“No.” With her chin up, she exited the room. I took a deep breath and followed her out. I headed to the bar with Nikita on my heels.
I poured my own drink and scanned the area. “Where’s Serena?”
“She went back to the office,” Nikita said.
“How was she?” I looked at my glass as I swirled my drink. I felt like my insides were warring.
“She was like how most people are after being cornered by your mother, although I don’t know why she’d target Serena.”
I downed my drink. “Do you believe in forgiveness, Nik?”
“In general, yes.”
“Some things don’t warrant forgiveness?” I asked.
“Well, murder seems unforgivable, although I suppose under some circumstances it’s justifiable.”
“How about not telling a man he has a son?”
She frowned. “Well, that’s not good, but if he was abusive—”
“He’s not.”
“I imagine there are circumstances where that could be forgiven. It would depend on why the information was kept hidden. If she did it out of spite or selfishness, that would be bad.”
“What if she was offered money?”
Nikita shrugged. “If she took it, that would be bad.”
“What if she didn’t?”
Nikita frowned. “If she didn’t take the money, why not tell the father?”
“Because the father’s mother is Katherine Roarke.” I poured another drink.
She had an ah-ha expression. “Well then, that makes sense.” Then she frowned. “Wait, are you saying you have a child?” Her brows knitted together and she looked like she was replaying our conversation again. “Is Serena’s son also your son?”
I nodded. I hadn’t told anyone but my family, and of all the people to open up to, Nikita wasn’t the obvious choice. But then again, she knew Serena.
“Wow. Okay…well… I think the world of Serena. If she didn’t tell you, I think she’d have a reason. She’d probably feel like shit though. Especially denying Andrew a dad. She’d do anything for that kid.”
“Do you think my mother would do anything for me?”
“I think there’s a lot your mother would do for you if it benefited her.”
I downed my drink and considered having another. Instead, I decided I needed air. “I trust you Nik. Whatever you want or need for this event, take care of it. I’ve got to go.”
“Yeah, sure, okay.”
I started to leave and then stopped. “Oh, if you fire Serena for being with me, I’ll fire you.”
Looking a bit dazed she nodded. “No worries there, Mr. Roarke.”
“Good.” I headed to the elevator and out into the cool March afternoon. There was an electricity snapping in the air that had me keyed up. I just had to figure out what to do with all that pent-up energy. What was it urging me to do?
29
Serena
I went back to my office, but I was too frazzled to work. Mostly I just sat and replayed Mrs. Roarke’s conversation. How’d she get DNA from Andrew? I hoped she got it from a hairbrush or a glass, and didn’t do anything to hurt or scare my child. The idea of it made me sick.
I wondered how much Devin heard and whether he blamed me. He knew how I felt about her. Just my luck that now that we were getting along, he’d get angry at me for getting in a fight with his mother.
It was yet another reminder about why I couldn’t read anything to our late-night conversations. I looked forward to them so much. But it was silly to think that we were working our way back to each other. The truth was, I’d hurt him too deeply to ever have him forgive me.
When I arrived at my building, I texted my parents asking them to watch Andrew a bit longer. I told them I had a hard day and wanted a little time to decompress in my apartment. They didn’t need to know about the dragon queen.
I leaned against the elevator wall as it took me up to my floor. The doors opened and I exited, walking to my apartment. I stopped short when I saw Devin leaning against the wall outside my apartment.
“Devin?”
He looked up from his phone, straightening from the wall. “Your parents said you’d be here.”
I frowned, not understanding why he was talking to my parents.
“I was at their place waiting for you. And getting my pants beat off me in Go Fish by Andrew and your dad. They’re cutthroat at that game.”
His small smile had my own lips twitching upwards. “Yes, they are.”
I opened the door, wondering why he was there. It must have to do with his mother. “Devin, I didn’t approach her—”
“I know.” He shut the door behind him. “I feel like I should apologize for her.”
I shook my head. “It’s not your fault. At the risk of upsetting you though, I have to say, I don’t know how you came out so good with a mom like that.”
He smiled. “You think I’m good?”
I stared at him, still unsure what his purpose for being here was. “Yes. You know I do, my unforgivable behavior notwithstanding.” I huffed out a breath, feeling completely off-kilter. “Do you want wine? I need wine.”
“Let me get it. You sit.” He watched me for a minute. “I forget how she can rattle people. I’m used to it.”
I sank into the couch. “Did she come to see me or was she there for something else and saw me? I didn’t think she remembered me.”
“She was there for St. Patrick’s Day planning,” he said from my kitchenette. “I suspect Bri let her know who you were, and at the restaurant when she saw the event planning staff there, asked about you.”
“Devin, she took Andrew’s DNA.” my voice pitched up as grief and shock and pain all whirled around me.
“I know.” His voice sounded bothered by that too. “I’m sorry, Serena.” He handed me a full glass of wine and sat next to me. “I don’t know why her audacity surprises me. I suppose I thought there were lines she wouldn’t cross.”
“He’s your son.” I pointed a finger at
