Page 51 of Playing the Game
“And?”
We reach the greenhouse and go inside. My dad meanders down an aisle that has tomato plants growing on both sides.
He stops and fiddles with the leaves on one of the plants. “We reunited.”
I’m an aisle over and peer at him. “From what I know about the mob, that was probably the dumbest thing you’ve ever done. You would’ve been killed if you two were discovered.”
“I know, but when you’re in love, you don’t make the best decisions. Just take your situation with Dori.”
“Which brings me to what I need to know. Why is my mother after me, and what reason would she have to want Dorothy dead?”
“You said your mother wanted you and Ava to have a baby by the time you turn thirty-five. My guess is when shefigured out you weren’t going to play along with whatever plan she has, she went after Dori to get your attention.”
“Agreed. So how do I get her to back off?”
My dad stops fiddling with the plant and gives me a hard stare. “Play hardball and pull her out of her hiding place.”
I push out a fake laugh. “Bring my mobster mother out into the open? I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“I’d figure it out if I were you. If you don’t, you can kiss Dori’s job goodbye for good.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Your mother obviously has someone working with her on the inside. Any guess who that could be?” He starts down the aisle.
I follow him down my section. My stomach bottoms out when I put the pieces together. “I know who it is.”
“By the look on your face, this isn’t going to be good.”
“There’s a lot more to this than I’ve told you about.”
“I figured that out at the board meeting. If that day didn’t teach you a lesson, I’ll spell it out for you. If you don’t tell me everything, I won’t be any good to you.”
We get to the end of the lanes and join each other near a bench and waterfall feature.
“Isabella Carter is the one who sent the pictures to the board.” I shift my weight from side to side. “She’s claiming to be pregnant with my child.”
“Christ, Hunter. This is more convoluted than I originally thought.”
“Yeah, and I’m starting to get the correlation.”
“Which is?”
“I think my mom might know Isabella’s pregnant. It’s the only thing that makes sense. My mother wants a baby of mine, and Ava was supposed to deliver said child.”
I rub my tightening neck. “When Ava told her we weren’t playing her game anymore, Ava said my mom acted like it was no big deal.”
“Because she knew Isabella was pregnant.” Dad sighs a dreaded breath. “Any idea how your mom found out about Isabella?”
“She had someone following me and taking pictures for months. I imagine they saw us together the night I took Isabella back to my place.”
“Then the baby is yours?”
“That’s why I’m not at work. I just got back from California. Isabella lives there, and I went to get a paternity test done.”
He nods and strolls back down an aisle. “When will you know?”
I follow him with a low level of anxiety bubbling in my blood. “Two weeks at the latest. I went out to ensure it was done right and sent to a reputable laboratory.”
