by Shayla Black
secretary reads everything first.” Gwyneth gave him a delicate grimace. “I realize now it was very wrong of me. I’m sorry.”
Wasn’t that just like her, sweeping the unforgivable under the carpet at every turn? Before the divorce, Liam had found it difficult to absolve her of cheating. He’d tried but fallen short. Forgiving her for keeping his son—if Kyle was his—from him? Impossible.
Inwardly counting to ten, Liam bit back his anger. “I’m not buying into this story without a paternity test.”
“I brought proof. Look.” Moving to the dresser, she grabbed a stack of documents, then handed them to Liam. “See? Here’s his birth certificate, his immunization records. I even have ultrasounds of my pregnancy.”
Reluctantly, he shuffled through the papers in his hand. Details jumped out at him, like the child’s surname. O’Neill. Almost choking, he noted the boy’s birthdate and weight, scanned the ultrasound pictures, which looked like little more than a strange blur of shapes and shadows.
Liam wasn’t moved. Sure, she had documents to support her claims, but until he had undeniable proof that he’d fathered the boy, he was skeptical. “Kyle may be your son, but none of this proves he’s mine. I want a paternity test.”
“I haven’t been with anyone but you since we separated,” she pleaded with big green eyes.
If, by some miracle, she was telling the truth, that would make him Kyle’s father. But Gwyneth abstaining would be akin to a miracle. “I don’t care.”
“Liam, what kind of awful parents would we be if we subjected our son to such humiliation?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. The lad isn’t old enough to know what’s happening. It won’t hurt him. We don’t even have to draw blood. I merely have to swab the inside of his cheek.”
She swiveled away, drawing the baby closer to her body as if shielding him. “That’s unnecessary. I know I hurt you before, but I wouldn’t lie about something as important as this.”
He arched a sharp brow. “I found you fucking two men while you wore my wedding ring. I think you’d lie about anything if it suited you.”
“Don’t use that language in front of the baby.” She covered one little ear.
Liam rolled his eyes. “He can’t even talk.”
“But he’s beginning to form his linguistic abilities. That’s not the sort of speech he should hear. I’ve been reading—”
“I’ll take his DNA sample this morning. Until the lab results come back, we’ve nothing more to discuss.”
“But he is our son,” she beseeched.
“We’ll see. I’ll be back with a swab shortly. Wait here.”
As he turned to leave, she clutched his arm. “Don’t go. I’ve brought Kyle here so you two could bond.” She paused and sent a tender glance into the boy’s face, then stared at Liam again. “He needs his father.”
“If he’s mine, then I will be a part of his life.”
“If? Look at him. You can’t deny that face.”
“I can until I have proof.”
“Please don’t take your anger for my mistakes out on Kyle. I’m sorry I’ve ruined everything.” Tears welled. “Had I not been so impulsive, had I realized I was throwing away a loving husband…” She paused, her chin quivering. “Being a mother has forced me to grow up. I’m not the same woman you married. I hurt you deeply, and you’ll never know how sorry I am.”
She sounded remorseful, but he wondered if she was actually capable of giving a shit about anyone else, much less feeling regret.
Liam pursed his lips. “I’m not buying it, Gwyneth. It’s unlike you not to hound me for more—more money, a bigger house, child support, a bigger fucking wardrobe. Why haven’t you?”
“I…” She seemed to shrink before his eyes. “I was ashamed.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Are you really going to make me explain? I was ashamed by my actions, Liam.” An aching sadness spread across her face. “I know the trust we once shared is long gone, even if my feelings for you remain. I understand if you’re too wounded to find it in your heart to forgive me now. But don’t turn your back on our son.”
Liam frowned at the sleepy-eyed tyke. “I’ve told you, I’ll be a father to the child, if he’s mine.”
She laid a trembling hand on his arm. “You were always such a wonderful husband. I know you’ll be an amazing father. He’ll need that, especially now…”
The babe gave a huge yawn, looking as if he were bored.
“Meaning?”
She sniffled, taking a long moment to pull herself together.
“For pity’s sake, woman.” Liam shook his head. Open your mouth as easily as you open your legs. “What are you trying to say?”
“Kyle is suffering from some…issues you should know about.”
A little knot of worry formed in his gut. “Is he sick?”
“Not physically. His psychotherapist says—”
“His what?” Had she gone daft? Liam stared at the boy. “He’s not even six months old. Why would he need one of those?”
She laid the child down on the bed, boxing him in with pillows and covering him with a fuzzy blue blanket embroidered with a train.
