Ellis

 

“Ellis, what happened to you?” Greyson asks the second he strolls into the family room. He’s early, and I’m guessing Irene let him in. I’m resting on the sofa with Camilla, looking like a weakling, while Liam plays in the floor.

“I failed at preventing Liam from falling down the stairs. We both took a tumble instead.” Greyson’s eyes are round, his mouth agape.

“Are you two OK?” His gaze darts to Liam.

“We’ll be fine. Minor injuries.” It takes me a minute, but I manage to stand up. “Let’s go to the dining room.”

“Are you joining us, Camilla?” he asks.

Giving him one of her glowing smiles, she stands, too.

“No, Liam and I already ate.”

“OK, then. It was good seeing you again.”

“Same here. You both have a nice dinner.” As she turns to me, a crease forms across her forehead. “Um, I’m going to ask Beatrice to come over tonight so I can check on Sasha.”

Turning my back to Greyson, I give her a pointed look.

“Why are you just now mentioning this?”

“It’s not a big deal. I shouldn’t be gone long.”

“OK, but call Fletcher to drive you, and have one of the two security men at the front gate ride along, as well.” Her nod is faint before she sits back down and picks up her phone.

I sense a need to say more, but feeling a cramp in my leg, I start to walk toward the door to work it out. Greyson follows me to the dining room, and right after we sit, Irene hurries in to serve us drinks.

“I shouldn’t laugh, but there’s humor in you falling and then asking me to come over about your will today. Did your life flash before your eyes?”

“Yes, but mostly I was thinking about Liam. To be honest, I’ve never felt fear like that. Thank God he wasn’t hurt worse. He only has some bumps and bruises.”

“I guess we do need to update your will. Did you consider doing the paternity test?”

“Yes, and I agree it’s wise. How accurate will it be? Like what percentage are we talking about if, uh, say I come back as the father?”

He lets out a clipped laugh. “That you’re 99.9% the baby daddy.”

“You’re a dick.”

“I can’t deny that I’m loving this.”

Irene bustles in and sets down the salads we’ll eat before she serves one of her specialty pasta dishes.

“Can I get you anything else, Mr. Burke?”

“No, thank you, Irene. This looks great.”

She leaves the room, and I examine my salad.

“Just out of curiosity, how much percentage shows when siblings of the parent in question take a paternity test?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“For example, say you had a kid but weren’t available to take the test, could Lawrence take it to prove you’re the father?”

“Yes, if my brother took the test, the DNA would match, but the results wouldn’t show as high of a percentage.”

“Hmm … what if you and Lawrence were only half-siblings?”

Lifting up a fork full of salad, he eyes it.

“The same, but I believe it’d be even less percentage.”

He shoves the bite of food inside his mouth, so I start to take a bite myself, but then his fork drops against the table, creating a loud ding.

“Holy shit. You’re not Liam’s father, are you? Tony is.”

Damn, I didn’t think I was that obvious. I recall what I said to Christopher about deceiving me and how I’ve already lied to Greyson once. I can’t bring myself to do it again. Exhaling a weighted breath, I lay down my fork.

“OK, I’m sorry I lied. He’s Tony’s child.”

Clearing his throat, my cousin wipes his mouth with his napkin.

“I–wow. I don’t know what to say to that.”

“It’s complicated.”

“You think?” He runs a hand over his blond hair. “Why did you tell me he was yours?”

“I want my parents to believe he is. You know how badly my mother wants me to marry and give her grandchildren. If she finds out Liam is Tony’s, it will be yet another reminder that my brother wasn’t hers. She’ll be bitter at my father all over again for having a blood-related grandchild.”

“As far as I remember, your mother always treated Tony like he was her flesh and blood. Are you sure this isn’t about you?”

“What are you saying?”

“Are you really dating Camilla?”

“Yes.”

“Then are you sure you’re not worried what people will think when they find out the woman you’re living with was once dating your brother? Or how the child you’re raising is his?”

“That’s absurd. I don’t care what people think about me.”

“Bullshit. We all care, whether we admit it or not.”

I drag a hand over my mouth. “OK, fine. A part of me thinks this will stir up less gossip and drama if people believe he’s mine. They won’t have to know that Camilla ever met my brother. But it’s mainly about my mother. She’ll be ecstatic thinking Liam’s her grandchild.”

Greyson shakes his head. “Man, this is a twisted situation. I’m the attorney to your brother’s estate, and now you just confessed that he has an heir. It’s a big fucking deal, and don’t you want him to have Tony’s money?”

“Liam doesn’t need his money. He has mine for now, and once he’s an adult, I’ll give him Tony’s money through a trust. You can help me set that up.”

“What about Camilla? Doesn’t she want Tony’s money to help raise her son? She has to wonder if you’ll kick her to the curb at some point.”

I glare at him. “I wouldn’t do that. I’ll take care of them no matter what the future holds. The only thing up in the air is what we’ll tell Liam.”

“Look, why don’t you take the DNA test first. The results should come back fast. I think we need to determine he’s definitely Tony’s before we move forward. If by some off-chance he’s not, you may not want to add him to your will.”

“I know the test needs to happen, but this won’t go over well with Camilla. She’s going to think I don’t believe her.”

“Surely, she can appreciate the kind of wealth on the line. Hell, she might want Liam to have Tony’s money, and maybe she can’t find the courage to tell you.”

“Right … I hadn’t thought of that. We’ll get the test right away, and in the meantime, keep this news between us.”

“My lips are sealed.”