Page 73 of Malicious Marriage

“As for the Russians… we always knew there was a chance they could try and screw us, right?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re just being insanely aggressive, which, frankly, doesn’t mean shit because we’re much more powerful than them.”

“It would help if I knew why.”

Jack laughs dryly. “Like the Russians need a reason to be deranged fucking animals.”

“True.”

“And Trisha?” Jack’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Never put your dick in crazy.”

“Fuck you,” I snort, elbowing him. “She wasn’t crazy when we first met.”

“She totally was. She just hid it and you didn’t see it ’cause you thought she was hot.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“But hey, try to focus on the positives, right? You might have a daughter.”

Our gazes meet. “I might have a daughter.” Isn’t that just an insane thought? Dragging my hand through my hair, I massage my temples with my knuckles while I drink. “How long do these things take?”

“A while,” Jack murmurs. “Even if it's expedited, you’re looking at a few more hours.” Jack glances at the time display on his phone. “Let me take you home. Go back to Clover, get some rest.”

“You’re right.” Sighing deeply, I drain my cup and stand. “I need sleep.”

“Mr. Savoy?” Before I can move, a kindly looking nurse enters the waiting room holding an envelope.

“Yes?”

“This is for you. Your paternity results.”

I stare at the envelope and suddenly, I’m unable to move. Jack rises and takes it from the nurse with a smile. “Thanks.”

“No problem. I’ll be at the desk if you need to discuss anything.”

“Thanks,” Jack says again and he waits for her to leave. Then he faces me and holds the envelope. “I guess I don’t know shit.”

“Yeah.” I stare down at his hands. “What do you think it says?”

He shrugs. “I’m not going to guess. This is too important to you.”

My heart clenches and I slowly take the envelope from him. It opens easily and the results spill out onto my waiting palm. There’s a lot of text to work through but it might as well have been in a foreign language because only one part stands out to me.

DNA is not a match.

That baby is not mine.

32

CLOVER

“You found anything?”

Bobby’s head snaps up from the desk with a paper Post-It attached to his cheek. Laughing, I walk over and gently retract it then look down at his work.

“Sorry, I was just?—”