Page 110 of Misdeeds of a Billionaire

“So what are your plans?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “Not sure yet. I’ll make them up on the way.”

The thought of going through life without a plan threatened to break me out in hives, but I kept the comment to myself.

“So how was seeing Marco again?”

She shot me a look. “Are you jealous?” she scoffed.

Fuck, was I that transparent? Unfortunately, when it came to my wife, all the jealousy and possessiveness rushed to the forefront, and it was hard to control it.

“Maybe,” I deadpanned.

Billie gave me her first sincere smile. “You probably have every reason to be.” Red mist covered my vision, which she must have caught because she rushed to add, “No, not because my sister likes him. She’s never considered him anything more than a friend. But Marco is nothing if not a persistent bastard.”

The red slowly faded, and I focused on her words. “Elaborate.” When she glared, I gritted, “Please.”

Both Swan sisters would be good for our family. They were normal when we were definitely not. Exactly what we needed. Well, Odette was exactly what I needed. I wouldn’t make assumptions about Billie and Winston.

“Marco has always drooled around my sister,” she finally answered. “He was there after every breakup, waiting and hoping she’d choose him. She never did—and she never will—but somehow the guy can’t seem to get the message.”

“I thought he was married,” I remarked casually.

“Oh, he is.” She leaned back into the seat, getting comfortable. “It doesn’t mean jack crap. If Odette gave the slightest hint that she was interested in him, he’d drop his wife like a hot potato. You should have seen the way he was all over her when she was in the hospital, his woman all but forgotten.”

I stiffened, awareness shooting through me like a lightning bolt. My mind worked vigorously, trying to connect the dots.The doctor who looked familiar. I could remember where I saw her now. She was seated at the same table as Odette at that bar all those years ago.

“In the hospital?” I asked. “That doctor in the hospital is Marco’s wife.”

She must have realized she’d slipped, because she straightened up, and her lips thinned in determination.

My gaze narrowed. I’d always had a knack for reading body language. It was useful in running a business, particularly when there were enemies trying to take you down at every corner. And Billie’s tight posture and expression told me she wouldn’t say another word on the matter. So I did her a solid and changed the subject, storing the sliver of information away for another time.

“Ares is my son.” I dropped the bomb on her and her gaze shot to me, turmoil swimming in those eyes. She had such different eyes from my wife, but there were similarities in their mannerisms.

“How do you know?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “A-are you going to take him away?” She leaned over, pleading in her eyes. “Please. Please. It will destroy her and—”

“Nobody is taking Ares,” I told her firmly. “And you’re not asking the questions here, I am. I want to know how it happened.” Her eyebrows shot up, and she stared at me like I was crazy. “I was the one who brought her to the hospital. The doctor told me Odette lost the baby.”

I had to hear her say it out loud.

My sister-in-law shrugged. “I have no idea. She was bawling her eyes out when I got there, telling me she thought she lost it, but then Marco told her the baby was alive, healthy.”

Uneasiness crawled up my spine. “And you said Marco visited her while she was in the hospital?”

She nodded. “Yes, he saw her being brought in. I guess he happened to be meeting his woman for lunch. He must have seen you too, didn’t you carry her all those blocks in your arms?” Agitation flared in her eyes as she continued. “Anyway, I was so fucking pissed, the fucker waited hours to tell me she was there. I was going crazy in the hotel room, waiting for her.”

If my suspicions were correct, that fucker and his wife would be history by morning.

“Why are you grinding your teeth?” Billie questioned, studying me curiously. “It’s like you’re preparing to murder someone.”

Billie’s expression and words told me she didn’t share my suspicions. Neither did my wife, for that matter.

I forced my jaw to relax.

“I want to thank you,” I told her.

Her eyes flashed in surprise. “So you’re grinding your teeth because you want to thank me?”