Forbidden Secrets: His Secret Baby Bombshell

And Graham despised that he and his brothers were technically teaming up against Eve and her sisters. But it was only fair that when Sutton finally passed, Carson got his fair share of what was rightfully his. It would be in the Winchesters’ best interest not to fight this matter because Graham would fight back...and win.

This entire mess was just another reason Graham and Eve had to keep their affair a secret and 100 percent physical. Nothing too heavy, no commitments and nothing long-term.

And no way in hell could their siblings ever come to know the full truth of just how hot their attraction burned. They’d not been too secretive about their initial attraction, but quickly discovered discretion was the best way to go. Considering what he and Eve did was no one’s business, they’d opted to take things to the bedroom and ignore the turmoil surrounding them.

Keeping things simple—no talk of families or wills and Sutton’s health—was the only way this affair was working and Graham was in no hurry to end it. A physical relationship with a woman who matched his passion like no other wasn’t something he was ready to toss aside.

“So I need you to subpoena Eve.”

The cold, harsh words jerked him from his thoughts. Graham sat up in his seat. “Excuse me?”

“I didn’t think you were listening,” Brooks growled. “We need her and her sisters to testify at the hearing regarding Sutton’s estate. I need you to hand deliver those subpoenas.”

So much for attempting to keep his relationship with Eve impersonal. Damn it. He wholeheartedly agreed that Carson was due his percentage, but he didn’t want to go to battle with Eve. Not that he wouldn’t win. Winning had never been an issue because when Graham Newport went into a courtroom, he was there for battle and came out on top. Always. But to get into a war with Eve... He blew out a breath. That would destroy this chemistry they’d discovered.

Not that he wanted anything long-term or serious with her, but he wasn’t ready to put the brakes on this amazing secret affair they had going. And he had to admit, the whole sneaking-around thing did thrill him on a new level he never knew existed. Sex had always come easy for him, but to know Eve matched his passion, his fire, was something he’d never found before. So, for now, he’d really like to keep this subpoena out of his personal life.

“When’s the court date?” Graham asked.

Brooks rested his forearms on his neat, mahogany desk. “Two weeks. I’d rather have it moved up because, with Sutton’s health declining, I don’t want to take any chances.”

Sutton wasn’t doing well at all. The man was on his last leg and Graham wasn’t sorry the old bastard was fading. Sure, that sounded cold and harsh, but it was fitting for the man who was ruthless and conniving. The man had taken advantage of Graham’s mother, whether she would’ve admitted it or not. He’d gotten her pregnant, unbeknownst to him, but he’d still tossed Cynthia aside when he was done with her. Clearly his high-society wife was all he needed at the end of the day, though she’d ultimately ended up leaving him.

Graham’s own mother had recently died, too, which is how the paternity issues had come to light in the first place. But the loss was still too fresh, too heart wrenching, so he turned his focus back to Brooks. Letting the void in his heart consume him would be all too easy.

“What did Roman find out?”

The private investigator Brooks had hired to uncover Brooks and Graham’s paternity had been working diligently on the case, yet hadn’t come up with a name yet. They’d never known who their father was and, for a brief time, they feared Sutton was the one. Now that Roman Slater had found out that Sutton had fathered Carson and abandoned their mother, Brooks and Graham were out for blood. The only way to take Sutton down was to hit him where he’d feel it the most. Considering the man didn’t have a heart, Brooks and Graham were going after his finances on Carson’s behalf, and ultimately that would trickle down to his daughters. Graham ignored the guilt gnawing away at his chest. Business and sex were two areas where he never got emotionally attached.

“I’m waiting to find out, but he’s almost positive he’s uncovered more children Sutton fathered from his affairs. If that’s the case, I won’t hesitate to use it against him.”

Graham muttered a curse and stared out the floor-to-ceiling window behind Brooks. The Chicago skyline was one he never took for granted. He loved his city, loved working here and taking charge. The ambiance of such a powerful city gave him ammunition each day to fight his battles.

“If he uncovers too many, they’ll all want a share of Sutton’s assets.”

Graham crossed his ankle over his knee and raked a hand over the back of his neck. Maybe he should get a haircut. No. He liked Eve’s fingers running through his hair. He liked the way she toyed with the strands on his neck when...

Damn it. He was here for Brooks. How could he concentrate when Eve kept creeping to the forefront of his mind?

“I thought of that, too,” Brooks agreed. “Which is another reason I want this finalized before Sutton passes. So those subpoenas need to be delivered as soon as you can draw them up.”

Graham nodded. He might not want to do this, he might hate mixing this business with his personal life, but there was no other way. And Graham knew Brooks wasn’t usually this ruthless. But his twin was angry, hurt. They both were. With Sutton so hush-hush about what he knew, and right on the tail of their mother’s passing, there was just so much emotion and nowhere to put it all.

