Page 30 of Paradox
“You find out anything about that chick?”
“Nothing that could help. As far as I can see, she’s clean.”
“Okay. Thanks, Tek.”
“You mind if I go and see the babies?”
“Of course not. Tell Raven I’ll be back later.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
Shaking off my self-pity, I move over to the couch where both Britney and Lonnie are sitting. It’s time to put on the only cap that matters now—the one of husband and father.
The woman who came with Britney is on the floor playing with the kid. When she spots me, her eyes narrow.
“Who the fuck are you?” I ask.
She opens her mouth to either answer or sass me, but Britney pipes up before she gets a word out.
“She’s my friend.”
“Friend, huh? Well, friend, I suggest you watch how you look at me and what you say. You’re inmyterritory. In case you haven’t heard, I run shit around here.”
“What I heard is how youranoff the woman who was pregnant with your child.”
Instead of going down that rabbit hole with a woman I don’t even know, I turn to Britney. “You ready to tell the truth yet?”
“Look, I’m sorry I even came here. If you let us leave, I promise I won’t bother you again.”
“I just want to know why. What’s going on in that fucked-up mind of yours that made you think this was a good idea?”
“Can we go somewhere private and talk?” She throws a nervous glance her friend’s way.
What the hell is going on between these two?Obviously, the woman believes I’m the kid’s father, but there seems to be more to this than Britney’s letting on.
“Anything you want to say, you can say right here.”
“Just forget it.” She crosses her arms over her chest, sulking.
“Fine by me.”
I turn my gaze to Lonnie, my anger renewed. I should have known. I should have fucking known it was her. I don’t know how I could have been so blind. Now I actually feel sorry for hassling Chris about it; the kid was as clueless as I was. Why didn’t Raven tell me it was her? I could have put a stop to that shit with a snap of my fingers.
“Gage, please,” she begs, slinking back into the couch. “I’ve tried to make amends with my sister. I’m not the same person—”
“Shut up.”
I walk away from her before I do something I’ll regret. I promised Raven we would work this out together and we will. Taking a seat at the bar, I ask for a whiskey when the brunette shows up. I knock it back, grateful for the burn going down. It gives me something else to focus on.
“Tough day, Prez?”
I look over my shoulder to find the redhead standing behind me. It’s shitty that I don’t even know their names, but I don’t need to. They’re of no interest to me.
“That’s an understatement.”
She places her hands on my shoulders, rubbing in slow circles. All the Hounds know better than to try anything with me, so I allow her to continue. Besides, it feels fucking good.
“How’s Raven? The babies?”
