Trusting the Billionaire (Weston Brothers Book 2)

by C. C. Snow

  Placing the drive into the USB port, I started to copy the files without looking at them. Tapping my fingers on the table, I muttered, “Come on, come on,” as the gray bar started to turn blue.

  A noise outside the door made my heart stop. My eyes dropped to the progress bar.

  92%.

  My gaze jerked back to the door and I saw the doorknob turn. My heart kickstarted again, pumping so rapidly I was sure I was about to have a heart attack. Blood rushed to my head, making my ears roar and my vision blur.

  I pulled up the web browser and placed my hand over the flash drive.

  The door swung open a sliver and a despairing gasp pushed out of my mouth. Then the movement stopped. I heard Troy saying goodbye to someone and my eyes flicked to the screen.

  100%.

  With a click, I ejected the drive and slipped it into my pocket.

  The door swung open and Troy walked in with a big smile. “Hi, baby. That was the longest meeting of my life.”

  I smiled wanly back at him, feeling like shit.

  Traitor.

  It was one more crime to add to my list of unforgiveable sins.

  “You okay?” he studied me and I was sure he saw right through me. “You look flushed.”

  I stood up on rubbery legs. “Yeah…it’s just warm in the office. Let me use the restroom and then we can get out of here.”

  I walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face, unable to make eye contact with my reflection. Tearing off some paper towels, I tried to wipe off some of the sweat on my back and under my arms. I grimaced in discomfort at the way the damp underwire of my bra dug into my skin.

  When I returned to Troy’s office, my pulse skittered at seeing his pale, grim face.

  Shit. He knew.

  Every muscle tensing, I braced myself as he strode toward me. I couldn’t look away from his face, gauging his anger, waiting for words of denunciation—words I deserved. At the soft touch of his hand on my jaw, my eyes widened.

  “Baby, Jake just called. He has to take Cora to the hospital. She feels dizzy and is having abdominal pains. A neighbor is staying with Aiden, but Jake needs us to watch him.”

  “But she’s not due for another five weeks,” I said stupidly, concern for her and the baby pushing everything to the background.

  Troy nodded, his lips white. “I know. Jake is freaking out.”

  Pulling myself together, I picked up my coat, glad I could focus on something other than my own problems. “Okay, here’s what we’ll do. You drop me off at the house and I’ll stay with Aiden while you go to the hospital to check on Jake and Cora.”

  We moved quickly, hurrying to his car. Stress and urgency kept our conversation to a minimum. Before he pulled up to the curb in front of the house, I had already unbuckled my seatbelt. As I reached for the door, he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me in for a hard kiss.

  “Thanks, baby,” he said, his eyes shining with gratitude.

  “You’re welcome,” I said, my own eyes moist—from self-hatred. Swinging the door open, I rushed up to the house and rang the doorbell.

  Mrs. Cortez, the neighbor who lived across the street, answered the door, her face lined with worry.

  “Hi, Mrs. Cortez. Thanks so much for watching Aiden,” I said, grateful she was a familiar face to him. We often ran into her at the park when she babysat her three-year-old granddaughter, Elyssa.

  “Hi, Elle.” Radiating empathy, she pulled me in for a hug.

  I closed my eyes, reveling in the comfort of her warm embrace. I hadn’t realized how much I needed the contact until now and I squeezed her in silent thanks.

  “Eoh!”

  Pulling away, my gaze dropped down to see Aiden’s precious little face streaked with tears. The incident with his parents had freaked out the little guy because his pink lips were trembling and his nose was red.

  Going down on one knee, I pasted a smile on my face and held out my arms. “Hey, kiddo. I missed you so much I had to come back to see you.”

  He hurtled into my arms, burying his face into my shoulders, his body shaking.

  I closed my eyes, tightened my hold, and stood up. “It’s okay, kiddo. Your little brother or sister is impatient to meet you. Maybe when your mommy and daddy get back, you’ll be a big brother already. Remember what we learned about being a big brother?”

  He lifted his head, blinking his brilliant eyes. “Help Mommy?”

