Page 64 of Malicious Marriage

“I—” She hesitates and a thunderous cloud moves across her face. “Fine. You’ll get your test and you’ll see the baby is yours. And then you will owe me one fucking huge apology!”

“I honestly didn’t thinkyou’d make it out of there alive,” Jack murmurs. “I’m not kidding when I tell you I think she’ll snap one day and kill you.”

“I can’t tell if the baby is mine or she just truly believes that herself. It’s like she’s lied to herself so much that she thinks it’s the truth.”

Jack double-checks the safety of his gun and sighs. “Do you really think it’s Conor’s baby?”

“I… honestly, I don’t know. I knew she cheated, but I thought it was only months before we finally broke up. I was so caught up in protecting both of our reputations that I thought I could look past it all. But after that night she got me so drunk I couldn’t walk, I knew I wasn’t safe around her.”

“I’m honestly still convinced she drugged you,” Jack replies. “And if it was to cover up the fact that she was pregnant with someone else’s kid… it fits.”

“It does. Fuck.” I try not to dwell on the dark unknown too much. “She counts my marriage to Clover as cheating on her.”

“Of course she does. Fucking psycho.”

“The test will get me the answer and if she continues to refuse, I’ll get it myself once the baby is born.” My own weapon is a comforting weight in my hand. “Ready?”

“To go and confront some Russians about their late deliveries despite their promises that everything was going to be smooth sailing?” Jack slams the trunk closed and grins. “Hell yeah.”

Don’s been chasing a particular pocket of Russians for a while now after three late deliveries. One is already too many, but as an act of good faith, they were given another chance. And then one more. Now it’s down to me to make sure they’re never late again.

“Though…” Jack’s attention lingers on the small squad of men we brought to the Russian warehouse. “Are you okay?”

I frown and meet his gaze when he turns to me. “Yeah, why?”

“I dunno, just checking, I guess. With Clover, her missing sister, this super fast wedding, Trisha, the baby, this wobbly deal with the Russians… you got a lot on your plate.”

“That’s why I’ve got you.” I chuckle, clapping his shoulder. “You find me people to shoot at.”

“It’s true.” Jack grins. “Alright, you ready?”

“Hold that thought,” I say as my phone vibrates in my pocket. “Hello?”

“Dean, it’s Andrew.”

“Hey, you got something for me?”

“I think I do,” Andrew says. “I’ve been tracking a rumor about Hailey and I might have a lead.”

Suddenly, the Russians don’t feel that important. “A lead? Is it something I can act on right now?”

“Nah, I still gotta verify a couple of things before I’m certain it’s concrete, but you wanted me to call if I got anything at all.”

“Is it good news?”

Andew grunts. “I can’t say for sure.”

Fuck.

“How confident are you that it’s a real lead?”

“I’m callin’, ain’t I?”

The perks of having several PI friends. “I’m getting married in four days. Can you have it verified by then?”

“Negative.”

“Alright… I want you to verify and then double-check what you’ve found. Make sure it’s something of real worth for me, understand?”