Page 144 of Second Sets Omnibus

“Yeah, I have important fucking things to do. But you had a baby, and you’re evading the question, Little Brat. Is it his?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest and matching her aggression. Her nickname feels foreign on my tongue, but yet, oh, so right. I don’t know what it is about River West, but she brings this side out of me. This demanding prick that begs to put her on a string and force her to my will.

“It’s none of your business now. And my name is River, River West to you,” she says with a simple head shake and collects her purse. “Now, get out of my office. I have a meeting,” she demands, pointing toward the open door and shooing me away.

“No,” I say, grabbing her arm and halting her retreat. “Is that little girl my brother’s?” I whisper, looking deep into her wide, moss-green eyes. “Tell me.”

“Why the fuck do you care now?” she grunts with emotions bubbling through her words, tinged with hurt and so much rage, it punches me in the gut. With defiance, she pulls her arm out of my grip and rights herself. “Five years of knowledge that, yeah, I kept our fucking kid. But why now? Why care now, Asher?” she growls, taking a step back, but keeps her eyes on me. “Explain it to me because I’d love to hear the words come out of your mouth.”

My throat constricts at her tiny admission, and I press forward, pushing through the confusion. “You seem to be under the impression that I know what you’re talking about. I didn’t know you had a kid, let alone Kieran’s baby. If we’d known…” I stop myself, running a hand through my hair and gripping the ends.

God fucking damnit! Guilt tears me in two, bringing fresh tears burning in my eyes. My stomach churns more, and I barely suppress the dry heave constricting my throat.

What? Would we have turned around? Giving up our dreams? Shit. Does Kieran know? Fuck. My heart sinks. Did he throw them away because of me? Did I… I heave a breath, tamping down the panic swelling like a surging storm in my chest. I did. I fucking destroyed a family. We could have had something wonderful, and I fucked it all up by being an asshole with my one little lie.

Not only did I fuck over River and my bandmates, but I fucked over his kid—our kid. Jesus, she called me daddy.

Time stands still around me as this pinnacle moment smacks me over the head, forcing me to see every mistake I’ve made flash before my eyes. We have a daughter. With River. Our time is running on fumes. I need to sew these wounds shut and fix our issues. For Lyric. For us. For River. I’ve been complicit in this for far too long and sitting back without opening my mouth. It’s time to set everything in motion and bring our family back together. It’s time I make this up to everyone.

She blinks a few times, staring at me, and shakes her head. “Out,” she barks with much less fire in her voice, and her shoulders slump.

With reluctance, I follow her out, staying close as she locks the door and watching her every move.

“River?” I ask when she turns to walk away without glancing in my direction.

“What?” she asks in a sharp voice, stopping in the middle of the hall.

“Why did she call me daddy?” I ask, furrowing my brows. She’s clearly not my blood, but I’d love her just the same, even if she wasn’t.

My heart pounds when her shoulders rise and fall with her heavy breaths. Without turning to look at me, she utters words I never thought I’d hear.

“Despite you assfaces deciding to ditch me for no reason or letting me explain. Even after the restraining orders and the fucking check I tore up, I wanted Lyric to know where she came from. She knows exactly who each of you is.” She shakes her head and turns on her heels, glaring at me when my mouth hangs open in shock at the tears rolling down her cheeks. So much hurt sits behind those beautiful eyes. My damn mouth goes dry.

“My mother never gave me the chance to know my dad. But don’t mistake her calling you daddy as a chance for you all to swoop in and play fathers of the year. I won’t let Lyric get hurt like you hurt me. Because you all discarded us like trash, and I won’t let you do that again. Not to her. She deserves better.Ideserve better than some fuck boy rock stars who break their promises.” River’s eyes screw shut as she heaves a breath, collecting herself before she speaks again. When her mouth opens, every ounce of hurt and emotions wipes from her tone as she says her next words, “Now, go get your shit and go to the band house. Or your contract will be voided immediately.” Wiping the tears from her face and with one last huff, River marches away, leaving me in a confused-filled fog that threatens to send me on my ass.

The world spins as I move down the hall, attempting to find the exit and get the hell out of this place. River’s words live rent-free in my mind when I finally stumble to my car. Resting my head against the headrest, my thoughts continue to swirl. But there’s one thing she said that stands out and makes me question everything from before.

What fucking restraining orders? What fucking check? What the fuck is she talking about?