Claimed by My Ex's Stepbrother

Grayson's hand tightened around Tessa's neck. Her fingers clawed at his wrists, nails digging into his skin, but he still didn't let go.

Her eyes burned, spilling tears she couldn't stop.

"You're going to pay, Tessa," he hissed, his voice low and venomous. "You and that bastard in your belly."

"Get your hands off her!" her father barked, swinging at him.

Grayson barely flinched. He shoved her father back onto the bed so hard the rails rattled.

"Somebody-" her father's voice cracked, raw and desperate. "Somebody help! Please! Help us!"

The shout tore through the hospital walls. A door down the hall slammed open. Footsteps pounded.

Grayson's hands dropped away like he'd been caught at a crime scene.

The door swung open and two nurses rushed in-one shoving between Grayson and Tessa, the other grabbing his arm.

"Sir, you need to leave-now!"

"I'm not done with her!" Grayson roared, struggling against their hold as more staff appeared.

His voice rose into something wild and unhinged. "You hear me, Tessa? You think you can hide from me? Never!"

Tessa's knees buckled, and she caught the side of the bed for balance, the ghost of his grip still burning her throat.

Security followed, taller and broader, pinning his arms back.

"You think this is over, Tessa?" he shouted. "I'm not done with you. Just wait and see. Wait and see."

He struggled against their hold, shouting over the chaos.

"I'm not done with you, you hear me!"

Tessa flinched. Heat crawled up her throat, her pulse thundering so loud she couldn't hear the rest of his threats.

They dragged him toward the hallway, his curses echoing off the white walls until they were swallowed by distance.

She ran to her father. "Dad, are you okay?" she asked, helping him get onto the bed.

His gaze snapped to hers, chest heaving.

"Tessa... what's going on? What was Grayson talking about?"

**********

Roman sat in his dimly lit office, nursing another glass of wine.

He wasn't the kind of man to second-guess himself, but Tessa's calls gnawed at him.

He had told her not to bother him unless it concerned the baby.

Yet she had called. Twice.

He'd let the first call ring out. Declined the second. Now, staring at the phone on his desk, he wondered if he'd been too quick to shut her out.

With a quiet curse, he grabbed it and hit redial.

But it went straight to voicemail.

He tried again-same thing.

A sharp unease settled in his gut.

What if something had happened?

Checking the call location, he saw it had come from a hospital. His brows drew together.

Why the hell was she in a hospital? What was going on?

He didn't bother with another drink. He was already on his feet, grabbing his keys.

Fifteen minutes later, he was walking through the glass doors of the hospital, scanning for anyone who could answer him.

A young nurse at the desk looked up and froze.

"Tessa Quinn," Roman said without wasting time. "She was here earlier."

The nurse hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, she came in with her boyfriend. Her father is admitted here."

His brow arched in shock.

So he was right-Tessa was just a gold digger looking for a way out with her pathetic boyfriend.

"Are you sure?" Roman pressed. "Her boyfriend?"

"Yes, they've been here together too many times." The nurse nodded. "There was... an altercation earlier, but it's been handled."

Altercation.

The word hit him like a slow punch.

His mind flashed back to the bruises on her lip, the way she'd lied without hesitation when he'd asked what happened.

"Where is she now, what's her address?" Roman demanded, adjusting the collar of his coat.

"I'm sorry, sir. Hospital policy."

He leaned forward, voice dropping. "Do you know who I am? I own half this building, and your boss is a personal friend. Now, before you make me call him, answer the damn question."

Her face turned pale.

"She gave us a temporary residence the last time she checked in, so I'm not sure-"

"Just give it to me!" Roman snapped, already running out of patience.

The nurse glanced around, opened the log book, scribbled an address onto a slip of paper, and slid it across the counter.

"Please don't tell anyone I-"

"Relax," he said, pocketing it.

He was already walking out before she finished her sentence.

The night air bit at his skin as he stepped out of the hospital, but his mind wasn't on the cold. It was on that nurse's words.

Boyfriend.

What the hell did she mean by "boyfriend"? And was Tessa playing him?

Sliding into the back seat of his car, he found Davin waiting, one arm draped over the wheel.

"Everything alright, boss?"

"No." Roman shut the door hard enough to make him flinch. "Something's going on."

Davin's eyes flicked to the rearview. "Tessa?"

"Yeah." Roman handed him the folded slip of paper. "A nurse just told me she came here with her boyfriend." His jaw tightened. "And that there was an altercation."

Davin frowned. "Boyfriend? Now that doesn't sound-"

"I don't give a damn what it sounds like," Roman cut him off. "I want to know who the hell he is, and why she's lying to me."

He leaned back, gaze fixed on the narrow streets ahead.

"Drive," he ordered, voice cold. "We're going to pay Miss Quinn a visit."

Davin didn't ask another question. The engine growled to life, and the car shot forward into the dark.

**********

The living room smelled faintly of chamomile tea and ginger, the kind of calm Gina always surrounded herself with. But nothing in Tessa felt calm.

She sat curled on the edge of Gina's couch, a blanket over her legs, pretending to sip the tea she'd been handed.

Her mind was still trapped in those last minutes at the hospital-Grayson's voice, his grip, the venom in his eyes as they dragged him away.

She could still hear him.

I'm not done with you... Or that bastard you call a child.

A shiver rippled through her.

She had lied to her father, saying it was all a misunderstanding, but it wouldn't be long until he found out the truth.

"You're quiet," Gina said softly from the armchair across from her. "What's the matter?"

Tessa's lips parted... but what could she say?

That her ex had just threatened her unborn baby in the middle of a hospital? That she was terrified he'd come back?

She forced a small smile instead. "It's nothing, Gina. Just tired."

Gina pressed her lips together, unconvinced, but before she could ask anything more, a firm knock rattled the front door.

Gina stood, brushing her hands on her jeans, and went to open it.

The moment she did, her voice lifted in caution. "Who are you?"

"I'm Roman Blackwood," the voice said.

Tessa's eyes shot up in surprise. She put the cup of tea down gently, drawing in a deep breath.

"I'm here to see Tessa Quinn," Roman continued, his tone deep and serious.

Gina hesitated, glancing back toward her. "Tessa-"

Her heart skipped.

She rose slowly, every step feeling heavier than the last.

When she reached the door, her eyes locked onto his. He wasn't here to joke.

"Roman, what are you doing here?" she asked.

He tilted his head like the question insulted him, then spoke.

"We need to talk... now."