Chapter 23 Trouble looms

Chapter 23 Trouble looms

Travis' p.o.v

I walked out of the room after promising Nyx we were going to do this again but this time it would be finished.

I came across Olivia as I walked down the stairs. “She's over there,” she pointed at the living room. I nodded and walked hastily there.

I cleared my throat as I reached and that seemed to get mm guest attention as she turned to me.

My breath almost knocked me out.

Bianca.

“Hey baby,” she called, rising from the couch and walking towards me. I heard a gasp from behind me. Olivia was surely around. She's a die hard gossip.

“Bianca,”

“The one and the only.” She threw herself on me, circling her hands around my midriff.

Her black hair was shorter than I remembered and that slender nose I remembered. Nah definitely slimmer than this.

As if pulled from a dream, I ripped her off aggressively, she let out a groan, from the corner of my eyes, I saw Nyx descend from the stairs, only stopping behind her mother who pulled her in for a reprimand.

“The fuck are you doing here Bianca?” I barked in no mood to tolerate her. For fuck sake this bitch could have led the De Lucas my way.

She grasps her stomach “Careful, you might hurt your child.” My eyes dropped to her belly and God help me.

A baby bump. A little one but it's there.

“Yes baby I'm pregnant and it's yours,” she reached for my face and I swat it away. “And trust to let this child know how irresponsible its father is. Running away and cutting information with his fiancee.”

Another gasp from the back. I turned this time and my eyes locked on Nyx's, tears welled up in them, thankfully, she was now on the stairs while her mother was not.

The look she gave me. It made my chest in more ways than I could words.

I tore my gaze away from her. “Come with me Bianca,” I said, already walking but she doesn't move, instead she looked around smirking dangerously, her eyes settling on Olivia and her daughter.

“Why, you don't want your little family to hear of your creative wickedness towards the mother of your child.”

Without thinking, I grabbed her hand and dragged her with me, only stopping when I got to my office.

I slammed the office door shut and spun on her.

“You have to leave,” I said, voice low, lethal. “Today.”

Bianca laughed softly, like she’d expected nothing else. “Leave?” she echoed. “Oh no, Travis. I’m here to stay.”

“Not on my watch,” I snapped.

She stepped closer instead too close then circled me slowly, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. Her arms came around my torso, possessive, taunting.

“I must stay,” she murmured. “Because if I don’t… I walk right back out there and tell your family” she made air quotes, savoring the word“that you’re not who you pretend to be.”

I stilled.

“That you’re nothing but a killer,” she continued calmly. “A trained machine on the run.”

She paused, eyes bright with malice, then smiled wider.

“That you are nothing but an imposter.”

Shit.

The curse tore from me as heat flooded my veins. For a split second, I contemplated snapping her neck right there ending it. But her father’s face flashed in my mind. The consequences would be worse than death.

I shoved her arms off me.

“Don’t pretend this is loyalty,” I said coldly. “You didn’t just find me, Bianca. You were always bad at coincidences.”

Her brows knitted. “What are you implying?”

“The De Lucas,” I snapped. “You led them to me.”

She froze, then shook her head immediately. “No. Travis…no. I’d never do that.”

I scoffed. “You expect me to believe that? After everything?”

She stepped forward again, slower this time, eyes burning. “I wouldn’t put you in danger. Not ever.” Her voice dropped. “I love you too much.”

That word again.

Love.

It scraped against my skull like rusted metal.

“So,” she said lightly, tilting her head. “What’s it going to be?”

My jaw clenched until it hurt.

“You can stay,” I growled. “But avoid me. Stay the fuck away from me.” I leaned closer, voice icy. “And I’m sure that baby isn’t mine. It’s been six months since I last touched you.”

“Oh, but it’s yours,” she said, winking. Like she enjoyed the doubt she planted.

I turned away before I did something irreversible. “I’ll get you a room.”

She grinned. “I want yours.”

“Don’t push it, Bianca,” I snapped, spinning back to her. “I’m still a killer. Take the little you have and munch on it.”

Fear flickered across her face…finally. Just for a second.

Good.

I didn’t wait. I grabbed her wrist and led her out of the office. When we stepped into the living room, everyone was there Olivia, wide-eyed and already storing this for gossip currency, and Nyx… standing beside Kent.

I didn’t look at Nyx. I couldn’t.

“Meet Bianca,” I said coldly. “She’s going to live with us now.”

Kent opened his mouth. “Travis…”

I shot him a look sharp enough to cut. “This is my house,” I said. “And I can let anyone I want in.”

Silence followe
d. Thick. Suffocating.

Without sparing Nyx a glance because if I did, I’d shatter I turned and climbed the stairs.