Page 82 of Resurrection

“We’ll need a DNA test.” Finn breaks his silence.

Eric smirks and shakes his head. “We can get as many DNA tests as you want. They’ll tell you the same thing. That baby—Lucas—has two biological parents. Me and Carys.” He beams at me. “We’re gonna be a family. This time, I’m doing right by you.”

The picture the coroner showed me of Valeriya not long ago pops into my head. He’s making things right with me by doing wrong to a host of other people.

“Where is the woman who gave birth to this child?” Finn’s voice is tight with suppressed anger.

I breathe a sigh of relief. He’s asking the questions I should be asking. My brain is muddled, and half of it is already consumed with monitoring the minuscule movements of the baby in my arms.

“Upstairs.” Eric gestures to the ceiling. “You’re welcome to talk to her. She’s agreed to stay on as our wet nurse. You were so keen to make sure our child was breastfed.”

“Eric.” My whole body goes cold. “That was five years ago. A lot has happened since then.”

“You’d prefer he was bottle fed?”

A scream works its way up into my throat. I’m on the cusp of saying I’d rather he hadn’t used my eggs to create a baby I no longer want, but saying the words are crass, not true. Assuming Lucas is mine, I’d never want him to hear that repeated laterin anger by Eric. Kids can be weapons between parents. Any relationship with him will be a battlefield.

“You’re being deliberately obtuse,” I push out through clenched teeth. “Neither one of you even talked to me. You didn’t ask me.”

“Are you saying you don’t want the baby?” Eric frowns.

“No—I—it’s just—” I shake my head. Nothing sounds right. “I don’t understand how you did this without me.” My voice cracks, and Finn’s arm tightens and shifts to my waist. He’s the only thing holding me up.

Eric and my father exchange a look loaded with meaning. Was Valeriya part of this? The timeline Ekaterina mentioned sort of matches. Maybe her involvement with Eric, her involvement with this baby made her bold.

“Who helped you?” I ask.

“It’s Russia.” My father waves a hand. “The only help you need is money and a few connections. Lots of money. Once you’ve got that, you can make anything happen.”

“First thing in the morning,” Finn says, “we’re getting a DNA test.”

“Have at it.” Eric chuckles.

Finn’s fingers clench the material at my waist. I peek up at him, but his murderous gaze is focused on Eric.

The baby snuffles and wiggles in my arms. When I look down, his little face is contorting like he’s about to cry. Eric checks the clock on the wall.

“Probably feeding time. I’ll take him upstairs for Galina to feed him.”

“That’s her name?” I whisper as I pass him to Eric. As the baby leaves me, a heaviness settles in my chest. Part of me wants to snatch him right back, keep him tucked close. What if he’s mine?

“It is.” Eric grins. “Her English is impeccable. You’ll be great friends, I think.”

The tension radiating off Finn is unmistakable. It amazes me that Eric can ignore it, as though Finn isn’t on the verge of releasing his gun and shooting him. If I turned to him and asked, I know he’d do it. Eric had better be telling the truth about the baby. Otherwise, Finn will give him the shovel and watch as he digs his own grave.

But then, if he is telling the truth, what does that mean for us? I sink into the couch across from my father as the full weight of the realization settles. Does he want to be a father? My brain tries to extract the fragments of conversation from before, from now. He’s never said how he would feel. A child was an impossibility. Even the miscarriage we sort of glossed over.

Would he be okay with parenting another man’s child? How will Eric and I arrange custody? Where will the baby live?

I press my fingers into my forehead. Finn’s hand strays to the top of my head in a soothing motion.God, I love him. His silence is adding another layer of fear. Will he leave me if the baby is Eric’s? I didn’t want this, but I can’t say no to it either.

“I’m tired,” I whisper to no one in particular.

Jay straightens as if coming awake. “We’ve got the hotel booked in the city.” He comes around the couch from his position by the door.

“No need.” Charles waves a dismissive hand. “This house is big enough. Seven bedrooms. Four upstairs. Baby Lucas. Galina. Eric. All have rooms up there. You can take the fourth, Carys. Finn, Jay, and I can sleep downstairs.”

Finn tenses, and I jump in before he can say anything or even think it. “Finn will stay with me.”

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