Or if the cops get lucky and find me? There’s no way in hell I want foster care to ever lay a hand on him.”
“They’d do their best,” Zander said. “If need be.”
“We grew up around foster kids in the city, and most of the time it sucked.”
“I was one,” Nick said at Brian’s shoulder. “It definitely sucked.”
Brian leaned sideways to bring their shoulders together. Nick seemed so sturdy, Brian sometimes forgot the tough times he’d lived through. Nick bumped Brian’s shoulder back casually and flashed him a crooked smile.
“I’m his uncle, if it came to that,” Brian began. “Except, no, I’m not your brother here, am I? His second cousin?”
Damon shook his head. “Not close enough. But I’d snatch him before he got sucked into the system.”
“Didn’t say I’d raise him.” Damon grinned. “I might make you do it.”
Lori said, “Cut it out, guys. On paper, I’ve got no immediate family now, and neither does he. If I’m gone, the fucking State of North Carolina might get my boy.”
“Over my dead body,” Damon said flatly. “Let me work on it, girl. We can create a brother on paper for you, and if something happens, I’ll show up with that ID.”
“But you’re not around much. And they might make an uncle prove you’re a fit parent or want a home study or something.” Lori looked down at the baby. “A legal dad would be better— someone who won’t be challenged if something happens.” Lori glanced at Brian, then Charlie.
“Don’t look at me,” Zander quipped. “Won’t take a genetic analysis to know I’m no baby-daddy to that little snowman.”
Brian said desperately, “I can’t! It’s not okay! No! I won’t!”
Nick gripped his arm, and Damon frowned blackly.
“Of course not! No one would expect…” Zander’s words trailed off as he felt the stress in the room. “Is there something I don’t know?”
Brian didn’t want to say it. Lori frowned, and Damon wasn’t speaking up, and Nick only pressed in close at his side. I’m sick of trying to remember who knows what! This was his little, odd family. He trusted them all, even Zander. “I might be the dad,” he blurted out. “We’re not sure.”
“Not sure,” Zander repeated, glancing at Lori.
She tossed her head, failing to move the hair stuck to her damp forehead. “My husband liked to play games. He also said he needed an heir, badly. I’d found out he was some kind of British nobility, and he had a hell of an ego. If he needed a baby-making boost with shoving extra cum up me, I wasn’t going to tell. But later—” She stopped short as if her throat had closed up.
“Later.” Damon’s tone was low and precise, sharp as a blade. “Later, he said the spunk that made the kid wasn’t his. He was breeding psychics.”
Zander choked. “Lori and… Brian?”
“So he said. Before he died.” Damon cocked his head as if daring Zander to ask more.
“Did you have something to do with that dying?” Zander asked.
“He died with a gun in his hand. Does it matter?”
Nick said, “He was a criminal and a cold-hearted rat-bastard, and if Josh doesn’t have him for a father, that makes him one lucky little boy.”
“True.” Zander’s expression softened. “But Jesus— Lori, Brian, that’s— I’m sorry. Can I do anything?”
“You said Josh is healthy.” Lori’s voice was strong now. “That’s all I need. That was the truth, right?”
“Yes. I mean, there are some issues that you can’t spot until the child’s older but—” Zander caught himself up short. “Yes. He looks just fine.”
“And you’ll keep an eye on him and tell me if that changes?”
“Of course I will.”
“Right.” Lori pushed her hair back with her wrist. “Then I just need to decide who goes on the paper.”
“I can create a fake daddy ID,” Damon said. “It’ll take a bit of time. Would’ve been a lot easier if you’d thought this out before, Lori, instead of insisting you’d be the Lone Ranger mom.”
“Or I can do it,” Charlie said. “If you want me, and Brian doesn’t mind?”
Lori tipped her head back to meet Charlie’s gaze, something softer and more open than usual in her eyes. “Seriously? You’d be willing?”
“Yep. Prepping for this baby had me thinking back to when my ex-girlfriend and me thought we might have a family. I was really forward to it. That didn’t work out, but, yeah, put me down. I’m a sucker for babies, and I always hoped to be a dad, someday.”