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Good luck with that, old man.

He merely shrugged. "Your mother and I decided you can keep the child. At least it comes from good Worthington stock. But it turns out having a missing daughter is much more unseemly than one who gives birth young and out of wedlock. So, you're allowed to return. We'll just set you up in the room over the garage where Reese stayed, so the crying won't bother us."

"So gracious of you," I sneered. "But I respectfully decline your offer. Thank you." Then I nodded my chin toward the exit. "You may go now."

His chuckle was still amused. "Come now, darling. You can't tell me you don't miss your old lifestyle."

I shook my head. "Not even a little."

"I'll raise your allowance. Double it, even."

"Fuck. You."

"God, I've missed your dirty mouth." When he reached for me, I squeaked and jumped back.

"What're you doing? Get out!"

He prowled after me, his eyes crazed with arousal. "No one fights back like you do, Eva. I crave the way you claw and bite."

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. I was so sure I'd escaped him for good, that I'd never have to endure another one of his visits again.

That it was happening here—in the place where I'd laughed, and loved, and felt more at home than I'd ever felt anywhere—was even more traumatic.

"You'll have to hump my cold dead body before you ever touch me again. Because I will fight you until one of us is dead."

"Great." His eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure. "That's just the way I like it. It's no wonder I can never control my urges around you."

When he lunged, I skipped to the side, and then took off running. As I entered the hall, I realized I was leading him straight to the babies. I'd hoped to reach a room and slam the door in his face, hole myself up and lock him out until Pick came home. But it was too risky, so I veered into the kitchen instead.

I was going to have to give him what he wanted. I was going to have to fight.

PICK

Reese must've been looking forward to this evening just as much as I was. She was already at my place, waiting outside the front of the building with Mason when I made it home from work.

"You're early," I said as I approached, breathless and antsy.

She bounced forward with a smile and a gray garment bag folded over her arm. "Hey, I was a good girl and stayed out here until you got home so I couldn't ruin the surprise. But seriously, E. may want to primp. This is the first night she's been out since Skylar was born. I have three outfits for her to choose from, and a couple pairs of shoes."

I shook my head and glanced at Mason whose arms were piled down with shoe boxes. "Chicks."

He sent me a dry look over the top of them. "Oh, you don't have to tell me."

Reese sniffed as she followed me into the lobby. "I'm going to ignore your masculine comments because I'm awesome like that," Then she bumped her hip into mine. "So, where're you taking her? You know her favorite is Italian, right?"

I smiled, because I did know. "I was thinking of Luigi's down on the Plaza."

Reese clapped and sent me an approving grin. "Perfect. She'll love that." She chattered all the way up the steps to the third floor, telling me how she wanted to do Eva's hair and how she'd downloaded the perfect song onto her iPhone to dance to with Julian.

"I can't wait until Skylar's old enough for me to play with her hair. I am going to buy her so many bows and barrettes."

I paused to unlock my front door, only to frown when I found it already unlocked. "Huh. That's strange." I pushed it open. The first thing I heard was both Fighter and Skylar crying down the hall in our room.

A chill raced down my spine. I hadn't come home to a crying baby since the day Tristy had taken off and abandoned Julian. Jesus. Eva wouldn't have left and deserted my babies.

Would she?

I started for the hallway when I heard her scream.


Tags: Linda Kage Forbidden Men Romance