Page 19 of Reconcile

He’s deadly serious as he tips my chin up with his finger. His touch makes me cringe and shamefully shocks me with an electric charge at the same time. “She’s half mine. There’s no denying that, but if you fight me on this, I’ll call my lawyer back and demand a DNA test. After that, I’ll move for custody, and both of us know money talks.”

“You son of a bitch.” I jerk my chin out of his grasp.

“I won’t do that if you’ll let me do this one thing. Give my kid what she deserves.”

“A fancy house won’t make her love you.”

“It’s a start,” he says with so much confidence I ball my hands at my sides.What if she does fall for his charm?

God knows I did, along with so many other people over the years.

“No.”

He steps back and takes a deep breath. “Then my lawyer will be in contact with you. I suppose I’ll see you in court.”

“You’d do that to her?”

I don’t want her to find out about her father in a cold courtroom. I don’t want her to know about him at all.

His eyes meet mine, and I swear I see a hint of pain in them, but it quickly disappears, leaving cold arrogance in its place. “If you force my hand, yes. Make no mistake, Piper. I’m going to be in her life, regardless.” He turns and starts walking before he turns and regards me again. “I’ll give you a few days to decide.”

He leaves, climbing into his fancy, shiny black car, sliding his sunglasses on before he drives away.

This is so not good. And I know I have no way out of this.

13

SAWYER

“You did what?” I turn to look at Vivienne’s shocked expression just before her husband puts in his two cents.

“I told you not to do anything stupid.”

“How exactly is that stupid?” I stare at Asher.

“You threatened her. You gave her an ultimatum. On behalf of mothers and women in general everywhere, I want to punch you in the face,” Viv says so calmly I’d have thought she was kidding, but I don’t think she is.

I study her for a moment. I thought they’d be on my side. “She lied to me about having my kid. You’re a mom, Viv. How the hell can you condone that?”

“Because I’m a mom.” She stares at me like I’m a monster, and I don’t fucking like it. Baz hollers for her inside, and she turns to Asher. “Handle him.”

She leaves me alone with Asher, who’s grinning as he shakes his head at me. “You’re one dumb motherfucker. I mean, I thoughtIwas. But damn, Sawyer.”

“What?” I’m getting pissed. I thought I was being generous. Offering to get Piper out of that place and not merely get my daughter out of there.

“You cannot threaten the mother of your child.”

“The mother of my child who didn’t tell me I had a goddamn child.”

“Still, man.” He shakes his head at me. “You can’t do that. She’s been the only parent your kid has known. She’s protected her. You can’t scare her into doing what you want.”

“You should see the place she has my kid in.”

“Is it dirty? Rundown? Unsafe?”

I think about the small apartment building. Yeah, it seems fairly taken care of, but I still don’t like it. “It’s not fit for...”

“What?” He smirks. “A Ross?”

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