  “That’s right. Why don’t we help Mommy by making dinner together, okay?” I rubbed small circles on Aiden’s back.

  “Kay,” he said, his little body relaxing.

  I pressed a kiss to his forehead and looked at the kindly woman. “You’re welcome to stay for dinner, Mrs. Cortez, but if you need to go, I’ll be okay.”

  “Are you sure? I can stay for a while longer if you need me.”

  “I appreciate it, but I think we’re good.”

  She smiled and took her coat out of the closet. “I’d better get home to cook dinner too.”

  I touched Aiden’s cheek. “What do you say to Mrs. Cortez for staying with you?”

  “Tank you.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart. I’ll see you soon,” she said and let herself out of the house.

  “Okay, it’s party time,” I said in deliberately cheerful voice, eliciting a giggle out of Aiden.

  It was a struggle to maintain my upbeat façade, but I must have succeeded because Aiden seemed to bounce back, chattering about his future brother or sister.

  Troy texted me, letting me know he got to the hospital and his parents were also headed there. Cora was being examined by a team of doctors.

  After an innutritious meal of mac and cheese, I attempted to give Aiden a bath with semi-hilarious results. I seemed to have ended up wetter than he did.

  I put him in his jammies and read him a bedtime story, but when I tried to get him to go to sleep, he started to cry again. Heart aching for the disruption in his routine, I picked him up in my arms.

  “Let’s do something fun tonight.”

  That got his attention and the tears stopped.

  Grabbing his teddy and blankets, I started to walk down the stairs. “Do you want to camp out in the living room?”

  His legs kicked in assent and he nodded. “Camp.”

  Remembering the two sleeping bags Cora stored in the hall closet, I sat Aiden on the sofa. “Okay, kiddo. I’ll be right back,” I said, handing him his bear and blanket.

  Moving quickly, I took out the equipment and pushed the furniture to the side to create a makeshift campsite. I unrolled both bags onto the floor. Glancing at Aiden’s wide, scared eyes, I ran into Cora’s office and unplugged a reading lamp. Frenziedly, I gathered the materials I needed and went back into the living room. With few snips into the parchment paper and some scotch tape, I plugged the lamp into a socket and bent the neck backwards.

  I looked at Aiden with a grin. “Ready, kiddo?”

  Although he probably had no idea what I was doing, he nodded enthusiastically.

  “Okay, look up,” I said, pointing to the ceiling and flicking on the switch.

  “Stars,” he whispered as the shapes projected fuzzily through the paper.

  It wasn’t the best cutting job I had ever done, but if the kid recognized them as stars, that as good enough for me.

  “Come here, kiddo,” I said, walking back to the sleeping bags. “We’re going to lie down and we’ll tell campfire stories, okay?” I had been camping once in my life for a school trip and didn’t know any stories, but I was willing to do anything to keep his mind off his parents.

  He wiggled off the sofa and crawled into the sleeping bag, his eyes fixed on the shapes above him. After zipping him in, I lay next to him. I started to tell him a watered-down version of the fairytales I could remember. Within minutes, I could hear his breathing deepen. I kept talking for a few more minutes to make sure he was fully asleep before I quietly got up.

  I picked up my phone t
o check my messages.

  Cora has preeclampsia. Doctors recommend inducing birth.

  Opening my browser on my phone, I looked up the condition and as I read through the life threatening symptoms, my heart squeezed with fear for her and the baby.

  Is it too early for the baby?

  A minute later, Troy responded.

  Doctors assure us this is best option to ensure health of mother and baby and chances are excellent both will be fine. How’s Aiden?

  Asleep. Finally.

  Good. I’m glad you’re there, baby.

  My throat closed. I didn’t deserve his thanks.

  Jake is yelling at the doctor. Gotta go.

  I put down my phone, lay back, and stared at the ceiling. My gaze dropped down to Aiden’s sleeping form, his rhythmic breathing soothing my frayed senses.

  Getting wearily to my feet, I walked to Cora’s office and powered up my laptop. I slipped my fingers into my front pocket and flinched when I felt the flash drive. Logically, I knew it was just a piece of plastic, but I felt like my skin would shrivel from touching its evil. Before I could have second thoughts, I plugged it into the port.

