Page 48 of Remember That Time

I took a picture of the letter with my camera and then folded it up and put it back into the envelope before holding it out to Lester. "Have our people go over this."

Maybe we'd get lucky and there would be something on it.

"Yes, sir."

I briefly closed my eyes, my anger and fear warring with each other. I was enraged that someone was threatening me with my child's life, but I also feared for that life.

Even if I gave this idiot the money, there was no guarantee that she wouldn't go through with her threat or even give me the child after it was born. There was a very real possibility that she would just ask for more money.

Still...

"Lester, arrange for ten million dollars to be set aside in a separate account by the bank. I may need to withdraw it at the end of the week."

Lester's eyebrows lifted to his hairline. "Ten million dollars, sir?"

"This bitch is threatening to abort the baby if I don't give her ten million dollars in small unmarked bills."

"But, sir—"

I held up my hand to stop Lester. "I don't like it anymore than you do, but I won't let my kid be killed by this maniac."

Lester's eyebrows shot up. "You think she's going to kill the child?"

I pointed to the envelope in Lester's hand. "That's what she threatened to do." I clenched my hands, my anger renewing itself when I thought about those words written in that envelope."I want this woman found, and I want her found now. Use whatever resources you need to, but find her."

"Yes, sir."

I sank back down in my chair as Lester hurried out of my office, burying my head in my hands. I couldn't believe it had come to this. What sane person blackmails another using an abortion as a threat to get money?

I knew in my soul that this wasn't Gianni. He had wanted the baby too much. But did that mean the baby he was carrying wasn't mine? That my baby belonged to someone else? Someone threatening to kill my baby?

I dropped my hands and glanced at my phone when it dinged. As soon as I saw who the message was from I reached for it, fumbling in my haste. The moment I had a good grip on it, I brought up the message.

It was from the testing lab. The text message stated that they would be sending me the official documents, but they had texted me the results since I had been in such a rush to get them.

I quickly opened the attached document and then scrolled through until I got to the important part. I sucked in a shaky breath as my world screeched to a halt.

Gianni's baby was mine.

I chuckled, letting go of the breath I had sucked in. Gianni's baby was mine. It wasn't some random stranger's baby. The joy that news brought to me was almost as good as what I had experienced with him a few days ago when he let me make love to him.

Close second.

I flipped through my phone until I got to the contact list and found Gianni's number, quickly dialing it before holding the phone to my ear.

"Hey," he said as soon as he answered. "What are you up to today?"

"Where are you?"

I needed to see him.

"I'm at the lab," Gianni replied. "Why?"

"I have news," I stated. "Can you take some time off? We need to talk."

"I'm not sure I like the way that sounds."

"It's good news and bad news, but I don't want to talk about it over the phone. I'll be there in thirty minutes." I hung up before he could argue with me.

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