Pulse (Collide)
Page 25
Gavin surged forward, but Emily quickly lifted her hand to his chest. Nearly speechless, her face twisted in shock. “You’re out of your fucking mind,” she breathed, wiping a tear from her face. “You don’t want any part of this baby, and you know it, you bastard. You’re not even supposed to be near me.”
Dillon leaned back and crossed his arms. “You’re right about a few things, Em. No, I’m not supposed to be near you. But let’s not forget what the cop said at the school. Once again you’ve been a bad, bad girl breaking the rules.” He wagged a disciplining finger at her. “I did a little research. You can have the order of protection amended in a situation like this so I can attend all of these joyous events coming up in our lives. And you’re also correct in that I really have no desire to have any sort of relationship with the little fucker. Either way, I’m—”
“How much?” Gavin questioned, a bid upstate looking more appealing with every word dropping from the asshole’s mouth. “How much do you want to walk the fuck away? Walk away and never bother us again.”
Dillon threw his head back, laughing as he cupped his chin. “You see, Gavin, I’m not as stupid as you may think I am. Don’t ever forget that. I knew you would try to buy your way out of this. I know your fucking kind, the rich sleaze walking this fucking earth thinking they can purchase everyone around them. I don’t need your fucking money. I have my own. Don’t think for one second you fucked me by pulling your accounts because you didn’t. Now, sure, even Trump would be a madman, passing up a little more cash. But no amount of green you can pay me will provide the same satisfaction I’m going to get from watching you two squirm under the pressure of having me around during all of this. I’m already fucking warm and fuzzy just thinking about it. One million or ten million of your filthy dollars couldn’t buy that feeling. If I could, I’d bottle it up. I’m hitting you where it’s going to hurt you the most, and that’s not your wallet. It’s sitting right next to you looking mighty fine this evening.”
Gavin clenched his jaw. He felt backed into a corner as Dillon stood.
“I have to drain the snake. In the meantime, I think you both have a few things to go over. I’m a nice guy, so I’ll recap everything before I leave you two lovebirds alone. So, let’s see.” Brows furrowed, Dillon crossed his arms and stroked his jaw in mock concentration. “Not only do I have surveillance footage of every second of you choking me on my desk, but I have witnesses. I have a crowd of witnesses here tonight who saw you attack me, and I have a slew of family members who play golf, drink, and barbeque with the highest criminal judges in Manhattan’s court system. How fucking lucky am I? Now, you two think very carefully about your decision. We can make this somewhat easy or really fucking hard.” Without another threatening reminder spoken, Dillon spun in the direction of the bathrooms.
Squeezing her eyes closed, Emily released a shaky breath and rested her elbows on the table. She caressed her temples in an effort to combat a pulsating headache, feeling as if it was splitting her skull open. Tension jittered through every muscle in her body. “We have to let him, Gavin. I’ll go to the district attorney on Monday and make whatever changes I have to make to the order of protection.”
“No fucking way. My father’s a lawyer. We’re not agreeing to anything this asshole wants until I talk to him.”
Emily lifted her head, her gaze tracing Gavin’s face. He looked as exhausted as she felt. Her voice came out quiet but sharp. “I’m not waiting. I’m not taking a chance you’ll get thrown in jail. You might be this baby’s father, and I need you in its life. In my life. Please? We’re both shot from this. I can’t deal with any more.”
“Jesus Christ, Emily,” Gavin whispered, turning to face her. “He wants to be in the goddamned delivery room. Do you know what that’ll do to me? It’ll put me in my grave. Think about what you’re saying. It’s bad enough I’m forced to reason with what he did to you, but you want me to share the birth of a child that could be mine with him?”
“You don’t think that’s going to kill me too?” she choked out, trying to keep her voice down as she stared into his eyes. “My heart’s stopping just thinking about it, but the alternative is you not being there at all. How would I even make it through the delivery without you? Forget about just the delivery. You could be in jail for years.” Tears streaming down her face, she caressed his hair. “You’d miss holding this baby within a few minutes of it coming into this sick and beautiful world. You wouldn’t hear its first cry or first word. You wouldn’t see first smiles or steps. You’d miss birthdays, recitals, and the first day of school. I need you to think about what you’re saying. But more than anything, I need you to think about every first you’ll never get back.”
