Fierce-Ryder (Fierce Family Series Book 7) Read online

  Tommy’s shoulders dropped and Ryder felt his lips twitch. He looked to see Sam smirking. “That move look familiar?” his brother asked.

  “Yeah,” he said, his eyes getting glossy. His anger had to be pushed aside for now. He’d get his answers and he’d get them soon, but damn it all, he was going to look at his son.

  3

  Pay For Her Crimes

  Marissa had been feeling almost sick to her stomach over this conversation and seeing Ryder again.

  He hadn’t changed all that much and that made it worse.

  He was filled out a bit more but still gorgeous as ever.

  She was shocked that he even talked to her or had any interest in her back then. The quiet but confident economics major in his English class.

  They had nothing in common and barely talked, but he approached her and then pursued her. She fell for it when she should have known better. Cocky men that looked and acted like him were only trouble. She learned that the hard way.

  But here she was and she had to pull up her big girl panties and pay for her crimes.

  The first thing she had to do was tell her son what was going on. “Tommy, you know how you’ve asked me before who your father was and I said it was someone I went to college with?”

  “Yes,” Tommy said. “Is it you, Dr. Fierce? You’re pretty cool and nice.”

  She looked over and grimaced, but Sam laughed. “I am pretty cool and nice, but no, I’m not your father.”

  “I am,” Ryder said before she could. “But I didn’t know about you. Not until just now. If I knew I would have been in your life. I swear to you I would have.”

  She deserved those words spoken. She really did. “Is that true?” her son asked.

  “It is,” she said. “Tommy. This is your father, Ryder Fierce. Dr. Fierce’s younger brother.”

  “My middle name is Ryder.”

  She smiled. “It is.”

  “And my middle name is Thomas,” Ryder said. Which of course Marissa knew. As upset as she was over what happened between her and Ryder, there was a part of her that couldn’t take that identity away. Call it emotions after her fifteen-hour labor, but when Tommy was put in her arms, she saw some of Ryder right away and she just blurted out the name.

  “That’s cool,” Tommy said. He’d always been an accepting child and she should be thankful for that, but she knew she’d have to answer a lot of questions with him too. The time to pay the piper was coming and he was demanding a lot.

  “Yeah, it is,” Ryder said.

  “I think you guys have this covered. Marissa, I’ll be in touch once I get all the test results back.”

  “So you’re my uncle?” Tommy asked. “And you’re going to make me better?”

  “Yeah,” Sam said. “I am.”

  She watched Sam leave and turned to Ryder. She could see he was at a loss of what to do and say and felt much of the same.

  “Can I take you guys to dinner or do you need to leave? I know you have school tomorrow, but I feel like I want to talk too.”

  “I think that’d be good. If we can get a quick dinner. Tommy goes to bed at eight, so by the time we get home it’s already going to be well past his bedtime.”

  “I can sleep in the car though,” Tommy said.

  “You can and I’m sure you will.”

  “I know the perfect burger joint. Do you like burgers?” Ryder asked. “Does he have any allergies or dietary restrictions? I should probably find that out.”

  “No allergies and burgers happen to be his favorite.”

  “Mine too,” Ryder said.

  “Is this your office?” Tommy asked. “What do you do?”

  “This is my office. I’m an architect. My father, your grandfather, and my uncle are engineers and own this firm.”

  “So, a family business?” Tommy said. “Do you have any other brothers or sisters?”

  “I’ve got a brother Bryce that is between Sam and me. And I’ve got a lot of cousins. You could say we’ve got a pretty massive family.”

  Marissa smiled over the look in Ryder’s eyes. He was warming with Tommy even if he wasn’t thrilled with her. She couldn’t ask for much more than that.

  The three of them left and she followed Ryder to a restaurant not that far away. They were seated pretty fast and their food ordered.

  The entire time Ryder and Tommy were rapid firing questions left and right and all she could do was sit there and watch. She smiled more than once and she felt her eyes fill with tears a few times but pushed them back.

  It was wrong of her to hide this from everyone and if there was ever a cold bucket of water thrown in her face, it was watching her son and his father laughing and talking as if they hadn’t seen each other in hours rather than meeting for the first time.

  An hour later though, she had to put her mother's role back on. “I know you two have a lot to say to each other and I’m sorry but we should get back home.”

  “Will I get to see you again?” Tommy asked Ryder and she knew there was no way she could keep Ryder from her son. Not that she would.

  “Yes,” both she and Ryder said at once.

  “When?” Tommy asked.

  “Maybe we can come back this weekend,” she said. “I’ll see if I can find a hotel.”

  “No,” Ryder said. “My place is big. You can stay with me.”

  “I’m not sure that is a good idea,” she said.

