Page 57 of Keeper

I’m also curious as hell why he’s inviting Alex this time.

It’s that churning curiosity that has me fixing my hair and slipping my shoes on instead of cursing at the ceiling. Normally, Ephraim claims his progeny has “better things to do” than keep up with the day to day happenings of pregnancy, so what’s so important that he needs to come too?

I get my answer pretty quickly as I head into the office. Alexander is already heated, pacing the room and arguing with his father for the first time that I’ve ever seen. “Of course he’s mine. Who else’s would it be? She doesn’t leave the damned house!”

Fuck.

Oh, fuck.

“What’s going on?” I ask quietly, shutting the door behind me before the whole house hears. “Alex?”

He doesn’t answer me, but his father does. “It’s just a standard precaution. It’s completely non-invasive for the child. They’ll take some blood from Miss Harbough, and a cheek swab from you. Totally harmless. And since this child stands to inherit millions of dollars from me when I pass, I think you can understand why I’d want to be sure.”

I should come clean now. Explain to him that Alexander wasn’t man enough to do it so Draven stepped in. Explain it’ll still be his grandchild, a Creed by name and blood.

But I can’t.

Maybe I’m a coward, too.

“It’s ridiculous and insulting is what it is,” Alex snaps. “Why—”

“Well if you’re so sure this child is yours, then what’s the problem?” Ephraim counters. “As I stated, the test will not pose any risk to the child. No one will know it’s happening except for us and the doctor who performs it, so tell me, Alexander. What are you so afraid of?”

Alex looks like he’s about to explode, so I step in. “It’s fine. You know how men are about their seed, Provost. He’s just a little indignant that it would ever be called into question. I have no issues with this, and neither does he.”

His face relaxes only slightly, an expression there that tells me he thinks I have some sort of plan when the truth couldn’t be further. “Yeah, well. I guess I don’t want to consider the alternative. Did you not feel that way when you found out you’d be a father?”

He keeps looking for humanity in Ephraim Creed — his father — with his natural questions, but he’s let down every time when the Provost responds in turn. “I had no doubts whether or not my woman stepped out on me, but I can see it in your eyes that you can’t say the same. You were struggling to get the job done just a couple of months ago, were you not?”

Oh, he doesn’t have to wonder if I stepped out on him. He knows I did. He asked me to. But that’s a very dangerous question, so I don’t let him answer. “It was my fault, I think. Nerves and stress can make it harder to conceive. I was so anxious to give him a child that I think I did the opposite. But he helped me a lot, and now we’re here. I didn’t step out. I’m happy to prove it.”

“See? Nothing to worry about. What happened to your balls, son? I don’t even know who you are right now.”

This is getting worse. Reaching out, I take Alex’s hand and squeeze it once, hoping to give him a little bit of confidence here even though neither of us should have any at all.

We’re about to get caught.

“I’m still your son. You’ve got this backward, Father. I’m not worried about her stepping out. I’m offended that you’re entertaining the idea that she might’ve, or that I’d be stupid enough not to notice. If someone did that to you, you’d have them killed.”

“And so would you,” he says a little too firmly. “I’m sure Draven’s been bored enough. Should probably find him a job soon.”

“You’re the only one doubting this,” Alex says coldly, then spins to head for the door. “Let me know when the test is.”

“It’s scheduled for next Monday. I’ll be going with you, so don’t worry. I won’t let you forget.”

Alex freezes and so do I. Any plans we could’ve made just became infinitely more complicated since Ephraim will be there watching our every move, and now I’m afraid the writing is on the wall.

One thing is clear.

We need to find Draven before Ephraim does.

––––––––

Draven’s room is stilldark as we let ourselves in, and Alex wastes no time ripping the covers off the sleeping devil.

“Get up. We have a problem.”

He’s up and reaching for the gun he keeps on the nightstand in seconds, but he realizes who it is before he does any damage. “What... the fuck? I’m not down for this threeway.”

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