Carissa stared up at him.

Laughing.

You gotta rip her apart, I’ll fuckin’ hate watchin’ it, but I’ll put her back together.

He threw back the last of the gin.

Push her to the point she can’t stand the sight of you. But do it knowin’ that’s all on you. Just like everything that went before, it’s all on you.

Fuck, the asshole was right.

He never should have allowed his father to come that day. He had no clue what he was thinking. He wasn’t seventeen and going to the principal’s office.

He was fucking twenty-six and going to a meeting to negotiate his son’s future.

As uncomfortable as it was, as hideous as it felt coming to the realization, Aaron had no choice. Too much was at stake with the most important parts of that being the happiness and well-being of the woman he loved and their child.

And that realization was the fact it was time he grew the fuck up.

I love him.

He drew in breath before he set the glass aside and reached into his inside suit jacket pocket.

He pulled out his phone and made the call to his investigator.

“Text me Steele’s cell,” he ordered.

The man texted.

Aaron made another call.

“Yo.”

“Steele. Neiland.”

Silence.

“If you don’t make her happy, I’ll destroy you, I don’t give a fuck the weight you got behind you with that Club.”

Steele still said nothing.

Aaron drew in another breath.

Quietly, he gave it to him.

“I actually do love her.”

That got him something.

“Next one you get, do better with that.”

Then Carson Steele hung up on him.

Aaron clenched his teeth.

Then he grabbed his glass, went down to the kitchen, poured another drink, and called his attorney.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Start

Joker

“I WILL, ANGIE. And thank you.” Pause then, “Right. I’ll call when I decide. Thank you again for everything. ’Bye.”

Carissa dropped her phone and looked to Joker.

“I don’t get it,” she declared.

Joker had been watching her lying on the couch, legs out, back up, talking on the phone while her son crawled all over her, alternately trying to eat her dress and the duck head toy he was dragging with him.

She might not get it.

But Joker got it.

Aaron Neiland had a soul.

Just barely, but he had one.

“Told you he phoned me, Carrie,” he reminded her quietly.

“I know. But he offered a settlement of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to see to Aaron’s care and upbringing while I quit work and go to school,” she announced.

Holy fuck.

Joker’s body got tight.

That jackhole didn’t get to take care of his girl.

If she wanted to quit and go to school, he could shove his money up his ass. Joker would take care of that for her.