A Broken Contract (Alpha's Secret Regret) novel Chapter 20

Nick’s POV

I carried the child back upstairs, rocking him as he screamed for his mommy.

"She'll be back. I promise," I whispered soothingly again and again. Moments later, he started to relax. Soon, he was truly calm, and then I laid him gently on the bed.

Jake stood, watching. It felt like he was thinking really hard for the perfect excuse for his error. He was supposed to stay in the room with the kid till I called out his name. Once my son was calm, I motioned for us to leave.

“What the fuck, Jake?” I said once we were outside the room.

“I heard you call out Alex, I swear. The kid heard it, too." He gave an innocent shrug. “You said I can let him come out once you call out his name.”

Yeah the mistake was mine. I’d said the name before I should. Sara didn't leave the resort yet. I can feel it. Of course, she wouldn't. She’d remain downstairs till they let her back up or till I show up there.

I should do something about that quickly. I hadn't thought things through when I rushed to her house this morning.

Well, I hadn't been thinking straight since I laid eyes on her at that restaurant yesterday. My fingers unwittingly went to my lips. I recalled the fresh taste of jasmine tinged with Sara’s denial when I kissed her moments ago. It's the sweetest thing I've tasted in a long, long time.

What the fuck was I thinking? I had no business kissing her. I lost control there.

“The paternity test results can’t come out for another twenty-four hours, Nick. But... you just need that for records, right? It's not important?" Jake’s voice shook me out of my thoughts.

I nodded before he adds, "I’m nearly done with what you asked me to prepare. You and I know a lot can happen in twenty-four hours, Nick. For one, she's not gonna leave the resort willingly and she could police or something. You need to stall her.”

“That’s what I’m thinking," I lied.

There's only one way to prevent this from getting into any public eye. I turned around and returned to the child. He's not on the bed where I left him. He's now crouched by the corner instead.

My annoyance stirred. We were starting off on the wrong foot, me and him. I couldn't have him see me as the enemy. Maybe I shouldn’t have made the move to collect him so soon.

“Get up, Alex. Come to me,” I ordered.

“I want my mommy,” he replied in a small voice.

“She’ll be back, I told you. But not if you hide from me.” It was wrong to threaten him, but that was all I have at the moment.

“Mommy said you’re not her friend," the child remarked.

“That’s because she’s mad at me.” At least, there was some truth in that statement.

“When is she coming back? Is granpa coming?” the boy asked.

It was a surprise that the older man hadn’t come with her daughter to fight for his grandkid. No doubt, he was pulling strings in the background to bring people here. Thank Goddess, he's a nobody, whereas I have power and influence.

I nodded at the child. “I think he will, yeah.”

He still didn’t move from beside the bed. This wasn’t going well. A moment ago, he let me hold him. Now he's hiding? Well, I'm Sara’s least favourite person, and the child knew it. That was the problem. Getting through to him would be tough.

I went to where he's crouched and knelt in front of him.

“When can I go home?” he asked before I could speak.