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She peered up at me for a few seconds, then nodded easily. I knew she still didn’t understand, but she wouldn’t make a fuss about it. My daughter wasn’t the fussy type. I’d been blessed with an almost perfectly tempered child. Even as a baby, she only really cried when she needed something, and to date, she had never once thrown a tantrum. She barely complained, even legitimately.
It was to the point where I almost wanted her to complain sometimes. I just hoped she wasn’t holding anything back for my sake.
But I was grateful to be blessed with a child like Violet, who had charmed even my brother. I knew she was half the reason he came to visit me as often as he did.
And I’m going to protect you,I thought determinedly, taking her hand in mine. She looked up at me and smiled.I’m going to protect you with everything I have, no matter what it takes.
It was why I ultimately decided to go through with the testing, bringing the results over to Nick the next day. It was why I didn’t bolt out of there, even when I saw his expression shift. I knew he wouldn’t be happy about the news, but it didn’t matter. As long as he helped me.
But now that I was listening to his plan, doubt plagued me once again. I didn’t quite think this far and didn’t fathom that it would be this complicated. He was coldly proposing that we get engaged just so I could keep my daughter and he could fix his reputation and advance his business.
“Are you serious?” I blurted out, even though there was nothing in his expression to signify that he was joking.
He grinned slightly. “As a heart attack.”
Instinctively, I shook my head. “That…that doesn’t even make any sense. Why would we need to get married?”
“I already explained it to you.” He sighed, seeming annoyed. “To solidify my standing in her life and establish us as a family unit. You said your father could use your past against you. Well, it’s much harder for him to get custody once you have a stable partner.”
“Still…”
He cocked his head. “I thought you were willing to do anything to save your daughter?”
“Yes, but I don’t think all this is necessary at all. I think…” I swallowed, wondering how much to reveal. “I think a major reason why my father is doing this is that he thinks I don’t have the power to fight back. But he doesn’t know about you. I think all we need to do is go to him and introduce you as Violet’s father, and you can pretend that we have joint custody. That way, he’ll know there’s no way he can get custody of her. I’m sure he’ll back off then. He can’t afford for this to turn into a huge scandal.”
“If you think that would be all it takes to get your dad to back off, then you’re being delusional,” he countered. “Men like him don’t make empty threats. They have too much pride. And for him to threaten to take your child from you, it means he likely already has all his ducks in a row. He’s just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.” All traces of amusement instantly vanished from his features, his expression morphing back into that scary savage countenance. “If you’re serious about protecting our daughter from this man, then we need to act fast. Because you don’t know what he has on you and what kind of evidence he has gathered up.”
My heart pounded with fear. As much as I hated to admit it, Nick was right. I knew he was right. But I still couldn’t bring myself to say yes to what he was proposing. It sounded like an insane overreaction.
But then, what if I was the one underreacting? I’d already seen what my father was capable of. Once he found out that I told Carson the truth, he kicked me out and threatened to eviscerate me. I’d had to move back with my mother. Only, this time, there was no escape. No one in town would give me a job, and I had no doubt it was his doing.
“You’ve caused a scandal that cost me the governor’s seat,” he’d said coldly when I begged him. “Now, you must pay the price.”
If not for Carson’s interference, the torture would have continued, but my brother begged him to relent on my behalf. I don’t know what Carson had to give up or go through for that, but I’ll forever be grateful to him.
I was just scared to let myself be that close to Nick Walker again since the last time almost shattered me. But as bad as Nick was, he was nowhere near as cruel as the mayor.
“Or maybe there’s something simpler going on here,” Nick mused as he got up from his seat. He came over to lean against the desk in front of me and stared down at me. “Maybe you’re scared.”
Why did it always seem like he could see right through me?My throat pounded, but I swallowed and shook my head. “I’m not scared.” My voice didn’t sound convincing to me.
“Yes, you are.” His register was lower now, more sultry as he leaned down. His cologne wafted around me, and I had the urge to jump out of my seat. But I didn’t want to show him that I was that affected by his presence. I didn’t want to prove him right.
“I remember that night, you know,” he started, shocking me into silence. His eyes seemed darker as he continued, “I remember what you were like and how much you wanted it. How you begged in my ears when I touched you. And how fucking sexy you were.”
The last part was said in a growl that had me squeezing my thighs together. Oh god, what was happening? Why was he mentioning this again, and why was my body responding?
“I remember your nails scoring my back and also the taste of your lips. I remember how wet your pussy was when I slipped my fingers in your panties that first time. And I’d barely even kissed you at that point.”
I shut my eyes to avoid looking into his, but the web he weaved already trapped me, drawing me back to that night.
I’d gone after him at the party when I saw him storming out of one room down the hall and into another. Even tipsy, I could tell from the look on his face that he was upset about something, and I followed him in to see if he was okay.
But then I stopped when he turned to look at me, dark fury in his eyes. They were so intense that I froze in my step.
“Sorry,” I croaked. “I just wanted to see if you needed something.”
He stared at me silently for a few seconds and then slowly began walking toward me.
