Mason’s tone was dry. “You’d be surprised the games we’ve dealt with.” His tone was also flat.
Duke let out a small sigh but nodded. He said to Quincey, “Perhaps you could make the call—”
“I’ll go outside and direct the doctor myself.” She’d slapped on a mask before pressing her lips firmly together, stepping around Mason and me, and heading out the door. She never grabbed her purse or phone, just went right outside.
Duke’s mouth flattened, but he regarded us as if a mosquito had been in his eye. “While I wish you weren’t Nova’s father, you indeed are. From what my PI could unveil, Valerie didn’t have an active sex life. She was with you before she was with Nico. There’d been no other partners for her, and since there was already a test done for the husband and that showed he was not Nova’s father, the end results are what they are. Nova is your daughter, though I wish she wasn’t.”
Fucking. Ass. Hole.
Mason and I shared a look.
I was struggling to keep from punching this motherfucker.
He saw that and stepped forward. “How about we start our sit-down.”
Duke raised his head.
Mason clipped out, “That’s not a request.”
Duke’s eyes flashed, showing the ego on this guy. He did not like being told what to do in his own home.
I moved forward. “I’m guessing you’d like us to sit somewhere back here? Considering you don’t have chairs in your entryway.”
I glanced back, seeing Mason waiting for Duke to follow. Duke was glaring at me. Mason was grinning at me. I loved it.
After a second’s hesitation, Duke Royas trailed and then led the way.
He showed us to a formal dining room, and we sat after a lady came out and took our drink requests. Nothing for Mason and I. Royas ordered a bourbon.
Then we waited.
It wasn’t long before Quincey returned, sitting and saying, “Nova is with one of our nannies right now. I called ahead and told them the doctor would be coming. They’re prepared, and I gave your doctor directions. They aren’t far, but we thought the adults should converse before you meet Nova for the first time.”
Right. Because this was going to be fucking uncomfortable.
I didn’t care.
The room was designed for that effect, but this didn’t affect me. Maybe another person, but not me and not Mason. The large chairs looked like they could be thrones. A table that stood at an uncomfortable height when you were sitting down. The room was closed off except for three doors—the hallway entrance and two servant’s doors.
Not one, but two servant’s doors.
No shame to those who use staff, but the vibe I was getting here was that the staff was definitely beneath the lord and lady of the manor.
“Where’s my daughter?” Fuck it. I was acting on the sentiment that she was mine.
My question cut through the room.
Mason sat up, readying.
And Dick and his daughter shared a look.
The Lord Dick was peeved at my bluntness.
He hadn’t even met Logan yet.
He cleared his throat, leaning forward. His hands were folded together, and he rested his arms on the table. “I think we should get to know each other a bit.”
Mason hid a grin, looking at his lap.
He knew the shit that was about to happen. I’d been barely restrained all day—hell, half the night, too. That was a lot of hours to sit and stew since we were now smack dab at four in the afternoon.
Leaning forward, I mirrored his posture and lowered my head. My eyes were locked right on him. “Your daughter came to me. Told me someone whom I’d had an on-again, off-again relationship with for years was dead. Informed me I had a daughter, laid down a birth certificate for proof, then slid a paper across for me to sign away my rights in the very next statement. Sign her away like it was as simple as signing your name on a credit card receipt. Thanks for your meal, sir. Please remember to tip.” I was just getting started. “You—and her—declared war in that move. You’ve been prepared for this meeting. I’m guessing that’s why it took you six goddamn months to notify me. I’m still playing catch-up, but according to what you’re saying, I have a daughter. I’ve not seen my daughter, and I want to see said daughter. I’m within my legal rights to call the police if you don’t make that happen.”
He was getting red in the face, and he opened his mouth—
“He’s right, Duke.”
Duke Dick cut his gaze to his daughter.
Duke. She called him Duke.
I shared a look with Mason because that said a lot, though a strained relationship between a parent and a child was nothing new for either of us.
She added, “He never signed.”
“Valerie asked for you to take Nova in her will—”
“A will. I’m not her biological mother. He is her biological father.”