Page 82 of Pink

And what in the hell were they talking about Arely being Gigi’s kid?

What was going on?

“Two minutes, Mr. Arsov! We just want to ask some questions!”

Great.

Now they were starting to come around the fence.

“Daddy, why are they—”

Holy hell.

Lev’s heart had started to race so fast in his chest that he was sure the organ would explode. Fuck not causing a scene. Those few questions were enough to tell Lev this situation was not at all good, and he needed to get him and Arely the fuck out of there as fast as he possibly could.

Now.

“Come here, baby.”

Lev didn’t allow Arely to argue with him further even though she tried to turn away from his reaching arms. It was pointless. Quickly, he had his daughter in his grasp and in one fell swoop, brought her down from the slide. He didn’t let her go, keeping her hooked to his side like a little monkey before he headed back to the bench where he’d left Arely’s mini backpack where he kept water and snacks.

Maybe it was his rushed movements or the tone of his voice when he snapped a rude no fucking comment at the paps surrounding him in the parking lot where his Jeep was parked, but Arely’s grip on him became tighter. Unfortunately, going to their vehicle meant passing the photogs. One even had the audacity to shout questions at his kid. Like the five-and-a-half-year-old would answer the asshole back or knew anything about what they asked.

Arely just hugged him tighter.

“Daddy,” she whispered.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” he assured, desperately trying to keep his tone calm as he buckled her into her seat.

As he stepped back and slammed the backdoor to the Jeep shut, another asshole with a camera got a little too close to the rear of his vehicle to ask, “Why has Gigi kept her daughter a secret for all these years?”

“What are you talking about?” Lev growled at the man. “She doesn’t even know my kid. Did you get that—my fucking kid. Not hers.” He stepped closer to the man who had his camera up and ready, his fists clenched and twitching to break somebody’s face. “Get the fuck out of here before I feed your fucking camera to you, asshole.”

By the time Lev got inside the Jeep and turned the engine over, Arely was sniffling in the backseat. Fuck them for making his child cry. That was enough to almost make him turn around, so he could feed that asshole his camera.

His heart broke as Arely asked him why again, but he didn’t have an answer. He had no idea what was going on.

He’d soon fucking find out.

That was a promise.

• • •

Lev didn’t have to wait long to get answers. Between the texts from Gigi on his phone that he had left unread, and the call he got from his boss that in no uncertain terms told him to get his ass to the restaurant, well … things became painfully clear.

“What is this shit?” Andino asked, tossing three magazines to the top of his desk. He pointed a finger at the pictures splashed across the front of one of the gossip tabloids. On that one, it featured a photo of Lev and Gigi standing outside the bar, hugging one another while his face hovered close to hers. It was clear they were being … intimate. Another picture in the bottom corner showcased Lev walking down the street by their home holding his daughter’s hand.

The day before. Literally yesterday. That’s how fast they put that shit to print. The headline, though? That was the fucking killer.

GIGI REY’S SECRET CHILD.

On another one?

The headline read: GIGI’S SECRET MAN—PINK, INFAMOUS MOB ENFORCER.

Holy shit.

It went from bad to worse before Lev had even blinked. He didn’t even bother to flip to the magazine on the bottom to see what pictures were splashed across the front or what bullshit headline they plastered on top of it to increase sales.