ter

eque

l

t like a punc

ant. And i

o process what she'd just said. Shantex stood there, calm and steady, watching me like she was waiting for the shoc

l," I stammered, strugglin

e crossed her arms over her chest.

ht had been a blur-a haze of alcohol, tension, and a need to escape everything that was

ce sharper than I meant. "I me

"Because I haven't been with anyone else. It'

the back of my mind-his lectures about responsibility, about doing whate

rom me?" I asked, m

re looking for love, Alex. I don't expect you to care about me or suddenl

ed, the word tasting

have what we need to survive. I'm not asking for much, just stability. That's

asn't backing down. This wasn't some emot

?" I asked, test

t think for a second I'll stay quiet. Everyone will know who the father is. And

racing. She had me corn

an

cas wasn't the first man to try to wriggle his way out of

I'd just turned his w

ether you like it or not, I'm pregnant, and this is your baby. I'm not here to beg or cr

neck. "You don't understand," he muttered. "My life

heir to some big crime empire, right? Poor little r

For a moment, I thought he might lash out

you're talking abou

ore? I know exactly how this works. You don't have to like me, Alex, but

the conflict in his eyes. He was thinking, t

he finally asked,

ability. Make sure your child has a better

tion settling on his shoulders. "A

don't have to like each other, but we have to do

ure eased just slightly. Finally, he nodded, though he s

ietly. "I'll... I'

it show. There was still a long road a

his is happening, Alex. Wh

I saw something flicker in his eyes-acceptance, may

sn't going to let him back out no