Page 17 of Deceit & Destruction

Yeah, and I’m gonna win the Vince Lombardi trophy.

“Right,” I say, my gaze cutting back to Cassie. “Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag now, isn’t it?” I bring my right hand to her stomach to really sell the bullshit, but the second my palm touches her through the hospital gown, I regret the choice because Cassie jumps at the touch. For a second I fear I’ve crossed a line, but her eyes lock with mine and something I can’t quite place flashes in those baby blues. Shock for sure, maybe a little fear, but definitely, uncertainty. I realize there’s something captivating about Cassie Phillips and I temporarily get lost in her.

In the fear reflected in her eyes.

In the pain she tries to hide.

I swallow hard.

It’s just one little lie… what can go wrong?

“We’re having a baby,” I rasp.

Yep, it’s confirmed.

I’ve lost my fucking mind.

Chapter Five

Cassie Phillips

“Are you crazy?”I hiss.

Mike holds a finger to his mouth, silently ordering me to be quiet. I watch as he walks toward the door and pokes his head out into the hallway, glancing from left to right. I roll my eyes. It’s not like I didn’t wait ten seconds after Blackthorne left to question his sanity.

When he’s sure the coast is clear he turns back to me.

“So…uh…” His voice trails as he lifts his good arm and pinches the back of his neck. “That was interesting.”

My eyes bulge. He can’t be serious. Doesn’t he realize he basically committed suicide? That he’s put himself on Blackthorne’s radar and the man will do everything in his power to destroy him.

“Interesting? You have no idea what you’ve done.”

He raises an eyebrow, his hand still behind his head.

“I believe I just saved your ass.” He drops his hand and cocks his head to the side. “I suppose we’re even, now.”

I know he’s referring to the drugs, but I didn’t do that hoping he’d return the favor. To be honest, I don’t know why I did it. At the time it seemed like the right thing to do. He was unconscious and I knew if the cops found the drugs, they’d think he was the one who caused the accident. Sure, he was a little distracted, but once he was aware that the car was dangerously close to crashing, he did everything in his power to avoid it.

I stare back at Mike.

“Aren’t you curious to why Blackthorne was here?”

He shrugs his right shoulder.

“I think I got the gist of it,” he says, taking a seat at the foot of my bed. His eyes wander to the fetal monitor recording. “You’re not the first student to have an affair with a professor, and you won’t be the last.” He turns back to me. “I gotta tell you, Ginger, you picked a real sleazeball, though. I mean the guy is married… I think Johnny Black is his kid, and here he is fucking students without wrapping his dick.” He shakes his head. “Total douchebag.”

Johnny Black is the star pitcher of Stonewall’s baseball team and Mike is right, he is Blackthorne’s son, but that really isn’t the point.

Focus, Cassie.

“You don’t understand,” I argue, watching as a bored expression crosses his face. How can the man act so aloof?

“I’m no scholar, but I passed basic biology, Ginger.”

An exasperated breath leaves my lips. I guess I’m going to have to spell it out for him.

“Blackthorne doesn’t actually believe you’re the father and if he thinks you overheard anything about that conversation, you’re as good as dead.” That seems to get his attention and he twists his torso to face me, propping his casted arm on top of the rail.

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