Page 75 of Misdeeds of a Billionaire

“What do you mean?” my lawyer demanded to know. “I must advise you—”

“Dr. Swan is here,” I cut him off. “My guess is she’s here because she needs something. So I’ll do what I do best.” My smile sharpened and had the same effect as always. It dropped the temperature in the room by another ten degrees. “I’ll trap her with a loophole in a contract. I’ll get everything I want. And she’ll have no way out of it.”

I stood up, signaling the meeting was over, and escorted them out.

The moment I opened the door, I saw her, kneeling on the floor. She played with her son—our son—smiling at him softly. Her expression was full of love as she helped him build the ridiculous train set.

My chest squeezed and a snarling, protective beast rose in my chest. They were mine—both of them. I’d never let either of them go again.

“Can I take it home? Please, Maman.” He looked at his mother pleadingly, his gaze darting back to the train set.

Odette’s expression shattered a bit before she got herself together. “No, love. But one day we’ll have one. I promise.”

Tomorrow, I decided. They’d have it tomorrow.

The boy’s eyes lit up and the smile on his face was bright enough to light up this whole planet.

My chest tightened unlike ever before. It was clear the boy didn’t have much, but he had his mother’s love. My flesh and blood had been forced to go without. My flesh and blood had roamed this planet without my protection.

“Dr. Swan,” I greeted her.

She stiffened the minute she heard my voice, and I moved toward her. The scent of apples filled the air, making my dick stir. I fought the need to lean forward and bury my nose in her strawberry mane, then wrap it around my hand.

Odette shifted, rising on her knees. I inwardly groaned, the position sparking so many ideas. All she had to do was open my fly and her pretty, stubborn mouth. Fuck, none of these images were appropriate for the audience. And I needed to keep my head clear to play my cards right.

Odette shifted, giving me a glimpse of her cleavage, and instinctively, I blocked that magnificent view from my lawyer and the judge. My hand reached out and I grabbed her elbow, helping her to her feet. The softness of her skin seared through me and straight to my groin.

Jesus H. Christ. I wasn’t a teenager anymore.

“Thanks.” She avoided looking at me. Her eyes darted next to me, to our son, then to her sister who stood unsure of what to do.

While she shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably, I let my eyes roam over my woman—yes, she was and would always bemine—and I could see exactly what Nico saw. A faint yellow bruise on her neck, on her jaw. Her lip still had a little cut on it. Someone had hurt her. Badly. Someone had wrapped their hand around her neck. Rage rushed through me, drumming in my ears.Boom. Boom. Boom. Red crept into my vision, until every inch of Odette was covered in it.

Nobody—fucking nobody—was allowed to ever lay their hands on her. Except for me and only for pleasure. Never for violence.

“Thanks for seeing me.” Her soft smile eased the raging beast inside me.

“Of course.” I’d always want to see her. If the world were burning, I’d make sure to see her even then, one last time. To hear her voice one last time.

Glancing over my shoulder, I dismissed my lawyer and the judge. They knew their assignments. With a terse nod, they scurried away.

“Can I play a bit longer?” The little pleading voice brought all our attention to him. Winston was right. I was so blinded by Odette in New Orleans that I missed how much he looked like us. Likeme.

I knelt down, bringing me to eye level with my son. My throat squeezed. I still couldn’t believe it.My son. Our baby survived, and I missed it all.

“Hello, I’m—”Your father. Your dad. Your papa. I choked. The press would have a field day. I never choked. Never lost my cool. Around this woman, I was a different man. “I’m Byron.”

I extended my hand and he took it without hesitation. His was so small and fragile in mine. A protectiveness rose in my chest again with such ferocity it stunned me. It rendered me speechless.

“Hello, sir. I’m Ares.” My mask almost slipped. My eyes almost sought out the mother of my child. They didn’t. I had to play this right.

But the beast in my chest pounded with pride. She might have stolen him from me—robbed me of years with my son—but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t please me to learn his name. Odette gave himmyname, although I wondered how she knew it. We never discussed my middle name, only hers.

“You can play here while I talk to your mother,” I said softly.

Hearing me refer to her as his mother, Odette startled before steeling herself and brushing her fingers over Ares’s hair. “Yes, you two stay here and play.” Her eyes darted to her sister. “Okay?”

The two of them exchanged wordless nods, and I rose to my full height, towering over the mother of my child.