Sweet Sins by E. L. Todd Read Free Book Online Page A

His shoulders stiffened while he stared me down. “I could kill you right now.”
    I knew he meant it. “I know you said you trusted Cassandra, but I had to make sure. After Zander came in and dropped that bomb on us, I had to know.”
    Mike came around the desk, his hands clenching. Quick like a cat, he lashed out and grabbed me by the throat, squeezing hard. “You motherfucker. She’s my fiancé. If I wanted a paternity test, I would have asked for it. You had no right to go to her and force her to do that. This has got to be the worst shit you’ve ever pulled.”
    I didn’t fight back and let him release his anger.
    He shook me hard. “This is my relationship and I make the decisions, not you. Even if she did lie to me and the baby isn’t mine, that’s my mistake to make. I choose to trust Cassandra and give her everything I have. If she burns me, so be it. That’s a risk I’m willing to take.” He released me and pushed me against the wall. “You crossed a line.”
    I rubbed my throat and coughed. “You’re my brother. I was protecting you.”
    He stared me down, the rage burning. “I can’t believe you would that to my girl.”
    “Dad said we should get a paternity test too.”
    “I don’t care what dad said! This isn’t about him.”
    “You’re telling me that her ex asking for a paternity test didn’t make you blink an eye?  He has no reason to lie!”
    “All I know is that my fiancé wouldn’t lie to me.” His face contorted in pain. “If I get home and she isn’t there, I’ll never forgive you for this.”
    “She knows it was all me,” I said immediately. “I told her you had nothing to do with this.”
    “Even so, if you fucked up my relationship with her, I’ll never speak to you again. I mean it.”
    “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.”
    “You think that means shit to me? You knew exactly what you were doing. You’re not stupid—despite what I may think. This is so fucked up. I don’t even know where to begin.”
    I felt like shit, but I still believed in my actions. “Let me tell you the results.”
    “No,” he snapped. “I don’t want to know.”
    “What? I went through all this trouble and you don’t want to know if you’re the father or not?”
    “I don’t need to know. That test will tell me what I already know. I meant what I said, I don’t need a test to tell me I’m the father of Cassandra’s child. Maybe you didn’t trust her and thought she was lying, b ut that’s your opinion, not mine. You had no right to force her to have the test. I’ll never forgive you for this, Sean.”
    That hit me like a freight train. “Mike, I was just looking out for you.”
    “Fuck you.” The venom seeped from his voice. He grabbed his bag then threw it over his shoulder. “I need to get home. I just hope she’s still there.” He walked out and slammed the door hard.
    I stood there, feeling like shit.

    6
    Mike
    I hauled ass down the country road to my house. Cassandra didn’t have a car so she was stranded at the house, but she could still have someone come get her. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t too late. She had to know that I didn’t have anything to do with my brother’s rash decision. She needed to know I trusted her and had since the beginning.
    I parked in the driveway then killed the engine. Leaving my bag in the passenger seat, I sprinted to the door then fumbled with my keys to get them in the lock. As soon as the door opened, the alarm screeched in my ears. I cursed then entered the code so the damn thing would turn off.
    When everything was under control, I look ed for Cassandra.
    She was sitting at the kitchen table, reading a book.
    “Baby, I had nothing to do with it.” I rushed to her then got on my knees, placing my chin on her thigh. “I never would have asked you to do that. Never. Please don’t leave me. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” My hands circled her waist and I anchored myself to her.
    She moved her fingers through my hair.