  Several clicks later and I found the list. The macaroni and cheese tumbled sickeningly in my stomach.

  Five names. All it took was five names to destroy my world.

  My head lowered into my hands and I dug my fingers into my skull.

  “You know you have to do this, Elle,” I whispered to myself. Grinding my jaw, I pulled back my shoulders and opened my email account.

  When I finished, I slumped over my laptop, my face wet with bitter tears.

  Chapter 22

  In the early hours of the morning, something tugged me out of my slumber.

  “Wake up, sleeping beauty.”

  “Troy?” I asked groggily, recognizing that deep timbre on the subconscious level. Even if I lost my hearing, I had a feeling I would still know his voice.

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  My eyes flew open and I instantly twisted my head to check on Aiden. When I saw an empty space, I abruptly sat up, my pulse racing in alarm.

  “It’s okay, baby. My dad took him upstairs to his crib,” Troy said, squatting next to me.

  I pressed a hand to my chest and gusted a sigh. “Oh God. I didn’t even hear you come in.” After a few hours of sleep, Aiden had woken up, crying for his mom and dad. It had taken another hour of stories and a game of shadow puppets before he nodded off again. Without meaning to, I had fallen asleep along with him.

  “I’m not surprised. You must have had your hands full with Aiden,” he said and then looked at the ceiling, a smile ghosting his lips. “Although it looks like you’re good at improvising things to distract him.”

  “We were camping,” I said.

  “Looks like you had a good time.” He held out his hand to help me to my feet.

  I groaned and rolled my shoulders as stiff muscles protested. As plush as the carpet was, it was no mattress. Thumbs pressed into the tight tendons above my shoulder blades and I sighed in pleasure. His fingers were pure magic and my muscles loosened instantly.

  He gave my shoulders one more squeeze. “Let’s go home to get some sleep before we go back to the hospital.”

  I twisted around to look at him. “Are Cora and the baby okay?” I asked, my brain still running two seconds behind my body.

  “Yes, both are doing well. I have a perfectly healthy niece. Phoebe Susanna Weston. Four pounds eight ounces. Her body might be small, but I can tell she already has a big personality,” he said with a tired grin.

  “Oh, that’s wonderful.” I couldn’t control my relieved sob and Troy enfolded me into his arms.

  I pushed my face into the crook of his neck and held on tight, never wanting to let go. He must have sensed my neediness because he stood still, his fingers lightly combing my hair. “I love you so much, Troy,” I said in an emotion-choked voice.

  “I love you too, baby,” he said, his lips brushing my forehead.

  I clung onto those words, knowing they might be the last time I heard them. When he started to pull away, I had to compel my fingers to loosen their hold.

  “Come on.” He walked to the closet to take out my coat while I turned off the lamp.

  “What about your parents?” I said, slipping my arms into the sleeves.

  “They’ll stay here for the night. We’ll meet them at the hospital in the morning.”

  On the ride back to his place, Troy recounted what happened at the hospital. Cora’s blood pressure level had been dangerously high when she arrived. The only cure for her preeclampsia was for her to have the baby. Once Cora and Jake gave their consent to induce labor, it had been another ten hours before Phoebe made an appearance.

  As soon as we walked into the apartment, I squeezed his hand. “Baby, I need to tell you something.”

  Troy tugged me toward the bedroom, his jaw cracking on a big yawn. “Okay, but can it wait until tomorrow? I am wiped.”

  Maybe I should have insisted, but he looked so exhausted and I was a coward. “Okay.”

  Quickly stripping, we crawled into bed and nestled together, my head on his shoulder and our legs entwined. Within minutes, I heard his breathing deepen. I moved my head lower so that I could hear his heartbeat. I stayed awake for a long time, my senses memorizing everything about him.

  ***

  “She’s so tiny,” I whispered, pressing my nose against the glass of the nursery.

  Phoebe was asleep in a clear incubator, her little fingers curled into fists next to her pale face. Her head was covered with a white hat and her body swaddled with a striped blanket. Unlike a few of the other babies in the NICU, she didn’t have a plastic tube over her nose, which meant she was respiring on her own.

