Page 30 of His Remorseful King
“Yeah. Business… kinda.” I glance at Haley, unsure if he wants her to stay for this.
He must read my expression because he says, “She stays.”
“It’s fine. I can go find something to do.”
“No,” I say, sitting across from Callum. “It’s fine. It’s a family matter, too.” I wince. “Sort of.”
Callum stares at me, eyes narrowed. After a long beat of silence, he must determine he hasn’t a fucking clue what I’m about to say. “I’m not sure what you’re about to tell me, but I think I need to be drunk to hear it. Considering the last bomb dropped on me was about a baby.”
I chuckle, pulling my glasses from my head and tucking them into the neckline of my black cotton sweater. “I think I need one, too.”
Haley grabs his glass and heads for the bar cart. Once she’s poured a glass for both of us and gives them out, Cal taps his thigh. She heads back for him and climbs into his lap. My lips curve, witnessing the domestic act. Before Haley, Callum didn’t bring women into his home. And he sure as shit didn’t allow them to sit in his lap while we spoke of family business. This side of Callum is new, and I’m enjoying seeing the softer side of him he usually keeps tucked away.
“What’s going on?” Callum asks, his hand playing with the locks of Haley’s hair. “I’m assuming this is about the mother of your child?”
I clear my throat, picking my nails as I prepare myself to fill Callum in on the shitstorm that’s been my life for the past few months. “I don’t know where to really start with this.” I sigh, shaking my head. “I’m just going to say it all and then I guess I can answer questions after.”
Callum nods his head.
“A few months ago, Camille Sorrentino showed up in Boston with a pregnant belly. The baby is mine.”
Haley tenses, sitting upright. “I’m so confused right now.”
Callum must not have caught her up since the shooting. Bringing my glass to my mouth, I swallow the entire thing in one swig. I take a breath before I speak again, but Cal talks first.
“The Italian wedding,” he says. A grin spreads across his face. “Holy shit, Paddy. Your kid is the heir to a faction ofCosa Nostra. This is… wait, is she married?”
I shake my head. “She’s not.”
“I’ll work up a marriage contract and reach out to her father.”
“I’m not marrying her, Cal. I already told you that.”
Callum’s brows scrunch as he cocks his head to the side. He’s confused and I don’t blame him. “You’re not marrying the mother of your child? So, what? She’ll stay in New York and you’ll commute part-time? How will you protect your child? And what do you expect her father will say? He’ll demand a promise that his daughter is safe and taken care of.”
I inhale, sucking air through my teeth. “I’m not going to be strong-armed by some old bald fuck with a need to piss on anything that’s his. I’m not marrying Camille, brother.”
“You are.”
“You can marry her,” I say, shrugging.
“Why would I do that?”
“Whywould I?”
“Because you impregnated her.” He says it so matter factly, as if I’m the one being unreasonable.
“So? The two of us don’t deserve to be miserable because we made a mistake, Cal. And I expected you to be more understanding.” My gaze flashes to Haley. “No offense, Savi.” Then back to Callum. Continuing my explanation, I say, “You’re with someone for love. Our own parents married for love. Why would you expect me to marry for an alliance?”
“Because you have a child involved. It’s different now, Paddy. If I had a child out of wedlock, I’d marry that child’s mother.”
“I’m in love with someone else,” I say through gritted teeth.
“You are?” Callum asks.
Haley’s eyes widen. She stands slowly from Cal’s lap. “I’ve got a phone call to make.”
Her reaction fortifies what I already guessed. Griffin spilled the beans to her.
