Chapter Twenty-Six: We Fight Right Here-6

He was practically explosive, his blue eyes hard and cutting like diamonds, his jaw so clenched I was worried for a second he'd locked them in place. "You okay?" My question came out softly, my hand resting on his heart. I thought he couldn't have heard it in the riot but he stilled, his face tilting down to look at me. For a second or two, his gaze softened, a faint smile flitting across his face like a glimpse of sunlight catching a break in the clouds. "This is what you get first thing in the morning and you're asking me if I'm okay?" he mused, closing his eyes briefly as his smile faded. He curled his arm more tightly around me, pulling me against his chest as he steered us up the steps and through the front doors flanked by a couple pairs of security guards. "Come with me to my office," he said as he took my hand and strode toward the elevator. "I tried calling you as soon as we landed on the roof but the mob was already down there and I knew your bus was about to roll in. I wanted to spare you all of that." "It might have helped if you'd mentioned specifics about this 'mess' with Lola," I said as we stepped into the elevator with Terrence. "I didn't realize this mess included a baby." Luke ran a hand down his face and it was only then that I noticed how rough-looking he was—unshaven, disheveled, dark circles under his eyes. As much as I felt I should be angry for the details he'd left out, I somewhat understood that this was exactly how I would expect Luke to deal with it—high-handedly and all on his own. "I didn't want to tell you when it was a lie she shouldn't have told in the first place," he said gruffly. "I thought I could settle the matter the past couple of days but as I probably should've expected when Lola's backed into a corner, she came swiping her claws at me." Peggy followed us into the office as soon as we got in, handing me a glass of water and checking in to see if I was okay. "How bad is it?" Luke asked her as he perched on the edge of his desk. "The phone's ringing off the hook. I've let the voicemail just pick up everything," Peggy said, wringing her hands anxiously. She wasn't normally ruffled but there were deep lines on her forehead. "Your father called as well. He told me he'll have his lawyers call yours to help sort this out. Call him back when you have a minute." Luke nodded. "How about the other arrangements I made?" "Victor is on his way. Both he and Pete will take turns, make sure she's always got someone with her," Terrence said. "Someone's getting posted at the apartment, just in case anyone tries anything funny." "Who's trying something funny?" I asked as I tried to put together their conversation. "Who's Victor and Pete?" "Your new security detail," Luke answered. "There'll be a car taking you around. I don't want anyone ambushing you like they did this morning." I held up a hand. "Okay, before we get even more carried away here, can someone please tell me first exactly what's going on?" Luke bit his lower lip, looking miserable and angry and about to punch a hole through something. I glanced at Peggy and Terrence who did a combination of shaking their heads and sighing. "Let's give them a minute, Terr," Peggy said, grabbing Terrence by the sleeve. "Come help me make some calls." When I was finally alone with Luke, I set aside my purse and smoothened the front of my light gray slacks. "Luke, tell me. I'd hate to think that the garbage I just heard down there is the whole story." "As I was trying to sort out the temporary restraining order I was filing against her, her lawyer told me that she's pregnant and that the baby's mine," Luke finally said. "I told them that it wasn't possible because I haven't touched Lola in nearly a year. If she's pregnant, it's either by divine intervention or some other dude. They insisted it was our weekend together after flying back from Tokyo and that she was going to tell the world about it." The words abraded my ear, listening to them, but I schooled my face into a patient expression, waiting as Luke went on. "I demanded a paternity test and after much back and forth she agreed to it. I flew to LA two days ago to do just that but when I got there, she was hysterical. She pleaded that it wasn't safe for the baby and that we should wait." Luke's expression was becoming more and more grim. "I didn't want to wait and I'd ensured that we only go the route of a non-invasive procedure but I eventually decided that it just wasn't worth insisting on it. She was adamant about it so we agreed to wait but that for the duration of the wait, she could not make claims or I would sue her for libel. Realizing that this couldn't be easily and quickly resolved, I came home knowing I had to tell you but on my flight back, Lola had released a statement to the media exposing her pregnancy and naming me the father. She said I'd been cheating on her and dropped her when I found out because I wanted no part of it. We'd split months before she could've conceived if how far along she is was accurately reported and I want no part of it because I'm not the father." Pulling at his hair wretchedly, Luke groaned and started pacing. "My lawyers are all over it but the damage has been done. The media's going to eat all of this up and we won't know any peace in the next little while." Then he turned back to me, kneading his temples and dropping to his knees in front of me. There was a bone-tired look of torture in his beautiful blue eyes as he looked up at me searchingly, his hands grasping mine in a tight squeeze. "I'm so sorry, Max. I didn't want any of this to touch you, to touch us, and I thought we were safe. I was going to prove I wasn't the father, settle some money on her one-time so she can get help for herself and the baby, and walk away for good." When I remained quiet, Luke grimaced as if in pain. "I know how bad all this looks, Max. Please, say something." But before I could open my mouth to respond, he got up and restlessly ran a hand through his already rumpled hair. "It's okay if you can't. I know that this is a huge shock to you. I'll deal with it. I'll clean it up. I'll have Terrence drive you home and you can lay low for a little bit—" "Luke—" "—I know you don't want me making calls for you but this is a unique situation so I'll tell Bryce—" "Luke—" "—If you want, we can get away for a little bit or—" "Hey!"