“Before you go, here,” I tell her, handing her the envelope that I’ve been staring at for the last thirty minutes.”
“What’s this?” she asks, taking it from me.
“You’ve just been served.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Those are from my attorney. If you insist on this shit, then you better fucking believe I’m going to be demanding DNA, medical records, everything.”
“I thought you didn’t believe we slept together!”
“I know we didn’t, but you’re so fucked up that I wouldn’t put it past you climbing on me while I was asleep… dreaming about your sister. So let’s get this clear. Whatever game you’re playing, it’s not going to work.”
“You can’t get DNA while I’m carrying the baby.”
“I can when you get so far along, and believe me, Rachel, I’m big enough of a bastard to demand that.”
“I’ll fight it.”
“I wonder between the two of us who can afford to fight the longest.”
“You bastard.”
“Glad you’re starting to figure that out,” I tell her and watch as she sizes me up and then walks out the door. I didn’t get what I wanted, but it’s a start.
CHAPTER 60
KAYLA
I have to sit down. It’s physically impossible to remain standing. I fall back in the chair.
“Without Kayla, none of it is important. She’s the love of my life.”
“You okay, Kay?” I look over at Black and there’s a million and one things I should be concentrating on, but the only thing I can say, the only thing that I can comprehend right now is…
“He loves me.”
“He does.”
“Maybe he just said it because I was listening?” I question, then immediately get mad at myself. White’s not like that. If he said it, he means it. He loves me as much as I love him.
“Kayla, honey, you have to start having confidence in yourself. In White. You’re selling yourself and him way too short. You’re an amazing woman and my brother finally has a brain.”
“I know he loves me. I’ve always known that. But there’s a difference in being in love with someone and loving them.”
“Are you finally believing White truly loves you?”
“I was before this mess. After his visit in the hospital and our small talk, I think I still do. It’s just hard, Black.”
“Does he know you’re pregnant?” Black asks.
My eyes go wide and I exhale a loud breath. My hand goes to my stomach and I rub it. There’s no sign of a child yet, but somewhere in there is a little miracle that’s a part of White and a part of me, growing and getting stronger every day.
“How did you know?”
“Mom.”
“I should have known she couldn’t keep a secret.”
“She just told me because she wanted me to watch out for you. She’ll keep your secret—for a while. You’re going to have to tell my brother. He deserves to know. He thinks you’ve been on birth control all this time.”
“I know. I plan on telling him. I’m still trying to digest it all. I don’t know how it happened…”
“Kayla, sweetheart, you two have been going at it like bunnies.”
“Yeah, but I thought…”
“What’s the big deal? You two wanted a child, even if you didn’t realize how serious White was. You should be celebrating that little peanut you’re carrying in there.”
“I am. I mean, I’m very happy, it’s just… White is busy trying to figure out what my sister is up to, and there’s so much going on between us. I just wish we had things settled beforehand… you know?”
“So settle it. This crap with Rachel will come to a head quickly.”
“It will? Because she’s not that far along. Your idea of quickly and mine…”
“It won’t go that long. I’ve got a man on her now. All we have to do is follow her enough to find out exactly what’s going on.”
“A man on her? Is that legal?”
“She’s trying to blackmail my brother. It’s very legal. But regardless, other than the listening devices and a few other things, very little of the department’s resources are being used.”
“Except the fact that you have a man on her…”
“Luka volunteered.” Black grins. “But my boss would have sprung for it. When a star football player reports an attempt at blackmail, it’s taken very seriously.”
“She hasn’t asked for money or anything, really…”