Chapter Thirty
Staring at the police reports, Cade’s face boiled while his heart slowly died. His assistant admitted to trying to kill Ella. My Ella… I miss you so much.
His phone rang. He exhaled. Derek.
“Hey, Derek.”
“I’ve got an appointment available Friday,” Derek said. “I need a DNA and sperm sample. Ella is having some tests run in a few weeks and paternity tests are on the list. Garrett has the least probability of being the father. Statistically, we’ve got the best chance of being dads.”
“I had a vasectomy. It was a private pay. I got tested. I’m shooting blanks.” How many times do I have to tell you the same fucking thing? I’d give anything to be the dad. To have my children growing in her belly.
His cock rose to attention. Down buddy. She’s not ours anymore.
“Get me a DNA sample. Pick up a kit on your own, or get the one I have for you at my house.” Derek hung up.
He dialed his father.
“How you doing son?”
He tapped his fingers on the report. “Terrible. How long before everyone knows Felicity attacked Ella because of me?”
“What happened was not your fault. No one blames you. The boys are pissed you broke up with their mom.”
“It is my fault. Ella wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital if Felicity—”
“Cade, stop doing this to yourself. You’ve taken steps to keep her and her spa safe. Jimmy is guarding her house. The team of security you now have in place at her spa will keep the entire neighborhood safe. Please, stop blaming yourself. Not one person saw Felicity as a threat.”
“I should have seen the signs.” She asked about the soap he used. She changed appointments in his calendar to when he blocked time off to be with Ella. Made speaking engagements he asked to send his regrets to. I should have seen she wasn’t stupid. She was. No. She is a stalker.
“There weren’t any,” Pappy said. “She covered her tracks like a pro. It’s over. Ella is safe. She’ll recover. Now, it’s your turn to step in and apologize. Go tell her you love her. Quit finding excuses to back out of the…different relationship.” He cleared his throat. “For whatever reason, you, Garrett, Derek, and Ella love one another.” Pappy inhaled and exhaled, then lowered his voice. “I’ve never seen you happier. She glows when she is with Garrett and Derek. She sparkles with you. When the four of you are together, y’all shine brighter than the sun. I don’t begin to understand how something like that works, but it does. Don’t throw it away because you want to be the father of her children. Compromise, Cade. Maybe you open up your house to Garrett and Derek, and share Ella long-term? Be a stepdad to the babies. Momma and I support you. We all do.”
“She’s having someone else’s babies. I can’t watch her go through that, grow closer to them. I can’t do it.” I blamed her for the pregnancy. She had no idea. I yelled at her. I can’t face her.
“Well, the alternative seems a hell of a lot worse. At least talk to her. You walked out on her without even discussing options. I didn’t raise you like that.”
“I shouldn’t have called you.” You don’t understand.
“I love you, son. Man up and call her. I’ll see you at the wedding ceremony tonight at Sammy’s.”
“I’m not going. I’ll call when I figure out what I’m going to do.” He ended the call.
He crumpled up the police report. He had to do something. He couldn’t sit at his desk anymore. He had to take the tests Derek wanted and get away. Far. Away.