Page 27 of Paradox
“Where the fuck are you?” I bark into the phone.
“S-sorry, Prez,” the prospect stutters. “She tried to run, but I caught her. We’re almost there.”
“Fucking hell. Hurry up.”
A few of the people in the lab’s waiting room throw dirty glances my way. I put on the deepest scowl I can muster and sit up straight.
“All of you can fuck right off. Judgmental assholes.”
I tap my fingers on my knee in impatience, wanting this to be over. I need to start preparing to bring Raven and the twins home. There’s a lot of shit to be done. Priority number one is to finish putting the cribs together. I guess I could have the prospect do it, but I won’t. That’smyjob.
Leaning forward in the chair, I lace my fingers together.What the fuck is Britney’s angle?Even if I could have been the kid’s father, she must have known I’d do a DNA test. Who in their right mind would take her word for it? What, she thought she’d drop her little bomb and I’d welcome them into my family with open arms? She should have never shown her face here, spewing her lies. Now she wants to run. She started this, but I’m damn sure going to finish it.
Commotion at the entrance has me shifting my attention there. The prospect is holding the kid while trying to nudge Britney along. She drags her feet, shaking him off every time he touches her. Leaving my seat, I stomp in her direction. When she spots me, she freezes. I grab her arm, tugging her forward and pointing to a chair. Everyone in the room is watching us at this point, but I give zero fucks.
Tyler sits next to her, bouncing the boy on his lap. I take the time to look him over. He’s a cute kid. He may have blond hair and blue eyes, but that’s as far as our similarities go. His features are all wrong. I don’t see how Raven could think he looks like me.
He must feel me staring at him or something because his head turns in my direction. Without hesitation, he gives me a wide, toothless grin that turns into a giggle. The kid is innocent in all this. I think about my own kids and how I’d do anything to protect them. Now I don’t know if I’d do anything that would harm the one smiling at me now.
“Why are you doing this, Britney?” She doesn’t answer, crossing her arms over her chest and turning away from me. “Did you really think this would work?”
Again, she keeps her mouth shut.
“Listen—”
“Hunter.”
My name is called, interrupting my line of questioning. I pull her up, dragging her behind me as I follow a woman down a corridor. We all cram into a room where Chad is waiting for us. I wouldn’t trust this to anyone but him. He’s the one who helped me with the Janet situation, and with Raven’s test results after she was attacked. He takes swabs from mine and the kid’s cheeks. For good measure, I ask him to test Britney, too. She refuses to cooperate, but a glare from me has her opening her mouth begrudgingly.
“How long before I have the results?” I ask when Britney leaves the room with the kid.
“Five to seven business days.”
“I can’t wait that long.” Reaching into my pocket, I hand him all the cash I have on me, plus what I usually pay him. “Twenty-four hours?”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
I shake his hand and then leave the building as fast as I can.
“Take them to the clubhouse,” I instruct the prospect. “I’ll meet you there after I stop at the hospital.”
I hop on my bike, but before I leave, I check my phone. There’s a text from E.
E: I’m doing it tonight!
Gage: About time motherfucker. Good luck.
E: Thanks! I might need it.
I have no idea why he’s so nervous. Shorty will probably say yes before he even finishes the question. I start the bike, twist the throttle and speed off to see my family.
When I walk into Raven’s room, her mother, stepfather, and sister are there. Dani is talking a mile a minute while everyone else nods and smiles.
“Gage!” she shouts, running to me. She lost the “Mr.” a while back but I don’t mind. The kid’s as cute as a button.
“Hey, pretty girl!” I swing her into my arms, moving to the bed.
Raven smiles up at me, and I kiss her lips before greeting the Marchands. I kiss Laurelyn’s cheek and shake Daniel’s hand.
