Page 141 of The Billionaire's Baby

"With her background with the Bratva, she was the right person to suss out any possible gangsters wherever they were."

"This entire picture is one hell of a mess." Edward places the tips of his fingers together.

"You’re telling me?" I glance around at their faces. "So, what do I do now?"

They stare back at me. My five best friends, the most feared businessmen in the country, meet my gaze with varying expressions of disbelief.

"If I didn’t see it myself, I’d have thought you guys were in shock." I snicker.

"I’m not shocked," Edward finally says. "You guys shocked?"

"Nope."

"Nah."

"No way."

"It’s what we expected of you," Damian drawls.

"You did?"

"Sure," Saint scratches his jaw, "fuck up your life royally, more than any of us have done in the past? Of course, it had to be you, Arpad."

I scowl, "Come on, guys, that’s not fair."

"You should’ve thought about that before you manipulated her into your life," Sinner drawls.

I stare at him, "Hello, pot; meet kettle?" I glower at him.

"Hey, sure. I may have steered things so they went my way—"

"Steered, my arse." I snort. "You were gunning for revenge, and decided to marry Summer so you could keep an eye on her."

"The ends justify the means." Sinner shrugs, "I may have gone about it unconventionally, but I was already in love with her."

"And I'm not? " I glare at him, "Now, I want to marry that obstinate woman but she won’t hear of it. She told me to stay away from her."

"So, of course, you’re keeping an eye on her?" Edward narrows that all-seeing gaze on me.

"Umm. Yes?" I offer.

"You’re going to continue to stalk her and get all up in her business, aren’t you?" he asks.

I frown. "Is that a trick question, because you know I can’t keep away."

He leans forward in his chair. "She asked you to give her space, I assume?"

I nod.

"Yet, you are flagrantly contradicting her request?"

I drag my fingers through my hair. "She’s upset, not thinking clearly. I understand—"

"Do you?" Edward glares at me. I blink. Shit, today is a first. The usually placid Father has unbent enough to reveal how displeased he is with me? Well, let’s just say, that has never happened before. Hell, the last time we’d seen Edward this worked up was when… We’d intervened on Damian’s behalf. I frown. Is the fact that the rest of the Seven are finding their partners getting to him? Nah, not possible. Edward had chosen his path, and he’s the kind of guy who’ll stay committed to the promises he’s made, no matter the price he has to pay.

"Look," I hold up my hands, "given the fact that we’re no closer to finding who instigated our kidnapping, and considering her ties with the Bratva, no way, can I go without checking in on her."

Edward rises to his feet. "Given you are in love with her and you want her to come around to marrying you, no way, can you afford to piss her off further."