Chapter 6: This stops now

A week later, he gave in to the inevitable temptation and got into his silver Mercedes, entered the GPS coordinates, and drove out of the parking lot.

The GPS took him to a rundown building on a narrow street. Graffiti covered some of the tired buildings surrounding the one Lindi lived in with the twins. It looked as if some effort had been made to clean up the neighborhood. The building to the left had a fresh coat of paint. The door to Lindi's building that should restrict access, was propped open with a stack of old encyclopedias.

He took one look at the lifts and headed for the stairs. Surely she made enough money to afford a better place for her and the twins? She'd been about to sit her final exam when she came to him with her lies. He sneered at his younger self. No matter how angry he'd been, he should've made sure she had enough money to see her through.

Rafe knocked on the flimsy door that would keep no one safe and a woman with two children even less. He knocked again, harder this time. Her safety, or the fact that she lived in obvious poverty, wasn't his problem, he reminded himself. She had to stop filling her children's heads with the notion that he was their father, or he'd teach her the meaning of the word sued. That was why he was here. Not because of the heat that still existed between them. Not because he wanted her naked and sweaty under him.

He heard her talking all the way to the door. Was that Bruce character here? Did he live here with Lindi and the twins? That thought settled in his gut with the force of a bull run on the stock exchange.

The door opened, and she stared up at him with a frown. "Rafe," she whispered, for an instant appearing fragile. Then she straightened and motioned toward the rickety lifts. "I meant Rafaello, go away; I don't have time to deal with you."

Forcing her to call him Rafeallo rebounded on him. It just drove home everything he'd lost when she'd betrayed him. "You talk to me now, or you talk to my lawyers." He pushed his way inside. He'd wanted her to stop calling him Rafe because it brought back memories of heated nights when she whispered his name. But hearing his full name on those sexy lips grated him.

Lindi paled, and her lashes fluttered before she squared her shoulders. She'd never been one to back down from a fight. Winning an argument with her had taken some considerable effort. He'd relished the challenge, and he'd always thought she'd make a formidable lawyer. But why would she live here? Surely, lawyers were paid enough for her to move to a good neighborhood.

She led him deeper into the apartment. It was pitifully small with rickety furniture. It was also cheerful and homey. The twins sat side by side on a threadbare but clean couch, looking miserable. And guilty. When they saw him, identical scowls darkened their faces.

"What's he doing here?" the talkative twin scorned.

"Go to your rooms," Lindi said in that no-nonsense voice, so unlike the woman he'd known five years ago. His arrogant younger self had planned to inform Lindi that they wouldn't have kids. He'd thought maybe Lindi was too soft to ever harm her children. Had never imagined she could sound so strict. The twins hurried off with obvious relief, nailing him with glares on their way out. In spite of himself, he could feel the corner of his mouth tug upward. They had spunk, those two.

Lindi turned to face him, the hands that had given him such pleasure clenched against her thighs. "Say what you need to say, and get out."

For one crazy moment, he almost asked her to go to bed with him. Then he remembered the lies she told two innocent little kids, and the desire drained away. "You will stop filling your children's heads with the notion that I'm their father."