Page 121 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

“I’m sorry.” The words slip out. “You’re going to pretend? An innocent person’s life is on the line, dammit.”

“And the cops will handle it. I’m not getting involved.”

“He’s your fucking son!” I shove the chair forward, getting pissed off.

“Would you keep your voice down before my family hears your nonsense?”

Nonsense? He thinks this is fucking nonsense? What in the hell is wrong with him?! Just when I think the man I fell for is back, he’s gone just as quickly as he returned to me. Maybe he never did return, and it was just my imagination making me believe he had.

“Why won’t you believe me?”

“I want to, Bri.” He looks up, taking in a deep breath. My eyes cut down, seeing his fingers draw in at his sides into fists.

“Then why can’t you?”

Blowing out his breath, he drops his head, glaring at me.

“Because there is no record of you interviewing anyone the night you said you did.”

I draw back. “Excuse me?”

No record? That’s impossible. Every interview and interrogation is not only video recorded but also voice recorded. Therefore, I know there’s a record. Besides, I’m the one who pressed the voice and video button before I entered the room.

Wait a minute...

How does he know there isn’t a record of my conversation with Chasity Carlisle?

He must read the question on my face.

“I have my sources.”

“Your sources?” I question.

He turns away from me, giving me his back as if dismissing me.

Fuck that!

Rounding his desk, I snag his elbow, yanking on him.

“What sources, Drago? What are you keeping from me?”

His body barely moves. His muscular biceps flex as his head turns, looking down at me.

“Doesn’t feel great, does it?” He doesn’t give me time to process where he’s going with this. “Sucks finding out someone is keeping something from you, doesn’t it?”

Is he kidding me right now?

His fucking feelings are hurt? Well, you know what? I don’t give a fuck at the moment. He’s a grown-ass man. He needs to start acting like it.

I’m sure learning you have a child you knew nothing about is a real kick to the gut. But when that kid—his kid—has been taken by one of the most dangerous criminals in the country, you don’t act like a kid yourself, kicking and screaming because someone kept you in the dark. You man the fuck up and deal with the here and now. There is plenty of time for him to deal with fatherhood after we’ve gotten Gabriel back safe and unharmed.

“Grow the fuck up!”

“Don’t you see this for what it is?” He turns, facing me.

I step back, fearing if I don’t get some distance from him, I’m going to go for the one place I can hit and bring him to his knees in pain. If he thinks I’m above kicking a man between the legs, he’d be mistaken. Right now, he deserves worse than aching balls.

“I guess not. Enlighten me,Acerbi.” I use his last name, hoping to tick him off and it works. His nostrils flare.

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