Chapter 57
One million dollars.
In the midst of the curses and gasp, Lauren enters the room. “What just happened?” she asks, a cup of steaming coffee in her hand.
“We all just got group fucked,” Savage replies dryly, and I’d laugh if the truth wasn’t more like Reese and I just got fucked because some woman from his past says he fucked her in the present. I fight the urge to rush out of the room. It’s an emotional response my hormones want to create in me. I need to be a grown adult and ask questions. I need to stand by my husband’s side and make decisions. He didn’t do this. I am not punishing him with my pregnancy-induced emotions.
Reese’s hand settles low on my back. “We’re not paying her a million dollars,” he says. “Talk to us about options.”
“You get her on tape extorting you for money and we take that to the police.”
“I get her on tape?” Reese asks. “I don’t want to go anywhere near that woman. She’s liable to scream rape.”
“I’ll do it,” I say. “I’ll meet her in public.”
“No,” Lauren says. “You’re too close to this. It will hurt you. She’ll hurt you.” She looks at Reese. “And no, I do not believe you’re guilty and neither does Cat, but it will hurt her to sit with that woman. And if this woman is a stalker, her obsession with you will make her lash out at Cat.”
“I can handle it,” I say, turning to face Reese. “I can do this. I’ll make her go away.”
His hands come down on my shoulders. “Lauren is right. I’m not letting you do this.”
“I’ll do it,” Lori offers. “I’m a female, an attorney, and I have a vested interest in protecting the firm.”
Reese and Cole look at each other and I can’t tell what passes between them but I suspect Cole isn’t interested in putting his wife in danger, and I understand. I love Lori. I don’t want her in the line of fire. “No,” I say. “I don’t want you to wade into this quicksand.”
“We’re in this,” Cole says. “It’s not a matter of us staying out of the quicksand. We’re partners and friends.” Cole looks at Royce. “Where is your head on this?”
“I think I should do it,” Lauren suggests, before he answers. “Because I don’t have a vested interest and I’m married to a man who is surrounded by the kind of people that will put her in jail.” She steps in front of Royce now. “I can do this and you know I’m the best choice for all kinds of reasons.”
She means my pregnancy and while part of me wants to blurt that out to the room, the other wants this problem to go away so I can just enjoy this time in our lives with my husband and keep his birthday surprise.
Royce stares down at his wife and then looks at Reese. “She can do it. It makes sense.”
Lauren rotates to stand by his side. “Reese? Cat?”
Reese looks at me and I nod. “Yes. She’s a criminal attorney and it works. I think it works.”
“When?” Lauren asks, looking at Royce. “The sooner the better. I can do it anytime tomorrow. I have to be in court at random times on Wednesday and Thursday. I’m more limited on all those days and I think we all just want this over.”
“I’ll make a call,” Royce says, but he motions to Reese and Cole. “I need to talk to you both.”
“You talk right here,” Reese says. “There’s nothing you can’t say in front of Cat and Lori.”
“I need to see you both alone,” Royce repeats.
I turn to Reese and press my hand to his chest. “I need some air. I’m going to the patio. It’s okay.”
He cups my head and kisses me. “We’re going to make this go away.”
“I know,” I say. “I do.” I turn away and hurry toward the hallway that leads to the second living area and the kitchen, bypassing both rooms to head to the patio where I exit and shut the door. I can’t get to the balcony rail soon enough. I grab it, holding on to my emotions with it.
The door opens behind me and I turn to find Lauren shutting it again. “Lori wanted to check on you but I asked her to give me a minute.”
I burst into tears, all the emotions I’ve held in to be strong for Reese overcoming me. “Oh honey,” Lauren says, rushing forward and wrapping me in her arms. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I never cry.”
“Or throw up,” she says, leaning back to look at me. “Welcome to pregnancy. This is a lot to deal with when your hormones are all out of whack.”
I cry for a good two minutes before I swipe at my eyes and ease away from her, “I don’t like this part of pregnancy.”
“It’ll get better once you get past the first few months.”
“Months? How many months?”
“After I get rid of Debbie for you, I’m sure it will be better.”
“How many months?” I ask again.
She purses her lips, reluctantly admitting, “I was bad for about three months which is another reason you need to tell Reese. He needs to understand why you aren’t yourself.”
“I want to tell him on his birthday. I’ll wrap the journal and have him open it that morning. I want to do it that way. It will be special and perfect, but I need Debbie gone by then.”
“We have three weeks. We can do it but can you wait that long to tell Reese?”
“It’s the perfect time. He’ll be well into the trial. He’ll have a grip on what is happening. It’ll be a special birthday gift. Debbie will be gone. I love the idea of doing it then.”
“I think it sounds special,” she says. “I’ll handle Debbie. I promise. You know he didn’t do this, right?”
“Of course I know. I don’t doubt him. I don’t even doubt him one little bit. We’re too in love. Our sex life is amazing. We’re amazing which is why our baby will be amazing. But that’s why the way I tell him has to be amazing, and without Debbie.”
The doors open and Reese appears, his handsome face etched in worry, his eyes dark, troubled. “I need to see my wife.”
“Of course,” Lauren says as he steps outside.
She’s walking past him when he says, “Thank you, Lauren.”
“I’m with you both. Anything you need.”
He nods and she disappears, shutting the doors behind her. Reese crosses to stand in front of me, backing me against the railing, his hands coming down on the steel, his legs caging mine. His eyes probing. “You’ve been crying.”
“Reese—”
“Cat. Talk to me.”
“I had a small meltdown.”
“You don’t meltdown. You’re afraid it’s true. I told Royce I want a DNA test no matter what it costs me.”
“No,” I say. “No. That isn’t the problem and if you think that, then it will affect us as much as if I really distrusted you. You aren’t even thinking about your case. You have to be in court in the morning. Make everyone leave. We have to talk. You and me.”
“Cat—”
“Make them leave. We need to talk now.”