Page 173 of The Billionaire's Secret

"Fuck." He jumps up. "This is why I steer clear of all entanglements. It’s a bloody minefield. I don’t want to get dragged into this."

"Promise me, " I plead.

"I can't not tell him. However," he turns to me, "I'll delay it on one condition."

"Of course," I huff. "You Seven know how to haggle. Everything is a negotiation for you guys."

"Maybe," he raises his shoulders, "if it gets me what I want..."

"What?" I meet his gaze, "What do you want from me?"

"Meet him, once."

I shake my head, "No, no, that’s not happening."

There’s a commotion at the door, then Saint stalks in.

"Don’t think he’s leaving you a choice." Weston’s face softens, "Let him help you, Victoria."

"Keep your promise," I implore him. "That’s all I want."

Saint draws abreast with Weston, "What are the two of you talking about?"

"The Doctor was just leaving," I look pointedly at Weston.

He turns to go.

"You should join him," I turn my head to the side, study the view from the window—a road, a building across the street. Rain patters down the window pane. Bleak. Miserable. Just like my life is going to be without him.Shit. Stop it.This is the right thing to do...for him…for me…for the child I’m carrying. Saint isn't ready to have children and I'd never force that on him.

His father had called him an intrusion... A mistake. And mine? Well, mine had checked out, leaving us to cope on our own. The track record for fathers being present and engaged in both of our lives is not reassuring, to say the least. I bite the inside of my cheek. I won't let my child go through the same experience. It would be better for my child to never know a father, than to be rejected by one. If that means giving up the man who's come to mean so much to me, then so be it.

"Gigi."

I bite my lips. "Don’t call me that, please."

He hesitates, then lowers himself into the chair. "How are you?" he asks.

"I’ll be better once you’re gone."

He makes a low noise in his throat, "If anything had happened to you—"

"I’m fine."

"He shot you."

"Antonio didn't intend to hurt me."

"Except he did," his voice cracks.

I turn to face him, and flinch. His hair is mussed, his face unshaven. Redness rims his eyes... And his gaze. Oh my God! His blue gaze burns into me with an intensity that makes my heart lurch. "Saint," I say his name before I can stop myself.

"I have my guys on him. He’s revealed himself and I am not letting him go until I take him and everyone associated with him down.

"You can’t," I bite the inside of my cheek.

"What? Why not?"

"If you do, he’ll kill my best friend. The deal was for me to win your trust, to find the evidence you had on the Mafia and return it, in exchange for—"