Completely. Fucking. Torn.
Gavin’s heart split at the seams; he swore he heard it ripping open. He couldn’t deny the truth in Emily’s words. He knew missing any one of those things could put him in his grave. Every single one of those reasons owned a little piece of something that added up to everything he was looking forward to. Everything he existed for. On the other hand, his gut wretched at the thought of sharing any of those moments with Dillon. The whole situation was poisonous on its own, but now, Dillon would douse it with the last bit of arsenic. In those seconds, as Gavin watched Dillon emerge from the bathroom, something Gavin’s father had said to him years earlier flittered through his mind.
“Son, sometimes being a man means you have to know when to drop the heavy sword you’re holding during a battle. If the reason you’re fighting for is already wounded, you need to count your losses and put a stop to senseless pain. While your head may hang low in defeat, the outcome will end in your favor. Honor isn’t found in victory. It’s found within the wounded reason that needed you from the start.”
Dillon was the battle…
Emily was already wounded…
And here and now, she needed him to concede defeat. He only prayed the outcome would indeed end in his favor. Gavin leaned into Emily, his lips a whisper away from hers. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the vanilla scent of her skin. “I need you to trust me right now, Emily. With everything you have in you, I need you to trust I would never do wrong by you or this baby. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes,” she quietly cried, her breath warm against his face.
“Good. I need you to play along with me starting right now. Get up.”
Emily nodded, her gaze ripping from Gavin’s when Dillon took a seat. She stood, and Gavin slipped from the booth, reaching for her hand.
He looked at Dillon, who appeared confused. Placing his palm on the table, Gavin hunched over, his eyes narrowed. “You think you’ve won, but you haven’t, Dillon. Not only have you tried to insult my intelligence by assuming I’d cave to your psychotic requests before seeking legal counsel, you’ve insulted the woman I love. That really pissed… me… off. You think I’m the type of man who would allow you in the delivery room while you get off on seeing Emily in pain? Wrong again, asshole. I’d rather die in prison than watch you enjoy any more happiness from her pain.”
Letting go of Emily’s hand, Gavin leaned in closer. Dillon slid away, his back flush against the wall. “While you were draining your snake, I called my family. They’re prepared to take care of Emily and the baby for as long as I’m away. And let me remind you my father’s a lawyer. He also spends weekends playing golf, drinking, and barbequing with some of Manhattan’s highest criminal judges. But that’s not even the best I have for you, Dillon. In all the confusion and mayhem over the last thirty minutes, my head became… twisted. When that happens, I sometimes forget things. It just occurred to me I know some information about you that can send your whole world spinning to the fucking ground as well.”
At this, Dillon lifted a curious brow, his eyes as narrowed as Gavin’s.
“Ah yes, my friend,” Gavin continued. A slow “I’ve got you now motherfucker” smirk slid across his mouth. “I know about your big ticket. You’re churning out your transaction-based accou
nts in order to make more money on the buy and sell side with your clients. Your return on assets is higher than some of the most powerful drug lords in Columbia. No wonder you don’t need my cash flow any longer. I wonder where you’re harboring all that money. You don’t live like you’re on top of the world, so I’m sure it’s buried somewhere. When one partakes in illegal doings, it’s safe to assume they need to appear… frugal in their spending.”
“Fuck you,” Dillon hissed. “I only make money for my clients.”
“Right,” Gavin drawled. “Will that be your defense when the Security Exchange Commission starts ripping into your files? The investigation’s a phone call away.” Gavin slid into the booth right next to Dillon. If it was possible, Dillon leaned farther against the wainscoting. Gavin chuckled at Dillon’s attempt to all but camouflage himself alongside a signed photo of Magic Johnson. “Emily,” Gavin said calmly, staring into Dillon’s eyes. “Go ask the hostess for a piece of paper and pen for me, sweets.”
