AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cat
“Reese, send them away,” I say, and try to push away from the balcony railing and step around him.
He holds me steady. “We need to finish working out the details of what comes next, Cat.”
“A DNA test is not what we need. We need it over and that delays this and she’s not giving it to you if she’s lying.”
“If? Now it’s if.”
“No,” I breathe out. “That’s not what I meant.” I press my hand to my face and then drag it through my hair. “I don’t need the test.”
“I need it for us.”
“You can’t end this while asking for the test. Walk away now if we can walk away now. The plan to get her arrested is a good one and if they do arrest her, they’ll take her baby. She’s crazy. They need to take her baby. I think. God, I don’t know what is right. I’m emotional.”
“And you’re never emotional.”
My hands come down on his shoulders. “Make them go away and get ready for court tomorrow.”
“No,” he says. “We’re planning a way to end this and get the DNA test. Royce is waiting for me. I came after you because my gut said you needed me and I was right.”
“What did Royce say about the DNA test?”
“It could complicate things, but if it were him, he’d do it, too. He’d want Lauren to know—”
“I know, Reese. Focus on your trial.”
“You don’t know, Cat. I know you. I know you like I know myself. You’re not yourself.”
“You said that before the Debbie thing happened. Remember?” I flatten my hand on his chest. “I have a very special gift for you on your birthday. I have it all planned out and the special project I’m working on isn’t a book. It’s something for you. I’m so freaked out because it’s special and I don’t want this to be hanging over our heads when I give it to you. So I beg of you. End this, Reese. To the best of our ability, let’s end this.”
“What gift, Cat?”
“It’s a gift for a reason. It’s a surprise. It’s very special. Please, Reese. End this. I promise you with all that I am that I believe in you and us. I do not believe that you would or have cheated on me. I wouldn’t want to give you this gift if I did and you’ll understand that when I do. Have enough faith in us to wait until then. To know that this gift is about how much love we share.”
He cups my face and presses his forehead to mine, his thumb stroking my cheek. “You know you’re killing me with this gift stuff. I want to know what it is.”
My hand covers his where it rests on my face. “I can’t wait to give it to you. You have no idea how much waiting is killing me, but it will make your birthday really special.”
He pulls back to look at me, his blue eyes soft and warm. “I love you so much, woman.”
“I love you, too. And I love watching you in court. Let’s get rid of Royce and everyone else and get your team over here. And I have to write my column, but I’ll sit in on the game planning. I love that, too.”
“Me too,” he says. “Let’s go get rid of everyone together.” He starts to turn and I catch his arm.
“Let the DNA test go, Reese. The police will handle that if they arrest her and if they don’t, she won’t take a payout if that’s a condition.”
“We aren’t paying her a million dollars.”
“Thank God,” I murmur.
“We aren’t paying her anything if we can play our cards right.”
“Let’s hope,” I say letting him pull me behind him, and together we walk back to the front living area where we find everyone huddled around the coffee table in some way, shape or form.
That is, except for Royce and Lauren who are standing at the window, him towering over her petite frame in deep conversation that ends abruptly upon our return. “Okay,” Reese says. “Just make this go away. Let’s set her up and shut her down. No DNA test or money.”
I’m watching Cole and Lori when he makes this announcement, the two people who have the most to lose with us, as they are partners in the firm, but they don’t look relieved. They just look worried, and I love them because I think they’re more worried about us than themselves. “All right then,” Savage says, rubbing his hands together from where he sits at the edge of a chair. “If we can’t kill the bitch, let’s get her arrested.” He eyes Royce. “I’m still working on my enjoyment of the more means to an end, boss, but you know. I’m getting there.”
