Page 76 of Contract of a Billionaire

As if Autumn realized her mistake, she tried to backtrack. She opened her eyes, glancing over at her best friend. “I don’t. Any man would do, really.”

“Which is the reason your dating life is so abundant,” Branka retorted. While I tried to distinguish whether my sister was sarcastic or not, she asked, “Do you still talk to Kol’s father?”

Autumn shrugged one slim shoulder, but didn’t answer her. So my little sister didn’t know that I was the father either. I’d like to think she would have told me. Branka was young but she was fiercely loyal, and when push came to shove, she’d choose family over friends. Soon, Autumn would be her family too.

“Maybe I should go and volunteer to be her man,” Byron mused next to me.

“Maybe I should just shoot you dead right now,” I said darkly.

Byron’s chuckle rang long after he was out the door.

Chapter25

Autumn

It was a perfect time to confess my secret.

Yet, the words refused to leave my lips. I had never realized how true Maman’s words were. The longer you withhold the truth, the harder it was to admit it.

And I have kept the truth from her for a very long time. Four years to be exact. The problem was that if I told her, I knew she’d tell her brother. Branka and Alessio were close. He was the big brother who protected her from their father who was obscenely cruel to their family.

The look she gave me set me on edge. “Why won’t you talk about Kol’s father?”

It wasn’t the first time she asked this. Sometimes I wondered if she knew but wanted me to admit it. Although I’d think if she knew, she’d tell her brother. And I wouldn’t be able to blame her if she ran to Alessio the moment she learned who Kol’s father was. If I had a sibling, I’d tell him too.

“Because there’s not much to say. We fucked. He didn’t want anything more. Then he didn’t even want that,” I grumbled, then reached for my phone, sitting on the marble rail and checked the time. “Oh, crap,” I mumbled, getting to my feet. The world was a bit dizzy. “Let’s call it a night.”

“Stay the night,” Branka protested weakly.

“Or you could come back to my parents’ place?” I suggested.

This was my first time here. In Alessio’s home. Four years ago, we stayed at his penthouse downtown. Besides, the last thing I wanted was to stay under the same roof as Alessio Russo.

“I think I should stay with Alessio,” Branka murmured. “To ensure he’s alright.”

I nodded. It made sense. Although the man didn’t seem overly upset to bury his father today.

“Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay the night?” Branka tried one more time.

“I don’t want Kol to wake up without me there,” I said mildly. “I’ll ring a cab.”

I no longer had my car. It was old to begin with and I hadn’t been back since I first left. My parents met me in different cities across Europe to celebrate Christmas, to see Kol and spend time with us.

All because I refused to come back to Montréal and run into my first love. The father of my child. The man who betrayed me. But most of all, to never see Alessio’s father again.

“I’ll take you home.” The lazy drawl of the familiar deep voice sent shivers down my spine.

Slowly, as if I needed time to adjust, I turned around and craned my neck at his six foot five frame. Chiseled cheekbones and steel colored eyes. Sin and ruthlessness all wrapped up in an expensive coal black suit.

Even after all these years and knowing what he had done, my body still craved his touch. I had to wonder where my pride went. I felt like the moment I saw Alessio again, my feminism went out the fucking window.

Alessio’s eyes flickered to his sister. “Branka, you better go and sleep off my two-hundred-year-old scotch. I’ll take Autumn home.”

When she didn’t move, he let out a sigh. “Don’t leave,” he ordered me. He took three powerful steps and reached Branka, then gently nudged her in the direction of the grand staircase that led to the bedrooms.

For a few moments, they both disappeared from my view, and I stood in the middle of the grand foyer, chandelier right above my head, pondering if I should remain or go. Truthfully, I didn’t want to be alone with Alessio.

It was too risky - for my traitorous thighs not to open and welcome him in. Especially under the influence.