“Okay,” Emily answered, turning to do as he said.
Nostrils flaring and breathing picking up, Dillon cleared his throat. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Gavin popped a smirk, resting his chin in his palm as he continued to stare at Dillon. “I’m getting rid of poison. We’re about to come to a… truce, Dillon. A halfway mark. You’re going to sign, in your finest penmanship, a piece of paper saying you’re no longer going to fuck with me or Emily. I’m no fool. I know you can petition the courts to try to gain access to the doctors’ visits and delivery. I’m willing to be a nice guy and allow you to the doctors’ visits because I’ll be there and I’m more than sure you’ll be on your best behavior in front of my girlfriend. That’s where I draw the line.
“You will not be in the delivery room while she gives birth. You have no right. That’s reserved for her and me, no matter whose child this is. You’re also not dragging me to court because I beat your ass when you deserved nothing less than a slow death. Try to challenge me by not signing, and I’m on the phone first thing in the morning with my lawyer, who’s a pitbull who’ll rip you to shreds in court, and the SEC.” Gavin paused, his smirk widening. “Looks like you and I might be doing a bid upstate together, Dillon. And orange would most definitely look better on me than you.”
Before Dillon had a chance to mutter a word, Emily returned with a blank piece of paper and pen. She handed them to Gavin, and he started writing down everything necessary to cover his ass. Once finished, he slid the paper and pen to Dillon. Gavin’s dimple deepened with his beaming smile. “Your John Hancock makes this relatively easy for us all. No Hancock, and my phone call tomorrow makes it quite difficult. Wouldn’t you agree?” Gavin could recall two times in his life when he wanted to stop time dead in its tracks. Hold the minute hand down, preventing it from ticking by another second. The most important was the first time he saw Emily. Next was right now, staring at the man he loathed more than words could define. Gavin observed Dillon’s eyes drooping in this battles defeat. His shoulders slumped, and his face held not a hint of victory. After what appeared to be a moment’s hesitation, Gavin watched Dillon sign the paper. Rising from his seat, Gavin swiped the paper from the table. For the second time tonight, without another threatening reminder spoken, Dillon surged to his feet, exiting the dinner like a flaming bat out of hell.
Eyes like two confused saucers, Emily looked at Gavin. “What just happened?”
Gavin twined his fingers through hers, leading them through the diner. “I just saved us from arsenic with an insurance policy.”
Gripping Gavin’s hand tighter, she shook her head. “I don’t understand. What was all of that Security Exchange stuff? How did you know he did something wrong?”
“I didn’t. It was a guess,” Gavin said, reaching for the door.
“A guess,” Emily repeated, the exasperation in her voice heavy.
As they stepped into the cold air, Gavin pulled her into his arms. “Well, it wasn’t a complete guess.”
She tilted her head. “Can I get some elaboration, please?”
Gavin chuckled. “Ah. Let me think.” He dipped his head, resting his lips on her hair as he spoke. “Over the summer, Trevor came to my house and we indulged in a wicked game of Texas hold’em. I have to add, I took him down.” Gavin heard Emily sigh, and he smiled. “He got pretty fucking trashed and started talking about some illegal dealings with annuities Dillon said he was thinking about getting involved with. I was pretty tanked, so I didn’t think too much about it. I did start watching the funds Blake Industries had tied up with him more closely though. I never found anything wrong with our accounts, so I allowed him to keep making me money.
“What did I just do in there? One: I rolled the dice that even though Trevor had a good bit of Jagermeister running through his system, he wasn’t making the shit up. Two: I banked on your ex following up with his plan. I think we got lucky.”
“I think we did too,” Emily said, looking at him. “Why didn’t you bring that up earlier?”
“I honestly didn’t remember what Trevor said until I was halfway through my little speech. I hoped my father being a lawyer would get the asshole to back down without me resorting to murdering him at the table.”
