Broken Course (Wrecked and Ruined #3)(79)

I stare down at her card, trying to piece together what the Department of Child Services could possibly want with Leo.

"I’ll see myself out," she says when I don’t immediately respond.

"No, wait. Can you please just tell me what this is in reference to? I’m Leo’s…wife," I lie, knowing that I’ll need to be family in order to get any type of answers.

"I’m sorry, but I’ll still need to speak with Leo." She offers me an apologetic smile then lets out a huff. "But you can tell him my visit is in regard to his daughter, Liv."

"I’m sorry, what? His daughter?" I ask, incredulous.

"Right. Okay, then. I can see this is news to you. Please relay that I was here to your husband. Have a nice day, Mrs. James." She turns and lets herself out the door.

I stand immobile as the bite from her announcement ricochets through my body, shredding my hopes and dreams at every turn.

There has to be a mistake. Maybe another Leo James?

His daughter?

It’s just not possible. He would have told me.

His. Daughter.

Liv.

Suddenly, the memory of Leo’s tattoo flashes into my mind, igniting a spark that roars into a wildfire in a matter of seconds.

"Son of a bitch!" I scream, rushing to the office, knowing one man who will have the answers.

Just as I enter the door, Johnson’s eyes jump to mine. The phone is to his ear, but he immediately stands as if he is able to sense my anxiety. He tilts his head and uses a hand to cover the mouthpiece.

"You okay?" he questions.

"He. Has. A. Daughter?" I deliver very slowly.

He physically dodges the word ‘daughter’ as I spit it at him. "I’ll have to call you back," he says into the phone then quickly hangs up. "Sarah, calm down." He begins to move around the desk, but I put a hand up to stop him.

"I need some f*cking answers. Like, yesterday." I take a few deep breaths in an attempt to reel in my rapidly growing anger. Though it does nothing to extinguish the betrayal that is surging through my veins.

"You need to talk to Leo. He should be back in a few—"

"Goddamn it!" I scream. "Tell me the f*cking truth. It’s plain to see Leo won’t do it." My chest heaves and my stomach threatens to revolt.

"It’s not my truth to tell," he responds with a shrug that enrages me.

"You know what? Fuck you." I rush forward and decide to get the answers from the only other person in the world who might be willing to give them to me.

I use the remote to flip on the TV and find the call button on the computer like I’ve seen Leo do numerous times in the past. Then I listen to the drone of a phone ringing as my hands nervously knot in front of me.

"Sarah, please don’t bring Erica into this," Johnson begs from behind me.

Fuck that. Someone is telling me what the hell is going on.

I don’t respond, and after only a few seconds, Erica flashes onto the screen with a baby held tight against her shoulder.

"Sarah? Is everything okay?" she asks, concerned.

"Tell me about his daughter," I demand as Johnson begins to cuss behind me.

"Whose daughter?" She shakes her head in confusion.

"Leo’s!" I try to scream, but it catches on a sob.

"He doesn’t have any kids," she answers with certainty.

"Fuck!" Johnson bites out, rubbing his hand over his shaved head. His outburst catches Erica’s attention.

"Aiden, what’s going on?" She disappears offscreen only long enough to put the baby down.

"Shit," he mumbles before looking back at Erica. "Yeah. Fuck. Fine. He has a daughter. He’s never met her. He sends money every month, and extra during the holidays. This is not my place to be telling you, so I’m begging both of you to calm the hell down and just talk to Leo about this."

"Excuse me?" Erica shrieks, apparently hearing this information for the very first time.

"Her name is Liv, like his tattoo," I fill in and both their heads snap to mine.

"How the f*ck do you know that?" Johnson asks, perplexed.

"A social worker was just here looking for him," I reply, dropping my head into my hands. "I can’t believe he would lie to me…again."

"Oh my God," I hear Erica whisper in disbelief. "He got that tattoo our first year together in the program. Oh God." She begins to cry. "How old is she, Aiden?"

"Please. Wait and talk to him," he answers.

"Aiden," she pleads.

"Don’t go there, Erica. I know what you’re thinking and he did not abandon her to take care of you," he responds.

Erica begins to sob loudly. I try to figure out why she’s so upset, but my attention is stolen away when I hear the front door open.





AS I pull into the parking garage at my apartment, the strangest feeling of excitement washes over me. After dealing with an idiot client who expected chef services from f*cking security, I should, by all accounts, be in a shitty mood. However, I have a fiancée waiting for me upstairs and that idea has me darting from the car and jogging up the stairs. Just as I push through the stairwell door, I see a woman exiting my apartment.