Empire of Sin(Empire #2)(43)

A red-hot fire grabs hold of me at the image of Daniel calling her or getting close to her.

If he touches her…I’ll fucking throw him out the window.

I’m not the type who has violent thoughts, usually, but because of her, I’m having constant pulses of strange emotions.

“You won’t be getting it, Dan,” I say with a calm I don’t feel.

“Why?” he asks with a wide smile that’s openly provocative. “Because you didn’t wrap it up and she’s probably pregnant with your child?”

“Jesus.”

“He’ll be visiting, too, when your baby mama gives birth.”

I flip him the finger. “Sod off, Dan.”

“Nope, this is getting fun.” He retrieves his phone and holds it in front of him.

At first, I think he’s taking a selfie since he loves flaunting himself all over social media, but then a ringing sound follows and a very familiar voice answers, “I don’t know about you, but I’m working.”

“Shut up, Ron. This is serious.” Dan grins. “I’ve got the scoop for you, right from the center of New York.”

My brother-in-law, and one of Dan’s closest friends, pauses. “Oh? Do tell, Danny boy.”

“Guess who forgot to wrap it?” Daniel’s smile widens and I wish I could punch him from this distance.

So I settle with a whispered, “Don’t you dare.”

“Let’s give it up for our one and only, the man, the legend. Knox Van Doren!” Daniel turns the phone so Ronan is facing me.

He’s in his office since he’s now leading his father’s company. My brother-in-law stares at the camera blankly. At first, anyway, before a slow grin stretches his lips.

“I need to tell Teal the news. She’s always thinking that you’d never settle down.”

“Don’t, Ron.” I breathe harshly. “And please hold while I kill a pest called Daniel.”

My friend jumps away from me. “Yes, do tell Teal, Ron. We should be planning global baby showers.”

“It’s that serious?” Ronan asks.

“Serious? Try monumental. He refuses to give me her number and I’m pretty sure he lied about her being blonde. I don’t know about you, but in my dictionary, that’s pronounced dead serious.”

“So Aiden was right and he’s shagging someone behind your back?”

“I know. I’m wounded, gutted, disappointed, but not as much as I’m ecstatic about the turn of events for our chap here.”

“Teal will be thrilled.”

“Don’t tell her, Ron.” I snatch the phone from Daniel. “You’ll give her empty hope.”

“It can’t be empty when there was no condom, Van Doren.”

“Damn straight.” Dan jams his face in. “Prepare for a weekend of celebration in London.”

“You got it, Danny boy. Leave all the parties to me and just take care of Van Doren’s baby mama.”

“Roger that.”

“Fuck you both.” I try to kick Daniel, but he darts away at the last second like a damn lizard.

As soon as he disconnects the call with Ronan, I grab him in a choke-hold. “Do you have a fucking death wish?”

“Don’t kill me yet, Knox. I still have to tell the rest of the guys about this hidden gem.”

The guys—as in, our friends from secondary school that we’re still close with. We played football together and the five of them, Ronan included, are married and have kids.

“Like fuck you will. Say a word about it and I’ll send a blonde hooker to your door every day.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have done that. Now that you’ve provoked me, I’m sure as hell telling everyone. Can’t wait for what they’ll say when they learn you’re expecting a baby.”

“I’m not.”

He tries to push me away and I use the chance to mess his hair the fuck up. The same hair that he spends half an hour to put every strand in order.

A knock on the door interrupts us and I release him with a shove. Thank fuck I kept the blinds down. Two lawyers fighting is probably frowned upon by the general public.

“Come in,” I say, and whisper to Dan, “Expect blonde hookers starting tonight.”

“Fuck you.” He flips me both his middle fingers, then heads to the door.

He leaves and Sandra Bell flinches back, giving him room. “Am I early?”

“No, you’re right on time.” I smooth my voice to a professional tone. “Come in, please.”

She does so hesitantly and I hit the intercom for my assistant. “I need Lauren and Chris here. Oh, and Jane from IT.”

“Right away, sir.”

I sit across from Sandra, and she tugs her skirt and then the sleeves of her jacket down. “Are you uncomfortable being with me alone?”

Her head jerks up. “It’s not—”

“Don’t lie.”

“A…little.”

“Good. You’ll be ten times more uncomfortable when you’re faced with him in front of people who don’t believe your story. Get used to this feeling.”

She gulps, her fingers linking and unlinking at a steady pace. But instead of sparing her the discomfort, I lean back in my chair and stare at her, mostly unblinking.