  “And so perfect,” I said softly, smiling when her rosebud mouth moved.

  Troy rested his chin on my shoulder and whispered into my ear, “Makes me want a little girl of my own.”

  My legs turned to overcooked linguine and I had to lean against the glass to hold me up. I turned my head and met his gaze. There was a question in them that made my breath hitch.

  Oh God. He was offering me everything I had ever dreamed of and I wanted to curse at the viciousness of fate.

  A vertical cleft formed between his brows at my lack of response. Unable to bear his scrutiny, I swung my gaze back to Phoebe.

  “She’s a good weight for a thirty-two week old baby,” Geoffrey said. “The doctors say she should be able to go home in a couple of weeks.”

  “And she’s nursing well, so she should gain weight quickly,” Susan added. “Do you see your little sister, Aiden?”

  Bouncing in his grandfather’s arms, Aiden leaned forward to thump his hand against the glass and shouted, “Hi baby!”

  We laughed at his enthusiastic greeting. After visiting his parents this morning, he seemed to have recovered from last night’s scare.

  Cora had looked tired, but happy. With the birth of the baby, her blood pressure had stabilized. She would need to stay at the hospital for a few more days so the doctors could monitor her condition. Jake was going home with their son tonight. Geoffrey and Susan planned to stay in the city to help until Cora and their granddaughter were released from the hospital.

  Turning away from Phoebe’s sweet face, I pressed my face into Troy’s neck and let out a shuddering sigh.

  He splayed his hand at my lower back and dipped his head. “Something wrong, baby?”

  I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent, gathering my courage. I lifted my eyes and said, “We need to talk.” We had been in a rush this morning, but I couldn’t put it off for much longer.

  His face grew somber as his eyes searched mine. “Why do I get the feeling I won’t like this?”

  My heart gave a painful throb.

  “Troy.”

  At Jake’s voice, his gaze flicked to his brother. “What’s up?”

  Jake’s eyes lingered on me for a beat and unease flooded me. I told m
yself my guilt was making me paranoid, but there was something in his knowing gaze that made my pulse thud too rapidly. I took an unconscious step away from Troy and hugged myself, suddenly feeling cold.

  He looked at Troy and shook his head. “I won’t be going in to work for a while and need to talk to you about some projects you need to take over.”

  Troy frowned and asked impatiently, “Can’t this wait? It’s only Saturday.”

  “No, it can’t wait.”

  Geoffrey looked at his watch and said, “It’s lunchtime. While you boys talk shop, we’ll be at the little diner around the corner. You can join us once you’re done.”

  Reluctantly, I followed Geoffrey and Susan out of the hospital. I ordered a club sandwich and picked at it enough not to bring attention to myself. Fortunately, Aiden’s excitement about being a big brother kept everyone’s focus on him.

  I knew the moment Troy entered the diner because my senses buzzed with awareness. I glanced up and dread slithered into my veins as our gazes met. There was a storm brewing behind his eyes and I felt my house of cards tremble.

  He stopped beside the booth. “Mom, Dad, can you give me a few minutes of privacy with Elle?” he said, never taking his eyes off of me.

  Susan, ever the astute reader of people, recognized the seriousness in his tone and said, “Of course. We’ll see you back at the hospital.” Shooting a look of concern at me, she stood up and lifted Aiden out of his booster. When they waved goodbye to me, I could only manage a weak smile.

  Geoffrey touched Troy’s shoulder. “Everything alright, son?”

  Troy didn’t answer and his father looked between us with a slight frown. Geoffrey whispered something in Troy’s ear and Troy shook his head. With a sigh, Geoffrey walked after his wife.

  Sliding into the booth across from me, Troy spread his palms on the table. For long moments, all he did was stare at me, his eyes hard and unblinking. His skin pulled tightly over his cheekbones. He looked like a lethal predator who was patiently waiting for his prey.

  My pulse increased with each passing second. I wanted to say something, but my vocal chords had stopped functioning.