Page 55 of The Heir

“Oh my god, Nero,” Shawny says, rushing to wrap her arms around me. “I was coming to tell Cassiel the good news.”

Ariella’s eyes narrow to her hands around my waist, and pure rage floods them. I rip Shawny off me and push her back.

“I’m pregnant.” She beams, rubbing a hand over her stomach. Louie, Chunks, and Larry all look as confused as I feel. Rubbing at my temple, I look to Larry.

“Get her out of here,” I order.

Genesis moves around Ari and attempts to take another swing, but Chunks effortlessly picks Shawny up and pushes her to the elevator.

“She’s fucking lying,” Genesis screams before walking toward Cassiel’s room. She stops in her tracks and turns back on her heels.

“On second thoughts. Fuck him. Vamos Flaca,” she says to Ari while walking past us to the elevator doors.

Awkward silence mixes with tension as Ari and I stand there. In public, I was her bodyguard, powerless to the desires that wanted to reach out and touch her.

“I’ll catch up to you in a minute,” Ari replies. Genesis digs into a yarn-knitted bag on her shoulder and lights up a cigarette.

“You can’t smoke in here,” Louie says, and she flips him her middle finger before entering the elevator. Ari lets out a nervous laugh.

“Gen doesn’t do rules.” She tells Louie.

“Barbie! How was the coom-play-on-yos.” Louie says, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

“Prospect,” I growl

“Sorry, boss.”

“Some fucking privacy.” I grit out.

Louie’s brows shoot up, and he lifts his hands. The small crowd splits, and Louie and Chunks find their way back to guard Cassiel’s door.

“What are you doing here, Ariella?”

“I’m Ariella to you today?” She says, crossing her arms. “I want to talk to Cassiel.”

“For?”

“I don’t know exactly. I just had a bad day, and I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and triggered by everything happening. I need closure.”

“Closure for what?” I ask.

Until I find out the motives behind Cassiel’s scheming, I don’t want her anywhere near him.

“Never mind. This was a stupid idea.” She starts walking to the elevator.

Grabbing her arm, I turn her back to face me, my eyes searching her defeated ones.

“Tell me, Princess,” I growl. She shakes her head.

“You don’t get to do that, Nero.”

“Do what?”

“Play my savior.”

“I’m not playing your savior.”

“No, but you are playing with my heart, Nero.”