Page 50 of Sweetest Sin

I huff in annoyance and fall onto my back. Crossing my arms over my chest, I stare at the ceiling, refusing to talk to him.

“Peyton,” he says in a tone that sends shivers racing down my spine, “we can do this the easy way or the hard way. It’s up to you.”

“And what’s the hard way?” I snap, sitting back up to glare at him. “Are you going to torture me? Threaten me?Killme?”

“What the fuck are you going on about?” he barks. “I just want you to admit that Damien is my son and you kept him from me. I want to hear it from your mouth that you knew you were pregnant with my flesh and blood, and instead of telling me, you chose to hide it. I want you to admit?—”

“Fine!” I blurt out. “Yes, Dominick. He shares the same biology as you. But let’s get one thing straight. He’s not yours. He’s mine, and you’re never going to get anywhere near him!”

Before I finish my sentence, Dominick is across the bed, towering over me. His knees cage in my thighs, holding me there. His fingers grip my chin, and the back of my head hits the wall behind me.

“How dare you keep my fucking son from me!” he growls.

“I was protecting him!”

“From me?” The hand that’s holding my face tightens. “I’m his father!”

“And you’re dangerous!” I yell back. “I … I saw you.”

“Saw what?”

“I saw you kill that man.”

Dominick releases his hold on my face and backs up slightly. “Explain.”

Four and a HalfYears Ago

I’m pregnant.

Holy shit, I’m freaking pregnant.

My period is always on time. Like clockwork, it shows up. So, when it didn’t, I knew something was wrong. And then it hit me—Dominick and I had not been careful. We were too caught up in our passion, in the moment. At the time, it’d felt like a fantasy.

But now, as I stare at the positive pregnancy test, reality sets in.

It was only supposed to be a onetime thing, and he proved that when he took off without so much as a note the morning after.

And now, I have to tell him I’m pregnant.

My phone dings with a text from the manager of the hotel I work at, asking if I can switch shifts with another employee. Because of my mom being sick, I quit my job as a flight attendant, wanting to be home with her, and took a job at a local hotel as a front-desk receptionist, hoping it would help build my résumé for when I finished my degree.

And now, I’m pregnant.

I can’t afford a baby.

Money is already tight.

My focus should be on my mom’s health.

But there’s a baby growing in me.

My hand goes to my belly, and I sigh.

First things first. I need to confirm my pregnancy with a doctor. And then, if I really am pregnant, I’m going to have to let Dominick know.

As I siton my flight to Harbor Point, I stare at the grainy black-and-white image. I’m pregnant. Due in December. In severalmonths, everything is going to change. I haven’t told my mom yet because I want to tell Dominick first.

I looked him up and learned he’s a businessman in Harbor Point. He has an office downtown, so I’m going to go there and see if he’s available to speak to me.