Page 57 of Desperate Games

What was it he said?

It’s best if we have a unified front.

Like we’re already some kind of cold, political alliance.

“I—Remy, you didn’t even ask me.”

“I’m not asking you the same way you didn’t ask me,” he says, then lowers his voice.

“But I’m not forcing you either. You want to raise the twins alone, fighting off my family and yours? Be my guest. But I promise you, I won’t let this go. I will sue you for full custody.”

“You wouldn’t,” I gasp, my hand going to the front of my belly.

“I will. For my sake and Callie’s. Those babies are her family, too, Andy. Now, do it like this, marry me, and we raise the babies together,” he says, making so much sense it makes me want to cry.

“It’ll be better for everyone, Andy. I’m offering you protection. Support. A father who shows up. And yes—my name. So no one gets to say a fucking word when they look at our kids.”

Our kids.

Our kids.

I’m trembling, staring at the page.

“Don’t do it for me,” he adds, voice lower now. “Do it for them. The kids. Do it because you’re sick of people saving you like you don’t know your own damn mind.”

I blink fast.

Because, damn him, he knows me.

I grab the pen.

I sign.

My fingers shake, but I do it.

And then the man with the book steps forward.

“Witnesses are present. Let’s make this official.”

This is happening.

This is real.

And I barely hear the words.

I can’t even remember what I repeat.

But I remember his voice.

Steady. Commanding.

“Say I do, Andy,” he murmurs.

His voice is low. Steady.

But there’s something behind it—a tremor, maybe.

Something wild and wounded trying not to show.