“What do you mean, may have? You either did or you didn't,” Callum says.
My gaze turns to him, trying to establish his mood. His jaw’s practically to the floor, and I don’t blame him. I’d never expect Paddy to come clean so easily. He holds his secrets close to his chest, unwilling to share them with anyone.
Ignoring his brother, Paddy turns his head toward me, a look of remorse on his face. “Are you okay?” he asks.
“I’m fine,” I say, stepping into the room.
“And Scotty?” Sean asks.
“He’s going to be okay. I just came to get the blood bags.”
“Patrick? Answer my question,” Callum says.
“In front of Griffin?” Paddy asks.
“You made it clear Griffin is family when you crossed Sean and placed security on him. So spit it the fuck out.”
Paddy gulps, his eyes on me. “Camille Sorrentino is pregnant. We’ve done a prenatal paternity test and I’m the father.”
Callum stands, clasping his hand on Paddy’s shoulder. “And you’re just now telling us?”
Paddy turns to him. “I knew if I told you, you’d force me to marry her. I won’t do it, Cal. I won’t raise a child in a loveless home.”
“Loveless?” Callum says. “You liked her well enough to stick your dick in her without a condom.”
“I didn’t–” Paddy shakes his head, stopping mid-sentence. “I don’t know what I was thinking, Callum. I certainly wouldn’t have had a one-night stand with the daughter of an Italian mafia don. I don’t even remember the night. It’s ruined everything.”
Paddy looks at me again, his voice cracking. “Everything.”
Anger rises through me like it always does when it comes to Camille, the slut bitch, and my arch nemesis. He doesn’t get to hurt me, then just be sorry. Actions have consequences and he needs to learn.
“You’re marrying her, Patrick,” Callum says. He turns to Declan. “Sit down and give him your blood.”
“He’s not,” I say, not sure where the courage to stand up to the mob boss is coming from.
Callum whips his head toward me, brows raised to his hairline. “Excuse me?”
“He’s not marrying Camille.”
Callum crosses his arms, his entire body turned toward me, and I know he’s waiting for me to elaborate. I open my mouth, but the words don’t come out.Why can’t Paddy marry her?He should. He deserves to be miserable with her, deserves it if I decide to run from Boston and never look back. But here I am, defending him.
“Griffin, stop,” Paddy warns.
“Because I…” I drift off. There’s not much I can say without outing Paddy, and that’s just not an option here.
The door flings open, and the final Murphy sibling enters the room. Saoirse’s eyes are puffy, like she’s been crying, her face paler than what is normal for her. “What’s happened?” she asks, voice shaking.
Callum rushes her, pulling her into his giant arms for a soothing embrace. “Scotty was shot in the chest. Haley is operating on him now.”
“Oh, God. This is horrible, Cal.” Saoirse pulls away, glancing around the room. “How bad is it?”
All gazes land on me. “He was talking fine when I was with him, and Haley’s confident his heart wasn’t struck. He’s going to be okay.”
She sucks in a gulp of air, nodding slowly. Her entire body is quivering as if the ground beneath her is shaking. “How did this happen?”
“These things just happen, Saoirse,” Declan says. “You know that.”
“Yeah, but. We work hard to prevent them, right?” Her hand grips the tabletop in front of her, resting her weight to hold herself up. “I thought we make alliances so these things don’t happen. How did this happen?”
