Page 58 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

“I’ve felt like a scolded dog all week.” He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I can—”

He’s cut off by the sound of a cry, making me whip around and dart over to Gabe, kneeling beside him. He’s managed to flip over onto his back, but I’m doing a happy dance inside because that must have taken some strength, and now I feel like I’ve won the lottery. This is victory.

“You have a kid,” he whispers, almost to himself.

Looking up, I see he’s entered my condo, standing just inside the door.

“Yes, I mean no,” I shake my head. “He’s not mine,” I clarify.

“You’re watching him?”

“Ye-yes.” He quirks an eyebrow at the stutter in my voice. “Let’s just say he’s in my care for an uncertain amount of time.” I quickly follow up before he asks more questions. “It’s not up for discussion. He’s work-related, and I can’t divulge anything else.”

Dishonesty colors my insides.

I can’t tell him who the baby is, but then that makes me wonder, does Drago know? Has he ever met Chasity’s baby? His baby, or alleged baby?

I watch him as he looks at the infant on my floor. His eyes are clear, but there’s curiosity in them too. No recognition, though. At least not that I see. That doesn’t mean he’s not masking the truth. That’s still left to be seen.

“Okay, then,” he concedes, not inquiring further. “Can we talk?”

“Personal or case-related?”

“Both.”

“I...” I start to groan, knowing this will go down a road I may not come back from.

“Please, Bri.” The raw emotion I see in his eyes that I want to be lost in makes me waver.

Nodding, he takes my agreement as an opportunity to close the door, then proceeds to sit in the chair next to my couch, only a few feet from where Gabe and I are on the floor.

“Talk to me, I guess,” I tell him when he doesn’t speak. “Why are you here?”

“Because I acted like a jerk.”

“You’re just now coming to that realization?”

I pick Gabe up, bringing his front to my chest and cradling him when his whimpers start to increase. He does this when he wants to be held, which is often. I know I’m not supposed to hold him as much as I do. I’m creating a habit that’ll be hard to break when he leaves me.

“No. I knew it the second it came from of my mouth.”

I take my eyes away from the baby, moving them to hit Drago with a look that tells him his words and actions aren’t acceptable. A man shouldn’t treat a woman—or anyone for that matter—the way he did me.

Sure, I shouldn’t have allowed it to escalate. I let my personal attraction to him interfere with the reason I was there.

“I know, and I’m sorry, Bri,” he says, acknowledging my thoughts.

Tucking one of Gabriel’s arms underneath mine, I anchor him tighter, rocking back and forth the way he likes. Instantly his eyes start to droop.

“Lines are starting to blur,” I admit.

“A line would have to exist in order to blur.” He scoots off the chair, coming to the floor with me. Leaning his back against the leg rest on the recliner, he remains a few feet from me. “Maybe there was at one point. Whatever line that existed disappeared the moment you stepped out of that car and placed your hand in mine.”

My eyes cut to the side, thinking about what he delivered. He’s right, and that means I’m screwed in more ways than one.

“I acted like an asshole. I know that, and I can’t say it won’t ever again. I get pissed off when something I want isn’t panning out. But I don’t generally act dickish toward women. I am sorry, B, that won’t happen again.”

“B?” I smile, liking that a little too easily. Other than my brother calling meBelle, or Alana shortening my name to Bri years ago, I don’t have any nicknames.

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