Page 28 of Tiago

“I should spank you for telling Reagan first,” he says against the top of her head.

“Yeah, you probably should,” she taunts.

Dallas shoves to standing.“You are the sappiest people I’ve ever met.I’m going to go find a snack.”

“You’ll be sappy, too, when you meet the right woman,” Tiago calls over his shoulder as Dallas flees the room.

Chapter11

Tiago

As Dallas exits, Gretchen steps into the library.She’s wringing her hands together.She looks nervous, and that’s not like her.She clears her throat.“I hate to bother you…”

I rise and face her.“You’re no bother, Gretchen.What’s wrong?”

“There’s a woman at the front door.She says she’s here to see you.Says her name is Silvia.”

I freeze.Silvia?Here?Why?My brows lift.

Reagan stiffens.“Is that your ex-girlfriend?”

“I guess.”

Ryder stands also, setting Claire down on the couch.“Didn’t you break up with her like four years ago?”

“Yes.”I reach for Reagan’s hand and pull her up.I’m not facing an ex without her by my side.

She tugs on her hand.“I’ll just wait here.”

“You’ll come with me,” I tell her.“You’re my girlfriend.You belong next to me.”

Reagan is my world.I’m not holding court with a woman from my past while she sits in the library.If the shoe were on the other foot and someone like Greg came to the door to see her, I probably wouldn’t even let her talk to him.I’d handle it myself.I sure as shit wouldn’t sit in the library while she met with him.Fuck, no.And I wouldn’t ask her to do it either.

We wind our way to the front door.It’s not even open.Gretchen didn’t let Silvia into the mansion.I snicker inside.Gretchen is a good woman.Her instincts were right on.

I open the door, and sure enough, Silvia is standing on the porch.She’s changed.Her hair is bleached blond, but her roots are showing.She’s put on some weight.She looks…tired.

“What are you doing here, Silvia?How did you even find me?”

“I ran into your sister.”Silvia glances at Reagan and seems to lift her nose a bit.“Are you going to invite me in?”

“No.Why are you here?”I ease Reagan to my side and wrap my arm around her.

“We need to talk,” Silvia says.She looks at Reagan again and sneers.“Isn’t she a bit young for you, Tiago?Is she even out of high school?”

Reagan gasps, her body stiffening.

I keep her close and watch as she makes a fist at her side.She has the right to reach out and slap Silvia across the face.

“Don’t be a bitch, Silvia.It’s not becoming.What the fuck do you want?”

She reaches into her giant purse, rummages around, and pulls out her phone.After tapping the screen a few times, she holds it out to me.

I’m staring at the picture of a small child.

“He’s yours.”

My heart stops as I slowly lift my gaze.“Pardon me?”

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