Page 17 of Absinthe Minded

“Don’t you dare. He deserves whatever hell they give him tonight.”

Shanna had a point, but worst-case scenarios played through my mind. “They shouldn’t get attached to someone who isn’t going to be around for long. They’ve had enough loss.”

“I didn’t say you should let him stay. I guarantee, four hours alone with the Marchionni brood, and he’ll run home to Mommy.”

“You’re probably right.” I wanted to call and check in, but I couldn’t bring myself to move.

“I am one hundred percent right.” She downed half her glass. “You’re already second guessing yourself. That man is trouble on two legs.”

Two long, muscular legs...“You’re right. I’m asking him to leave tomorrow.”

“No. You’re telling him to leave.”

I nodded, but I knew I wouldn’t do it—not when it meant throwing a newborn baby out with him. “Shanna, I need a favor.”

“Normally, I’d say anything, but I have the feeling this had something to do with Gabe.”

“It does. I need you to do some digging on a woman named Chantal DuBois. Birthdate is August 21st, 1989.”

“Mind telling me what this is about?”

“She’s his baby’s mother.”

“How do you know Gabe’s baby mama’s birthdate?”

I bit my lip and hung my head. “Ella’s birth certificate and the paternity test results were in the diaper bag.”

“You were snooping?” Shanna choked out a laugh.

“No, I wasn’t snooping. He asked me to look at it to see if I thought it looked counterfeit. I can’t help it if I remember details.” Some people called it a photogenic memory, but I disagreed. My talent only worked with dates and names—a useful skill in history class and trivia nights, not much good for anything else.

Shanna grabbed her phone and hit a couple of buttons. “Give me her info again.”

I gave her Chantal and Ella’s information.

She smirked. “Gabriella Antoinette? He named his kid after himself?”

“The mother named the baby. Anyway, can you do some digging and see what you can find out about Chantal DuBois?” I reached for her wine and took a sip.

Shanna refilled the glass. “Such as?”

“Where she is. Who she is. Anything. I need to make sure he’s telling me the whole truth. I mean, what kind of woman abandons her baby?”

“I think you should ask yourself, what kind of guy sleeps with someone who would abandon her baby?”

I’d expected Shanna to be hostile toward Gabe but not this hostile.

“I’m sorry. Sure, I’ll see what I can find. Anything else I should know?”

“Gabe’s going to have his attorney check with the lab that did the paternity tests. I can’t think of anything else right now."

“I’ll look into this and get the information you need on the Marchionni Corporation, but I’m worried about you.”

I thought back to the dark circles under Gabe’s eyes and how defeated he’d seemed. “I’m a big girl. I can handle myself around him.”

“Uh huh.”

“I’m not ready to go home. Let’s binge-watch something funny.” I tugged Shanna’s throw blanket off the back of the couch and settled in. “You’re right. A few hours with the kids and Gabe will run for the door.”

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