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I jolt at the vitriol in his words and glance back at the door. Daughter?

Holy shit. She’s his daughter?

That means she’s more than likely telling the truth. She is a lawyer. She’s not a whore. Not a gold digger, and oh my fucking god.

I loosen the noose around my neck as I become increasingly hot. Sweat beads on my forehead, and my chest heaves.

She’s pregnant.

“We need to find the father of that baby.” Fanzio babbles to his lawyer. “Find the father of the baby, and I’ll get the shares. Then you can have the contract.” Haziness floods me. “Are you listening, Reed?”

“I-I-I don’t understand.” My throat feels like I’ve swallowed razor blades.

She’s pregnant.

Holy shit, she’s pregnant, and it might be my child.

Oh God. I’m going to be a father.

“The father of that fucking baby has rights. I will buy him out!” Fanzio declares.

My gaze snaps up to his. “I’m sorry, what?”

“The father of the baby simply demands custody of the kid, or she hands over the shares.” He shrugs like he isn’t thinking of blackmailing his own daughter, and a gloating smile spreads across his face.

Kevan leans forward and toys with a ring on his finger with a far-off look on his face. Finally, he clears his throat and places the ring back in the box that Gianna threw at him. Jealousy creeps up my spine at considering George’s employee. “George, I don’t think that’s the best way to deal with Gia.” He winces as he speaks.

“Shut the fuck up. This is all your goddamn fault. You’re too fucking soft on her. Find the fucking father and get him to demand custody. He holds the shares over her head, simple. There’s no way the little bitch would give up her precious family,” Fanzio spits, and every vein in his withered face pulsates as he speaks. The venom flowing from him is raw aggression, something I’ve become accustomed to in his presence, but even I can admit his hatred toward Gia is bordering on vicious.

Why the hell does he hate his daughter so much?

As I sit back in my chair and contemplate his words, my racing heart steadies, and a smile slowly spreads across my face at a plan finally coming together.

If that baby is mine, then Gia can keep it; it’s not like I ever wanted kids anyway. I can walk away, and we will both be happy.

Saturday may have been the worst day of my life, but Monday is sure as hell looking a lot better.

CHAPTERSIX

REED

My mouth falls open,and I scowl at the small house. There’s no way in hell George Fanzio’s daughter lives here. No fucking way.

I glance over my shoulder and tilt my head from side to side. This is the right address.

The street is crammed with parked cars, the houses are squashed together, and the tiny property she’s registered to is rundown and not fit for living.

Why in the fuck does she live here? I glance around the street again as if someone will jump out and tell me this is a joke.

Because a Fanzio living in these dire circumstances has to be a joke. I shake my head in disgust. There’s got to be more to it, and I will find out. Hell, I feel like every homeowner on the street is eyeing me up when I throw open my car door.

Stepping out of my car, I don’t miss the curtain twitching at the house next door to Gia’s, and I narrow my eyes at the old bat glaring in my direction. You would think she’s never seen a Bentley Continental GT S convertible before.

A shudder runs down my spine—oh sweet Jesus, maybe she hasn’t.

This is my worst nightmare.

The thought of being out of my comfort zone has a lump forming in my throat, so I swallow away the trepidation pumping inside me, and my stomach does strange flips.