Page 121 of The Billionaire's Baby

"She is very stubborn," he reiterates. "When she makes up her mind about something, it’s very hard to sway her."

"And you’re telling me this…because?"

"Clearly, she’s angry with you."

I raise one eyebrow, challenging him to continue.

"You’re going to have to woo her."

"Woo her?" I stare at Gregory.

"You know, the thing that men who’ve lost their balls do, when they’ve set their sights on a woman?" Niko interjects.

I firm my lips, "I didn’t lose my heart—"

Now it’s Gregory’s turn to stare at me.

"—my balls," I say. "I’ll keep them, thank you very much."

"You do love her, don’t you?" He frowns.

I hesitate.

"You finally agreed to marry her," Niko points out.

Shit, what do you tell your future father-in-law and brother-in-law, both of whom are staring at you, like they would have the aforementioned balls for breakfast if you say something to displease them? Not that I’d hesitate to take them on. Those years of fighting, first on the streets, then in Niko’s cage fights, have left me with a trick or two up my sleeve. But they are going to be family… And picking a fight with them is not the way to get back in Sparks’ good graces.

"I will marry her." I look between them. "This, I promise you."

"I am counting on you to take care of her." Gregory fixes me with those piercing brown eyes, so like hers.

"I give you my word." I knock my knuckles on the wood. "I’ll marry her, give you access to all of my contacts, and introduce you to the Seven so you can expand your reach in the UK. In return, you’ll help us track down the perpetrators of our kidnapping."

"It’s a deal," Gregory leans forward, "assuming you are able to woo her back."

41

Karina

"You did what?" Isla stares back at me from the phone screen.

"I left him." I hunch my shoulders.

More precisely, I had driven away from him and all the way back to London. Then I had headed back home and crept under the covers. I had since taken to ordering my groceries online, binge watching my favorite series, and except for one call to my team to make sure that things were on track—they were—I had holed up in my apartment for the last week.

"And you didn’t pick up my calls all these days?" She frowns at me.

"Uh, yeah." I see myself on screen and wince. My hair is unbrushed, my complexion pale, and the black circles under my eyes are so pronounced, I swear, I look like a sleepwalking raccoon. "Sorry, I didn’t feel up for company."

"Company?" She stares at me. "You’re calling me company? Me, the woman who held your hand while you dithered over Arpad."

"You mean Arpad the douchehole, don’t you?" I retort. "Arpad A-hole Dickasaurus."

"Very creative."

"I’ve had time to think up a few names," I admit.

"So, you’ve been hiding away in your apartment all this time?"