“I told you this was a matter of life or death. Kyle has serious emotional issues.”
“Christ, what in-depth conversations could he possibly be having with a shrink?”
“Liam, these are his formative years.” Her voice hitched. “Kyle is withdrawn and unhappy. According to his doctor, he isn’t bonding properly. This kind of thing could ruin his life.”
Liam inspected the now sleeping baby’s demeanor. “He looks perfectly normal to me.”
“What ails him isn’t visible on the outside,” she protested. “Spend time with Kyle, and you’ll see that his emotional development is thwarted by the lack of an active male figure in his life. We cannot allow him to suffer, Liam.”
“Are you serious?”
“Try to keep up.” She placed a hand over her trembling lips. “He needs a family, a loving mother and father—together—to give him a sense of stability and security.”
So that’s what she wanted, to play happy family? Liam felt sick. “Let me be clear about one very important thing: If the paternity test bears out, we’ll share custody, not a life. You and I will never be together again. Until we have the results, I’ve nothing more to say.”
Turning for the door, Liam swallowed his shock. If he had to deal with Gwyneth for the whole of Kyle’s childhood, he would need a bloody psychotherapist. He wished to hell he could wake up from this nightmare and find himself lying next to Raine.
Raine.
Just the thought of her caused something to shatter inside him. His plans, hopes, and dreams of a future with her and Hammer looked precarious. They’d worked so hard and come through so much together already. Now, it seemed as if he was losing them. No relationship—especially one less than a day old—could withstand such a test.
At that realization, a giant fist reached into Liam’s chest and squeezed his heart.
Gwyneth grabbed at his sleeve. “You can’t turn your back on our son, Liam.”
He whirled on her. “How the hell do you expect me to react? You come here uninvited, tell me I’ve knocked you up, and that the boy you claim is mine suddenly needs a daddy. You honestly expect me to drop the life I’ve made since our divorce and play family man? With no proof?”
“I’d hoped you would be happy,” she sniveled. “You’re too noble to take your anger out on our innocent baby.”
He refused to pack his bags for the guilt trip she kept trying to take him on. “As soon as the boy wakes, text me. I’ll swab his cheek, then return you to your hotel. I’ll call you once I have the results.”
“I don’t have a hotel,” she confessed. “I’d hoped we’d be moving in with you.”
He tried hard not to choke.
“I know now you’ve found someone else…” Gwyneth sniffled. “Is she very pretty?”
“You
will not be living with me, and anyone in my life is none of your business.” His voice was brittle as ice. “I’ll arrange a hotel for you and the boy. Text me when he wakes.”
“The boy?” she gasped. “Kyle is your son.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Before she could say another word, Liam left without a backward glance. As he strode down the corridor, he palmed his phone, quickly reading the messages Hammer had sent. A pacifier? Calculating bitch.
He fired a message back to Hammer.
Liam: Heads up. I haven’t taken out the trash yet. Meet me in the bar as soon as you can. I’ll fill you in.
Chapter Six
Hunched over a glass of scotch at the bar, Liam anxiously waited for Hammer. The burn of the single malt warmed his belly but didn’t calm the turmoil or the ache behind his eyes. Despite their intention to come clean with Raine over dinner, Liam realized that extricating himself from Gwyneth might not be as simple as he’d hoped. He should have known. When had anything ever been easy with that woman?
He glanced at his phone. What the devil was keeping Hammer? No doubt he was still in the sack with Raine. Liam tensed, his anger building again. Can’t go there. Fuck.
Picking up the tumbler, he rolled the amber liquid, watching it swirl within its glass prison. Liam felt just as trapped.
Lost in thought, he didn’t realize Hammer had joined him until the man plopped down on the barstool beside him.
“Why is Gwyneth still in my club?” Hammer groused.
“The baby fell asleep. I told her to text me when he wakes. I’ll get them out then.”
Hammer sighed in resignation. “The sooner the better. Having Raine and Gwyneth under the same roof makes me nervous.”
Liam nodded. “If Raine found my ex, I’m afraid she’d draw the worst conclusion.”
“Gwyneth having a baby on her hip wouldn’t help. And I don’t want Raine talking to that manipulative viper. She’d eat our girl alive. Unless she’s changed?” Hammer raised a brow in question.
“She’s trying to convince me she has. But she’s still a manipulative bitch, just more subtle.”
“So your meeting with her was fun?”
“Shoving my dick in a blender would have been more enjoyable.”
