Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I gave a short nod. “I have no doubt you’ll try. Just remember, I have a recording of you shouting to my waitress about how you rode my cock to kingdom come.”
Beck sucked in a breath, nostrils flaring. Her skin turned an angry shade of red, and she let her breath out slowly. “Fuck. You. Ashby.”
“No thanks. Have a nice life, Addison. Hope to never see you again. Or else.”
She stormed out like the angry little tornado she was, and I was happy to see the back of her for the last time.
With the problem of Agent Beck behind me, it was time to focus on another problem. The envelope on my desk staring up at me from Greater Las Vegas Diagnostics. Inside were the results of the test that would change my life forever.
If Mo was pregnant with my baby…shit, it wasn’t even something I had even given proper consideration. I knew she was pregnant, but the thought that the baby might actually be mine hadn’t seemed like a real probability. Hadn’t seemed like it was in the fucking realm of reality, so I pushed it off to the side while we waited for the DNA test to come back.
But now, with the envelope staring at me, the green letters of the laboratory almost seemed to mock me because what did I know about being a father? I had a shitty father who didn’t give a damn about anyone—not even himself—only about the money in his pocket.
The only thing I could learn from Colm Ashby about being a father is what not to do. And Grandpa Cillian, rest his weary soul, had been a good grandfather, but he indulged his own son and nearly ruined the family business in the process.
I wasn’t ready for fatherhood, but life didn’t give a shit if you were ready for things. Life just kind of threw obstacles in your way, and you could either overcome them or let them defeat you.
I didn’t let anything defeat me.
Nothing at all, certainly not a baby.
I knew exactly what I had to do, and I picked up the phone to call my best friend first. “Terry. Family dinner tonight, Sadie’s room. Tell Kat.”
There was a beat of silence before Terry answered. “Uh, okay. Everything all right?”
“I’m not sure. The Beck problem is solved, but we’ll talk about it tonight. Over dinner.”
“Got it. See you tonight.”
I nodded. My eyes still glued to that damned envelope. “See you.”
“If you need to talk, Jas, I’m here.”
“I know. Thanks.” After ending the call with Terry, I called Virgil to make sure he and Maisie were at dinner tonight. My last call, my hardest call was to my youngest brother. “Calvin.”
“Jasper.” His tone was short and bland, not angry or sullen, which was a big fucking step up. “What’s up?”
“We’re doing Sunday dinner tonight. At the hospital with Sadie.”
A long silence passed, and I was sure Cal was looking for an excuse not to show up, but that was bullshit. “Sunday dinner?”
“Yep. Bring Ava Rose. We don’t need a sitter tonight.” The little girl was the first in the next generation of Ashby’s, and for now, she would take her place in the spotlight.
“You sure?”
“I am. We’re moving forward. Right?”
“Yeah, we are,” he sighed, and I could almost picture Cal running a hand over his face. “Thanks, Jas.”
“See you tonight.” The envelope stared back at me, mocking me. I snatched the damn thing off my desk, shoved it in a pocket, and headed out to check on the businesses.
“Look who finally showed up.” Kat smiled up at me the moment I entered Sadie’s hospital room. “Calls for dinner, sends all this amazing food, and shows up late. Typical Jasper.”
“Business never sleeps,” I reminded her and shrugged off my jacket, envelope still in my pocket. Still taunting me as a fucking coward for not tearing it open to find out the truth.
You already know the truth, asshole. Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. Nothing was certain until I opened that envelope.
Terry stood. “Everything all right?”
Nothing was all right, not even a little fucking bit, but I nodded and took a seat beside Cal. “Yeah. Nothing to worry about, anyway.” It was the usual business bullshit, and I had taken care of it, so there was no point in bringing it up. “Let’s eat.”
“Best thing you’ve said all day,” Maisie growled and reached for the large platter of fried chicken.
Note to self. Put an end to this family backbiting. Time for us to start having each other’s backs.
She bit it with a growl before realizing everyone was watching her. “What?”
Kat laughed. “Anything you want to tell us, Maisie?”
She pulled back, lips greasy from the big bite of chicken. “No. Why?”
Kat opened her mouth to say something, and Terry stuck a biscuit in her mouth to shut her up.