Page 20 of His Dark Desire

I sit up, bringing my legs to my chest. "I don't know," I confess. "I have no idea where to go from here."

"Have you spoken to Joe?" she questions. "Does he know?"

"I haven't spoken to him other than in email since the night of the event. I would prefer to keep it that way."

She takes my hand as she sinks down onto the sofa beside me. "Sweetie, I love you, but you can't ignore him or this forever. You're going to have to speak with him eventually, he's your boss and now he's the father of your child."

"I know, I'm just not ready for it."

"Why?" she questions.

"I'm still hurt, still feel stupid."

She shakes her head. "No, you're far from stupid. So damn far from it. You fell in love with a man, sure, it was your boss, and things are now crazy, but you've done nothing wrong."

My laughter is mirthless. "Nothing wrong? I slept with a married man, one that I knew was married. I have no one to blame for this situation other than myself."

She scoffs. "It takes two to do the horizontal mambo, sweetie, so it's not just you. He's the married man, not you."

I can always count on Briar to make me smile and pick me up when I'm at my lowest. "So, you're telling me that I need to tell him?"

She pats my hand. "That's exactly what you need to do. But first you need to shower and look presentable. Can you do that?"

I scowl at her. "Of course, but can't I just call him?"

"Hazel," she says, sterner than before. "Would you want to be told that type of news over the phone?"

I sigh. She's right. I need to do it face to face.

"Call him and tell him to come over, you can lay it all out and then talk. You both have a child on the way now, you can't exactly ignore the man for the rest of your life."

Oh, how I wish I could. "Fine. I'll send him a message asking him to stop by after work. That'll give me time to shower and tidy the apartment."

She beams, pulling me into her arms. "I'm so excited, I'm going to be auntie Bri."

I'm glad that one of us is happy about this. I know that it's going to take me some time to come around to it, but once I do, I'll be happy. I know it. I think this situation with Joe just amplified my feelings.

"Text the man, then shower. I'm going to help clean," she says as she gets to her feet. "No matter what, Hazel, you're not alone. You'll get through this and once you've wrapped your mind around it and let everyone know about the baby, your family will be happy. Becca and I will be fighting over auntie duties."

I love how optimistic she is and while I wish I could believe that I know my parents are going to be pissed that I'm pregnant to a man who's the head of the mafia. But like me, it'll take some time to come around to the idea and once they do, it'll be fine. That's what I have to believe, otherwise I'll have another freak out.

I snatch up my cell from my table and quickly type out a message to Joe, letting him know that I'd like to speak to him this evening after work and if he could stop by when he's finished. The man doesn't make me wait long; he responds quickly.

Joe: Of course. I'll be there after six.

I take a steadying breath. Okay. I can do this. Just one thing at a time. Right now, shower. Then I'll focus on everything else that needs to be done.

There's a rap at my door and all the air leaves my lungs. He's here. Crap. I don't think I'm actually ready for this. But I have to do it. Briar is right, I can't ignore him forever. He's the father of our unborn child and there's no way that I could or ever would keep it from him.

I pull in a ragged breath and another, until I'm able to breathe properly, once I'm sure I won't faint from lack of oxygen, I move toward the front door.

With a shaky hand, I reach for the doorknob and turn it slowly. The hinges creak as the door swings open, revealing Joe standing on the other side. But instead of the confident and charming man I once knew, he looks worn down and exhausted. "Joe," I say softly, my heart aching at the sight of him.

His eyes meet mine, filled with a mixture of longing and regret. For a moment, neither of us speak, the silence stretching between.

"May I come in?" Joe finally asks, his voice barely above a whisper. I nod wordlessly, stepping aside to let him pass. "How are you doing Hazel?" he asks once I shut the door behind him.

"About the same as you," I reply. "Look, I'm sorry for how I acted?—"

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