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Allison is pregnant.
ALLISON
Biting the corner of my lip, I stare at the man in front of me. This is not just some guy who is here to give me a ride. This is my boyfriend’s father. Again. He dips his chin, his eyes never leaving mine. He jerks his head toward the door and takes a step backward.
“Come on, Miss Allison.”
Without another word, he turns and walks out of the front door of the building. I watch him for a breath before my feet swiftly carry me behind him. As if my mind isn’t even working. I just follow him straight toward his fancy car.
Henry opens the door for me, and I climb inside, slipping my seat belt into place before he shuts the door behind me. I wonder if this is when he kills me, driving me to some remote location as he forces me to my knees so he can shoot me in the back of the head.
I shake my head because I obviously watch too many movies. There is no way that this man is going to hurt me. He climbs into the driver’s seat, starts the engine, then shifts it into Drive and eases out onto the street.
All of this he does in silence while my mind goes absolutely bananas.
When he stops at a red light, he clears his throat and finally breaks the silence in the car. “Allison,” he begins. “Hendrick told me of your predicament.”
Shit.
Pressing my lips together, I nod a couple of times. I stare straight forward, not looking anywhere else, waiting for him to finish whatever his thought is. Knowing it’s bound to hurt. I suck in a breath and hold it as I wait.
“It’s not Hendrick’s,” he announces.
“What?” I ask, my head swinging to the side so my eyes can take in his profile.
I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the only man I have been with since I laid eyes on Hendrick is Hendrick. This is his baby. It could be nobody else’s. Henry seems so calm, cool and collected, even as he says what he just did. I turn my attention back to the front windshield.
Lifting my hand, I wrap my hand around the front of my throat. My breathing comes out in quick pants. I close my eyes and try not to throw up everywhere as I take a few deep breaths.
It’s my attempt to calm myself because I have a feeling that if I don’t, I’m going to puke all over Henry Hamilton’s fancy-ass car.
“You don’t know that this baby is my son’s. Which is why you’re going to take the shop and the money I’ve already given you, but the relationship will be done.”
“A clean break,” I whisper.
He hums. “Something like that. Now, don’t worry about any money or a place to live. I will handle all of that for you.”
Tears fill my eyes. I try to blink them away, but one escapes and rolls down my cheek. Thankfully, it’s not the one he can see. I’m not sure if I should thank him or slap him right now.
“You’re going to take care of me and this baby out of guilt,” I say softly. “That’s noble.”
He snorts. “Fuck nobility. All I want is what my son deserves. What he’s owed.”
“And it’s not me,” I whisper.
There is another moment of silence, and I hate it. I roll my lips a few times as I try to keep my shit together. I need to be strong, especially in front of this man. I knew that Hendrick wanted his perfect wife. I knew that it would never be me. Instead of getting upset, I swallow down the hurt.
“It’s not you, but you can have a clean break and a good life. You can keep Parker as your friend. You can have your dream shop, stay in Dallas. This is the way you get it all.”
“All except Hendrick,” I murmur. “All except a father to my baby.”
Henry doesn’t say anything immediately as he continues to drive, then he pulls up into the parking garage of my building. He doesn’t even search for it. He knows exactly where the visitor parking is, and I can’t help but smile at that.
Hendrick was the same way the first time he came here. He knew where the visitor parking was. He knew exactly where to go, where to pull in, and where to park. These men are men. They are in control and command, no matter where they are.
“And you think he’s just going to accept that? The baby thing, all of it?” I ask.
Henry shifts the car into Park, then turns to look at me. He levels me with a gaze, and I watch him for a long moment in silence, waiting for him to speak, knowing that he has a million things going through his head, but also knowing that he will only say what he feels is necessary.
