Page 101 of Worth the Risk

Leo:Does seven work for you for tomorrow night? Bella Italia?

I stare at the message.I never thought I would see his name pop up on my phone again.

Me:I’ll meet you there.

Leo:See you then.

It looks like we’re going to lay all our cards on the table. We may not be together anymore, but I’m happy he wants to be a part of Riley’s life. She deserves this. I’ll do what I must to make this work, no matter the cost to me. If the little butterflies I got seeing his name pop up on my phone are any indication, this won’t be easy for me.

ChapterThirty-Two

Leo

First thing Monday morning, I march into my dad’s office. After I unblocked Kylie and set up a time for dinner, I stewed on everything. I tried to call Sophie, but she didn’t answer, and I didn’t leave a voicemail. The kind of information I need to tell her shouldn’t be left in a message.

“What going on, Leo?” Dad asks me when I take a seat in front of his desk.

“I have a daughter. She’s four years old, and I just found out she exists,” I quickly blurt out.

He raises his eyebrows and slouches back in his seat. I’ve caught him off guard.

I proceed to inform him of everything, from what happened five years ago to the weekend with Kylie. Then I explain how I met Riley yesterday, and I’ve no doubt in my mind she is mine.

He listens, never once interrupting.

“That email came from our company. Someone knew about Kylie’s email and responded with a company email that was similar to mine. Because of that, Kylie believed I didn’t want Riley. I don’t know who sent her that email or who deposited the money into her account.”

When Dad finally speaks, he asks, “Are you sure she’s your child?”

I’ve no doubt, but I understand why he would ask.

“It only took one look at her, and I knew, Dad. She’s mine.” Dad doesn’t know about Nash. I left that part out. That would have him questioning me further, although I suspect he knows something went down with the three of us. He knows I haven’t spoken to Nash since I came back to New York.

“For now, I want to get to know my daughter and figure everything out. I tried emailing the address that was used, but it came back as undelivered. At one point, that company email was active. Someone here must have done it or hacked into our software. I intend to find out who, but for now, I beg you to keep this between us. No one else can find out until I figure some things out.”

“Of course, Leo. Although it will be hard for me to sit back and let you take the lead. If you have a daughter that someone robbed you of for years, that means I have a granddaughter someone robbed me of. I promise you this… when we find out who is behind this, they will pay,” he says adamantly.

“Thank you, Dad.”

He nods. “I would like to meet her.”

“You will. I’m going to take this week off while Kylie is in New York to get to know her. I’ll talk with Kylie and set something up.”

“Give me a time that works, and I’ll make myself available.” He gets up from behind his desk and wraps me up in a hug.

“Let me know what you need help with, and I promise I’ll make whatever you need happen.”

“Thanks.” I return his hug and leave. I have a dinner to mentally prepare for with Kylie.

* * *

Kylie enters the restaurant looking like her ravishing, gorgeous self. Her red dress hugs her nicely, and her black heels lengthen her stellar legs. My excited cock twitches in my pants. She still does things to me, and I hate it.She hurt me, so how can I still want her?

My dick and brain are not on the same side.

She sees me and makes her way over to the table, sitting across from me gracefully.

A few moments later, our waiter takes our drink order.

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