“You’d murder for me?” she asked softly.
“There’s not a thing I wouldn’t do for you, Emily.”
She draped her arms around his neck and pushed up on her tiptoes to kiss him. The temperature might’ve been below freezing, but Emily felt warm through and through as Gavin’s mouth coated hers like a glaze of honey. His heat surrounded her like a heavy down comforter. Slowly pulling away, she bit her lip. “How do we know he won’t go to the cops even though he signed that paper?”
Gavin reached for her hand and led her toward his car. Opening the door, he gestured for her to get in, but she didn’t. She stared at him, her nervous eyes waiting on an answer. He lifted his hand to her cold cheek and shook his head. “I don’t want you worrying about what he’s going to do.”
Asking that of her was like asking her not to love him, like asking her not to breathe. She was scared to death Dillon would find a way to work holes through whatever agreement he and Gavin came to. Right about the same time her heart jumped into her throat at the thought of Gavin being sent to jail, so did something else. However, this jump was in her stomach. A little flip-flop that almost made her bust out in laughter. Emily quickly placed her hand on her slightly protruding belly, and her lips turned up as another burst of butterfly wings fluttered.
“Oh my, God, Gavin,” she breathed, reaching for his hand. She slipped it under hers. “The baby’s moving. It’s moving.”
Gavin swallowed, his eyes locked on the bright smile kissing Emily’s lips. His hand shook, but not from the cold. He’d suddenly become scared, yet a surge of excitement rushed through his blood.
“Can you feel it?” she asked, her hand pressing harder against his. She giggled, leaning back against his car. “Can you?”
Gavin shook his head. “No,” he whispered, finding himself fully consumed by the undeniable happiness filling Emily’s expression. God, she looked more beautiful than ever. His heart pounded with a burst of adoration, and his fingers tingled to feel what she was. Gavin realized the decision he made tonight was the right one. Dillon had wanted to bottle up the contentment that would come from watching him and Emily squirm, but in that moment, Gavin wanted to bottle up the feeling he was experiencing watching Emily.
He also added a third moment in his life he wished he could stop time dead in its tracks.
“Did I hear you correctly?” Olivia’s brown eyes shone wide like pennies. Hand in midair, holding a bundle of French fries, she cocked her head to the side. “He’s going to be at each doctor visit with you guys?”
Emily swallowed down a bite of her burger. After taking a sip from her bottle of water, she nodded. “Yes, you heard correctly. Why do you seem so shocked? Besides, you still think he should’ve known all along.”
Olivia let out a deep, heavy sigh and stuffed the fries into her mouth. “Yeah. I think he should’ve known,” she said, chewing. “But I never said I think Dilly the small Willy should be allowed at your doctors’ visits. And you know why I said that, so please, let’s not go there again. I love you too much, friend.”
Emily rolled her eyes.
Fallon stabbed her fork into a piece of iceberg lettuce drowning in ranch dressing. “At least Gavin got him to back off the delivery room.” She swiped her tongue over her lip ring. “Everyone wins. No one goes to jail. No battles in court.”
“True,” Olivia chirped, sucking down the remains of a vanilla shake. “But it would’ve been cool to see Gavin gain some street creds.”
“Street creds?” Emily asked.
Olivia nodded. “The slammer. Joint. The clink. Crowbar hotel. The big house. Any amount of time in jail gains you street credit.”
Emily jerked her confused head back. “Liv, why would it be cool to see him gain street credits?”
Clearly trying to contain a grin, Olivia drew up a perfectly plucked brow. “Well, he already has a delectable tattoo. Adding jail time to his background can only make him hotter. I’m telling you, Em, after he got home, you’d appreciate the spectacular sex you’d get from that boy. Jail turns them into fiends.”
“Like they’re already not two sex fiends. To top it off, I remember reading that women turn into a ball of walking hormones while preggos.” Fallon nodded knowingly at Emily, her mouth puckered into a smile. “I bet you’re keeping him busy in that department.”