Hammer cringed, then gripped the open bottle of scotch and took a long pull. “That good, huh? Tell me what happened.”
“Not shockingly, Gwyneth claims the baby is mine.”
Hammer swore. “Is it? I mean…can you tell?”
“Not by looking at him. He’s got brown eyes and brown hair, but it doesn’t prove a thing.”
“What does she want from you?”
“She’s got it in her head that we’re going to reunite and be a family.” Liam shuddered. “Apparently, Kyle has emotional problems because he has no father. At least according to the boy’s psychotherapist.”
“Fucker, please.” Hammer rolled his eyes. “A shrink for a baby? She thinks you’re going to buy that shit? What else? Maybe you’d better start at the beginning.”
Liam shared the details of his run-in with Gwyneth, but he was barely halfway through before he could feel Hammer’s rage.
“I don’t give a rat’s ass how much proof she brought. Documents are forged every day,” Hammer erupted. “You’re not buying into her bullshit, are you?”
“Of course not. I told her I needed a paternity test.”
“Damn straight.”
Hammer seemed to calm slightly, so Liam told him the rest.
“The only thing that’s keeping me from tossing her to the curb is that baby,” Hammer grumbled. “Even I’m not that big of a prick.”
“She’s always called you the spawn of Satan, you know.”
Hammer laughed. “I’m happy to oblige her and play the part.”
“Speaking of obliging her, I need to find her a hotel.”
“Let her find her own place to stay.” Hammer scowled.
“She could have found one last night but didn’t. That tells me the only way she’s leaving Shadows is if I drag her, kicking and screaming.”
“The good news is…we’ve got plenty of rope and ball gags.” An evil smile tugged at Hammer’s mouth. “Do me a favor. Find Gwyneth a hotel close to the airport so she can climb on her broomstick and fly back to London faster.”
“I’ll do everything I can.”
Hammer chugged from the bottle again. “You know she wants more than a daddy for this kid. How much money?”
“She didn’t ask for any, just me by her side, helping her to raise emotionally stunted Kyle. God, I’m going to puke. I have to talk about something else. Tell me, how’s our girl?”
“Raine didn’t eat much breakfast. I’m still worried about her, and that fucking pacifier didn’t help.” Hammer growled. “You have no idea how shocked I was when she slammed that damn thing on the table and asked me if you had an adult-baby fetish.”
Liam choked. “I hope you told her no.”
Hammer smirked. “Yeah. Don’t worry, I did. It wasn’t a lie, right?”
“Wanker,” Liam replied with half a snort. “Look, about tonight… After dinner, I’ve been thinking… Let’s show Raine the house. The fact that I bought her a home should make her feel more secure in our commitment. That also gives her a safe place to stay, one Gwyneth knows nothing about, in case my ex lingers nearby.”
Hammer smiled. “Great idea. Is the remodeling done?”
“Not quite. But I’ll give the foreman a call and tell him to clean up a bit when they’re done for the day. We’ll tell Raine we intend to move in by Christmas and to start thinking about what she wants in her new kitchen.”
“Double ovens, for sure.” Hammer nodded. “She’s going to be thrilled.”
“I think she will be, too. Where is she now?”
“Still sleeping in my room.”
Snakes of jealousy slithered through him, hissing, just as they had in the car.
“I guess you finally got to finish what you started on our way back, then?” The words spilled off Liam’s tongue before he could stop them.
Hammer turned and stared. Liam didn’t see anger or guilt in Macen’s hazel eyes, just pity. That stung even worse. Liam wished he could take back the snide remark.
“Stop right there.” Hammer held up a hand. “I took her to breakfast. When we returned, we both climbed into bed. I only held her and stroked her hair until she fell asleep. Even if I’d had sex with her, why would it matter? We share her. You know there will be times I’m not around and you’ll want her. Vice versa.” He shook his head. “I think Gwyneth being here has brought up bullshit you haven’t dealt with.”
Liam tossed back the last of his scotch. “Now who’s psychoanalyzing whom?”
Deep down, he knew he hadn’t resolved his bitterness for Gwyneth, but Liam didn’t want to sit here and dissect his emotions. “How did your talk with Bill go?”
Hammer shrugged. “He threatened… I threatened. Bottom line: I told him if he showed his face at Shadows again, I’d put a bullet through his head.”
“Sounds like a bloody good idea to me. I’ll load the gun.” Liam smirked.
“It’s already loaded and waiting in the top left drawer of my desk.” He took another swig of scotch.
