Lines Drawn (Drawn to You #2) - Ker Dukey Page 0,43
her brow and my stomach vaults.
“What fucking night? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She straightens and eyes me with suspicion. “Don’t pretend, Finlay. Don’t worry, I won’t tell your precious Antonia. But don’t play dumb.”
My abs tighten with the clenching of my muscles. Sickness threatens. I don’t know what she’s talking about, but I’m scared to death to let her explain herself because deeply rooted in the pits of my gut, a guilty feeling nags away at me.
“I came to your apartment, and you were drinking and angry over the thing with Antonia. I was there to tell you about Brad’s plans and we both drank too much and… you know.” Her eyes widen, and I’m dying inside. “No, I don’t know,” I choke.
“You fucked me on the table? Ring any bells?”
Images of the pushing all the shit from the table and waking up to the mess the next day pops into my head.
“You’re lying. We didn’t have sex.”
Her laughing and popping open her blouse assault my conscience. No. No. No. Please God, no. I would never.
“Fin, I won’t tell Antonia, but I do need to inform you that…”
“What?”
“I’ve missed a period.” She’s clutching her waist, and there’s no smugness, only fear in her features. My legs give out beneath me, and I crumble to the floor. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest it’s making me dizzy.
“No way is this happening,” I breathe.
“It might not be yours, Fin.” I look over at her then back to the floor. “I’ve been sleeping with Brad, that’s how I know about the hostile takeover.”
“Wait, what?”
“That’s why I came to you that night, to warn you not to give him shares because that would give the partners more than half and that’s all they need.”
The room is spinning and I’m about to pass out. “Brad would never betray me like that,” I croak.
“Yes, he would, Fin.”
I crawl over to where she is and plant my hands firmly on her knees. “Please, if there is any part of you that cares about me, tell me you’re extending the truth about that night. I wouldn’t cheat on Antonia. She had just lost my fucking kid.” Tears prick my eyes when I see in hers the answer I didn’t want.
“We were drunk. I won’t tell her,” she tells me, but it doesn’t matter, because I will have to, and it will destroy the parts left of her.
“Fin, what about the company and Brad?”
I cover my face with my hands and let the ache take over.
“Let them have it.”
MY HANDS ARE SHAKING. I keep re-reading the card as I try to get hold of Finlay, with no luck. There’s no florist’s name on the card, it’s just blank. I open the door and call Aidan to come out into the corridor. He looks concerned as he approaches me and I usher him outside and close the door. “What company did the guy delivering have on his shirt or van?”
His eyes close before springing open. “Maggie’s.”
“That’s a little florist down the street. Are you sure?”
“Yeah, it was on his hat. Why? What’s going on?”
“It’s a long story and not mine to share, but I need you to stay here with Antonia until I get back in case Gabe has to go.”
“Okay, sure, but Gav, I’m going to need some answers.”
“Just please stay with her.”
“I will.”
I grab my car keys from our apartment and make it to Maggie’s within minutes of leaving Antonia’s.
It’s a tiny shop, family run, and it’s been here for all the years I can remember.
“Can I help you?” an older woman with a nametag reading Maggie asks.
I give her the Gavin charm, flashing her a toothy grin. “I get the lady herself. I feel honored.”
She waves her hand at me and whispers, “Don’t be a flirt.” Her cheeks grow warm pink, matching a bouquet she’s working on.
I pull the card from my pocket and show her. “I know you wouldn’t usually share this information, but with the message construed as almost threatening, I was hoping you can give me some information on the sender.”
She studies the card and taps it against the counter. “The buyer said it was about a dress he bought the girl and she would understand its meaning. He also paid double for the trouble.”
“Did he come into the store?”
She shakes her head. “No, it was a phone call.”
“So he paid with a bank card?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Is there any way you can tell me the name of the