Page 99 of Two Wrongs

She slaps her hand over her mouth, and her eyes open to anime character proportions. “Uhm, forget that. He doesn’t know, because. Shit. Why are you here?”

It’s like he can feel me close by. Instead of answering her his head swings my direction. He walks with a purpose straight for me. My legs refuse to listen to my silent begging for them to run. When he gets next to me, he grabs my arm and drags me to his truck.

“We need to talk, baby bird, now.”

“Wren!” Hattie screams for me.

I wave to her as he drags me to his truck. “It’s okay, Hattie,” I shout so she can hear me.

“Get in the goddamn truck, Wren,” Griffin grits out.

“Yes, daddy,” I sass, and do as he says.

39

Griffin

My fingers clench the steering wheel the entire way to the hotel. Thankfully, Charlie took it upon himself to book me somewhere to stay when I left late the day before. He knew I’d head straight for Wren.

When I can breathe without feeling like fire is exiting my nostrils, I look at her. “Were you going to tell me?”

She turns her head toward the window. “I don’t know,” she whispers.

“Wrong answer,” I seethe.

I’m so angry, at her, at Liam, at goddamn life. The fact she didn’t immediately call me the moment she found out ticks me off. No, the fact she left in the first place has my blood boiling.

The hotel is close to her aunt’s house. I force myself to slow down and not jostle her around too much. She might be pissing me off, but she’s precious to me, even more so now. Then a dark voice whispers in my head, “Are you sure it’s yours?”

I drag her into the lobby, and point at one of the chairs in the sitting area. “Sit your ass down while I check in. If you try and leave, I swear to God I will hunt your ass down, and you’re not going to like it.”

Her eyes flare wide, but for once she doesn’t argue with me. I quickly check in and get my key cards from the front desk. Then I’m back, dragging her toward the elevator. She wisely doesn’t say anything. My temper is being held by a thread, and I don’t need an audience when I confront her.

There’s a couple walking down the hallway when we get in front of my door. I grab the back of her neck to let her know I won’t tolerate her trying to make a scene to leave. She strolls in ahead of me, some of the fire coming back to her.

She whirls on me the moment we’re closed inside together. “Listen here, asshole. I’ve had a long fucking day and I’m not about to put up with your bullshit.”

I laugh. “You’ve had a long day? I’ve had a long fucking three weeks. You just left.”

“I did what you told me to do. I really didn’t think you wanted me to stay the way you ran after Liam like that.”

“He’s my son!”

Her hands drop to her stomach, and she takes a step back from me. My words were careless, but we still need to get one thing cleared up. “Are you sure it’s mine?”

She flinches, but doesn’t answer me.

“Is that why you weren’t sure you were going to tell me? When was the last time you were with Liam?” Even asking the question makes me sick.

“Fuck you! Is that why you dragged me down here? Do you want an excuse to get out of this? I’ll give you one right now. You are off the hook. I will take care of this baby by myself. You want to know who’s it is? It’s mine!”

That thread holding me back, it snaps. I’m across the room before I even think about moving, and she’s pinned against the wall by my much larger body. I tip her face up to look at me instead of my chest as she’s determined to do. “Answer me.”

Her hands push against my chest, and I laugh at her feeble attempt to move me. I might as well be a mountain compared to her. She gives up and sags against me.

“You need to move. Please, I’m going to be sick,” she begs.

I step back and she runs into the bathroom. She barely gets the lid up on the toilet when she starts retching. Even irritated, I’m not heartless. I squat down next to her, and hold her hair back. She whimpers when she’s done and leans against me.

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