Sutton was a man who deserved to be destroyed, and if Eve and her sisters got in the Newports’ way, well...they better just cooperate because Graham would win this fight for Carson. Taking prisoners along the way wasn’t ideal, but he’d do so for the sake of his brothers. Family was everything, after all.

Two (#u8b889e87-879a-57d3-9855-18449d0f6066)

Two days had passed since the test. Two hours had passed since her doctor had done an exam and confirmed the pregnancy, assuring her everything looked fine. She’d held it together until she made it back to her car. In the quiet of the parking garage, she’d wept for the innocent life growing inside her and prayed she’d have the strength to make it through.

Just because children weren’t something she’d set her sights on for her future didn’t mean she didn’t want this baby. Years ago she’d been naive and unprepared for what life threw her way. Now Eve was ready to do anything and everything to keep her baby safe and secure. She’d started taking vitamins the day she took the home test. At this point all she could do was relax and attempt some sort of stress-free life...as much as was possible when she was planning global domination.

As president of Elite Industries, she was more than ready to broaden the scope of the company’s dealings. Her father had created a good foundation, but she wanted more. She wanted to prove to herself, and to her ailing father, that she could make this company even better. Before he passed, she wanted him to be proud of what she’d done.

Back at the office, Eve closed her eyes and tipped her head back against her leather office chair. Her father’s days were numbered, there was no denying the truth that faced them. Sliding a hand over her stomach, Eve wondered at what point she should tell him about this next generation. Would he be excited she was carrying on the name? But if she told him about the baby, she’d have to tell him about the baby’s father. Eve wasn’t ready to expose her child to this ugly war just yet.

Once she told Graham, then they could decide when to tell everyone else. He needed to know; she just had no idea how to go about telling him. Would he be angry? Would he blame her or would he embrace fatherhood? How on earth would they deal with shared parenting?

Questions whirled around inside her head as her office door burst open and slammed against the wall. Eve jerked upright, shocked to see Graham striding through, her assistant, Rebecca, right on his heels.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Winchester,” Rebecca stated nervously. “I tried to stop him.”

What was he doing here? Nobody knew about their affair and they’d purposely gone out of their way to avoid being seen together in public. His barging into her office could jeopardize everything.

“It’s fine.” Eve shot her assistant a smile and nodded in a silent dismissal. Once the door was closed, she glared at Graham. “What the hell are you thinking coming here? The last thing we need is gossip about your being in my office.”

Graham crossed to her desk and slammed a piece of paper down, the force sending other paperwork fluttering to the floor. “We need you to testify.”

Shocked, Eve came to her feet and braced her palms on the top of her desk, completely ignoring the paper. “What?”

“This is a subpoena regarding your father’s assets and Carson’s interest in them.”

Rage bubbled within her. This is why he’d come? Was this also the same reason he looked so angry? What was he thinking doing this to her, to her family?

“How dare you order me to testify against my father?”

The muscle in Graham’s jaw tightened, a tic she’d noticed when he was angry with himself. So, that was the real issue here. Why was he doing this if he didn’t want to?

What was going on and why was he doing this to her?

“You have to see what your father is, Eve.” Graham’s bright eyes held hers. Those same eyes that had devoured her body just yesterday now held so much anger, resentment. “Carson is entitled to his share of the inheritance. Plus, our PI has uncovered some other nasty facts regarding Sutton.”

As much as Eve wanted to close her eyes to battle the pain, she couldn’t. Her father may not be a popular man, but he was still her father and she wouldn’t let anyone stand in her office and throw ugly rumors around. Yes, he’d admitted to affairs while married to her mother, but that was in the past. Couldn’t people change? Did he have to pay for his sins forever? He was dying. Couldn’t everyone just let him live out his last days in peace?

Enough. She refused to allow this to happen, let alone in her own office...her father’s old office. Reaching for her phone, Eve started to dial her assistant. Instantly Graham’s fingers encircled her wrist.

“What are you doing?”

She glared at him. “Having security escort you out.”

The pressure around her wrist increased, but not to the point of hurting. “Hang up, Eve. Hear me out for two minutes and I’ll go.”

Still gripping the phone, Eve stared into his eyes, and her first thought was whether their child would have those mesmerizing baby blues. How could she resist him and tell him no when she couldn’t get her own hormones in check?

And, how could she fault his loyalty for standing up for his brother? Wasn’t she standing up for her father? They both held family bonds high and she had to admire that, but she still couldn’t allow him to shove his weight around. Not here on her turf.

She hung the phone up and pulled away from his touch. Crossing her arms over her chest, Eve tipped her chin. “Two minutes.”

A hint of a smile danced around those kissable lips. No. She couldn’t think of him in those terms right now. The way he came barging into her office, forcing this subpoena on her had nothing to do with what they did in the bedroom. Right this minute, they were enemies...and soon to be parents. Talk about a conflict of interest.