temples with my thumb and index finger. I can feel a headache forming.

“What do we do?” Valentina asks, moving her trembling hands so they’re off the table. “Are we really going to upturn this poor kid’s life in front of him?”

“Yes,” I say firmly. I feel badly for Finn, I really do, but I’m not putting this off just because Claire threw me a curve ball.

Valentina gapes at me, dark eyes wide and her mouth falling open. “You’re going to—you’re going to tell this child that you’re not his father?”

“We hope that he brought something to do,” I respond, tapping my finger impatiently on the table as I watch Claire order. Finn stands on his tip toes and smiles at the barista, who smiles back at him. My heart clenches. Goddamn, I feel bad for this kid. “Something that keeps him occupied and out of it. We’ll keep our voices down and hope to god he’s too absorbed in whatever game he has on him to hear any of it.”

Valentina looks at the counter where Finn is now apparently trying to convince Claire to get him something else but Claire is shaking her head no.

Valentina’s jaw is tight. “He called you ‘Dad,’” she says, voice wavering a bit. “Fuck, I feel so bad.”

I take her hand in mine and squeeze. “I know,” I say gently. “I do too. But we have to do this.”

“No, you’re right. We do,” Valentina responds firmly. “But Cillian⁠—”

“Not now,” I say quietly. “They’re coming back.”

Claire and Finn are already turning back toward us, hot chocolate and coffee in hand. She settles Finn into the chair beside her, and Finn immediately opens up his backpack and pulls out his tablet and his headphones. I nearly sag with relief and Valentina’s hand creeps onto my thigh and squeezes.

He immediately disappears into his game, feet brought up, using his knees as a table to support his tablet. There’s no way he’ll hear anything that’s going on.

Claire folds her hands on the table. “So,” she says pleasantly. “What did you want to discuss?”

I push the folder toward her. “I wanted to discuss these.”

When I open the folder, there are two pieces of paper in it, revealing both DNA test results.

The first one claiming 99.97% probability of paternity. The second one showing 0%.