“Where’re we going?” I ask, looping my own arms around his neck.
He climbs the stairs two at a time. “Figured we’d watch a movie with Easton.”
“Seriously?” My heart falls. I thought for sure we were getting together for happy times.
“Um, no,” he replies with a laugh. “I was kidding.”
When we reach the landing, he doesn’t stop at my bedroom but hauls ass all the way to his. Inside, he drops me to the floor. I wait for him to reach for me, to pull off my shirt, to take his shirt off, but nothing happens.
I look around awkwardly. “Is something wrong?”
“I wanted to talk to you about the case. And, ah, other things,” he admits. He clasps his hand around the back of his neck and gives me an unhappy look.
“No fun times?” I say in a small, disappointed voice. It’s not that I need to have sex with him, but when I’m in his arms, none of the bad things in our lives exist. It’s only us.
“Not yet.” He tries to summon up a smile, but it fades fast. I guess he knows that fake grins aren’t going to cut it with me. “Sit down?”
There aren’t too many options in Reed’s room. It’s sparse—a boat-sized bed, a dresser, and a small loveseat positioned in front of his big screen. I plant my butt on the bed, wishing I could burrow under the covers until all this blows over.
“The paternity test on Brooke’s baby came back,” he begins.
My heart stops. Oh no. The bleak look in his eyes tells me this isn’t going to be good news, and suddenly I feel sick. There’s no way the baby could have been Reed’s—
“It was Dad’s kid,” he finishes.
Both relief and shock slam into me. “What? Seriously?”
Reed nods. “I guess the vasectomy failed.”
“Is that even possible?”
“In a few cases, yeah.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Anyway, Dad took it pretty hard. I mean, he didn’t want to be with Brooke, but he would’ve been there for their kid. I think he’s grieving for the baby now that he knows it was his.”
My hand flies to cover my heart. That poor man. “I feel so bad for him.”
“Me, too. The sad thing is, it doesn’t matter who the dad is, because Brooke was still threatening me about it, and I’m still the only person with motive. And the only one they have on camera entering the penthouse that night.”
I bite my lip. “When did the paternity test results come back?”
“Yesterday.”
I scowl at him. “And you didn’t tell me until now?”
“I was waiting on Dad. He hasn’t even told East and the twins yet. I told you, he’s kind of down about it. But I had to tell you. I promised I wouldn’t keep secrets anymore, remember?”
A lump forms in my throat. “You were avoiding me all day at school today,” I accuse.
Reed lets out a breath. “Yeah. I know. I’m sorry. I was just trying to figure out how to tell you about, uh, the other thing.”
Suspicion climbs up my spine. “What other thing?”
“The trial date for my case is set for May,” he confesses.
I shoot to my feet. “That’s six months away!”
He smiles grimly. “Grier says it’s my constitutional right to have a speedy trial.”
My stomach heaves. “Tell me Callum’s guys have found something. They found me, for crying out loud.”
“Nothing.” Reed’s expression holds no hope. “They’ve come up empty.” He pauses. “Grier says I might not win.”
I’m beginning to hate every sentence beginning with Grier says.
“What now, then?” As hot tears flood my eyes, I keep my gaze pinned to the carpet. I don’t want my own torment to be heaped on top of the anguish I hear in his voice.
“He wants me to plead guilty.”
I can’t stop a moan of pain from escaping. “No.”
“It’s a twenty-year sentence, but the DA’s office will recommend ten. Because of the overcrowding, Grier says I should be out in five. I think I should—”
I fly toward him, covering his mouth with my hand. I don’t want him to say it. If he says he’s going to take the deal, that he’s going to leave me, I won’t be able to change his mind. So I jerk his head down and plant my mouth over his, shutting him up in the only way I know how.
His lips part, and I attack him—with my tongue, my hands, everything.
“Ella, stop,” he groans against my mouth. But Reed’s one weakness, if he has one, is me, and I exploit that vulnerability mercilessly.
My hands are down his pants. Then I’m on my knees, taking his full length into my mouth. Staring up at him, I dare him to stop me now.
He doesn’t. He just thrusts deep, groans, then picks me up and throws me on the bed.
His hand finds me needy and wanting. “Is this what you want?” he growls.
“Yes,” I say fiercely, wrapping my legs around his waist. “Show me how much you love me.”