Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 111

Roman

“Yes, Roman, I have the information you need. Well, the truth is that this seems like a legitimate claim and it would be best if you did a private DNA test just to avoid that court appearance. Don’t centact her directly or send her any money—that’ll only be an admission of guitt. Until. we can prove whether or not you’re her unborn child’s father, you don’t owe her a thing.”

I sigh and down another glass of scotch. This has to be one of the most fucked up days of my entire existence. “How quickly can this happen? I want to get this shit done and over with. I’m tired of having to think about this.”

“I’ve already contacted her lawyer, and it can happen as soon as tomorrow, if you’d like. She’s truly willing to cooperate. We’re going for an NIPP test-non-invasive, that is. We’ll just need a cheek swab from you.”

“If it turns out she’s wrong?”

“We can sue her for emotional distress and defamation, if you’re willing to bother.”

“How do I keep this out of the papers?” Right now, I’m only thinking about Nikki and how I don’t want her to find out about any of this at all. Fuck, we’re already going through a tough time as it is. We didn’t need any of this extra drama.The worst part? I actually remember this whole encounter with this woman now, so I can’t say that none of the facts check out. I’only hope she’s lying, because if she’s not, l don’t know how I’m going to go about this whole thing.

“We’ll have her sign an NDA to make sure she keeps it all quiet. Now, this can also happen after the test, if you’d like. That is, if this child is actually yours. Think of it this way: If she’s lying, we’ll have everything cleared up in a week and we can sue her, if you choose to. The case will be closed.”

My stomach sinks. “And if she’s not?”

He’s quiet for a handful of seconds. “Then, you’re going to have to figure it what kind of father you want to be, Mr.

Hayes. Either way, it’s your call.”

“Fine. We’ll start tomorrow. I don’t want to waste any time.

“I’ll contact you early tomorrow with the details, then. A technician can stop by your office-”

“No, make it the penthouse. I don’t want anyone else to witness it.”

“As you wish. until then.”

I have the urge to slam the phone against the wall until it breaks into tiny pieces, but I decide against it. Dammit, this is a fucking nightmare. This woman, whoever she is, has destabilized me with this claim. I should be focusingon Garith’s friends, but instead I’m here in the penthouse, unsure of what to do and bored out of my mind.

Impulsively, I decide that I don’t have to be a prisoner in my own home. If those fuckers want to come for her, let them kill me right fucking now, but I can’t stand to feel trapped. I grab my blazer and step out, wondering where I can go to take the edge off.

I reach for my phone—the same one I thankfully didn’t break-and call Nikki. I miss hearing the sound of her voice. Until an hour ago, my guy told me she was still in the diner with her brother, but that they had met someone. A woman. I want to know what she’s doing, How she is. Fuck, if I didn’t have all this crap to deal with, I’d get in my car and drive to where she is right now.

Nikki doesn’t answer, not on the first try or the second one. It concerns me, so I call Ritchie to figure out where she is.

He doesn’t answer either.

“What the hell?”

I get in my car and try calling her again. Her phone just rings and rings. Ritchie doesn’t answer, either. And the worst part? His phone then switches off. What the hell is going on?

I force myself to calm down and drive to one of my favorite bars downtown. Maybe I just need to give it more time and she’ll call me back. I am worried, though. I handmy key to a valet, then make my way inside.

After picking a stool at the bar, I order a whiskey, neat.

While waiting for it, I decide to call her cell again. Nothing.

What the hell is-

“Roman Hayes?”

“In what sense?”

“With her father dead, their lives are at risk. Though they have enough money to live comfortably, it’ll be hard to maintain their status if their family doesn’t find someone suitable to run their businesses for them. Carmen…she’s always been a fool, and she’d never be able to handle some of Garith’s…more complex business partnerships.

We also heard that she has cousins coming in from Russia, from her mother’s side, that is.”

I feel sick to my stomach all of a sudden. Garith told me about them before. They’re big businessmen in Russia.

Gangsters, for the lack of a better word.

Fuck, what have I gotten myself into?

“I admire you, Mr. Hayes.”His words catch me off guard. “How come?”

“I think you were brave for what you did. Ending your marriage, that is.” He downs the rest of his drink in one go and slams the glass down on the counter. “The woman you’re with now…she must have truly been worth it.”

We stare each other down for a few seconds, and then he stands up and leaves after a few words of goodbye. I’m fuming as I watch him join a table of men I’ve only ever heard about. “Fucking dickhead,” I mutter under my breath before paying the bill. I have to get out of here.

Going out was a bad idea, it seems.

1 try to call Nikki again on my way to the car. She doesn’t answer. Ritchie’s phone is still off. At this point, I’m losing my mind.

What the hell is going on?