  “Please, Mom. I want to stay with Ryder. I want to talk to him and maybe meet more family.” Tommy turned his head. “Can I do that?”

  “Oh. Trust me. There is going to be a big family dinner this Saturday. You’re going to meet a lot of my family.”

  What she feared but wouldn’t fight it. “Then I guess we’ll be back this weekend. But we really need to go.”

  The waitress came over with the bill, and she went to reach for it but Ryder stopped her. All the good nature and smiles were gone. “Don’t even think about it.”

  She dropped her hand away and let him pull his credit card out. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow then,” she said.

  “You can bet on it,” he said.

  The minute Marissa and Tommy pulled away in the parking lot, he climbed in his car and drove to his parents’. He was positive Sam wouldn’t have said a word to them, but he knew he needed to talk to them right away.

  “Ryder,” his mother said when he walked in the door. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve had an exciting day, to say the least. You haven’t talked to Sam, have you?”

  His mother looked at his father. “No. What’s going on?”

  There was no way to ease into this and he was going to do what Marissa did and just rip the Band-Aid off. “I just found out I’m a father.”

  “Ryder Thomas!” his mother yelled, then walked forward and slapped his arm. “I knew it was too much to hope you wouldn’t get one of those bimbos pregnant.”

  He actually found himself laughing. “She’s not a bimbo,” he said. He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to defend Marissa, but on the way over he found that if he didn’t watch his words things could be worse with her relationship with his family. If he wanted a chance at time with his son, he needed to figure out a way to tread carefully.

  “What’s this last girl’s name?” his father asked. “I can’t remember what Jade said when she and Brock saw you guys out.”

  “That was months ago,” he said. He couldn't remember her name either. He hadn’t been with anyone in a few weeks. His cousin Noah got married last week and he went solo. He’d found it was easier to go alone to the family weddings now rather than asking someone last minute.

  Not only that, the next day his cousin Jade got engaged to Brock. He was officially the last one standing that was single and lately he’d just had a sour taste in his mouth over the women he was bringing home.

  “Wait,” his mother said. “You said you’re a father, not that you’re going to be a father? Are you sure it’s yours? I wouldn’t put it pas
t any of those women you’ve pulled off dating apps to come back and say you fathered a child.”

  “He’s mine,” he said. “When you see him you’ll know. Shit, I didn’t even ask his birthday or anything.”

  Guess those were going to be questions for Marissa when they talked tomorrow. What he really wanted to do was call her tonight, but she had a long drive ahead of her and a kid to get ready for bed. She’d said she would call him tomorrow and he believed it.

  He didn’t see her ghosting from his life with his son. Not when she needed Sam right now.

  “Start explaining,” his father said. “I’m sure you don’t need us to say that we are disappointed, but you’re an adult and you’ll do the responsible thing.”

  “I am and I will. His name is Thomas Ryder, Tommy for short. I’m going to say he’s around nine.”

  “Nine,” his mother said. “That’s…that’s around college.”

  “Yes. Marissa and I dated my last semester in college. We dated for a few months. Things didn’t work out at the end of the semester and I came home.”

  He had no idea why he wasn’t telling his parents everything, but if he learned one thing in the past several years of his life, it was to wait until he got all the facts.

  “You had no idea at all?” his mother said. “He has your names, but not your last name? His last name isn’t Fierce?”

  “No. It’s McMillan. Marissa’s last name. I’m not sure why she gave him my names, but not my last name. I’m not even sure she would have told me at all if she didn’t have an appointment with Sam today and he figured it out right away.”

  “Sam knows and didn’t tell me?” his mother screeched. “I'm going to kick his butt.”

  “Now, Diane,” his father said. It was almost funny to watch his mother act like this. She’d always been in their face about their dating lives and trying to set them up with people, but she’d hardly gotten angry like she seemed to be now. “Let Ryder explain.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I’ve got a lot of questions myself. She called me from Sam’s office and asked if we could meet. Sam waited with Tommy in the lobby while she told me, then he brought Tommy up.”

  “If she’s seeing Sam then something is wrong?” his father asked.

  He explained as much as he knew. He should probably call Sam and ask him. Marissa did say he could do that. “So you see, I’ll find out more. It’s risky, but Sam thinks he can do it.”

  His mother started to cry. “I’m so upset. I’ve got a grandson I didn’t know I had and now he’s sick. It’s almost too much to take in.”

  “He doesn’t look sick. He didn’t act it, but I guess it comes and goes and every time he gets another infection his body has a harder time fighting it off.”

  “So now what?” his father said. “Where does she live with Tommy?”

  “She is on her way back to Greenville as we speak. She is returning with him this weekend and staying at my place. I want to get to know my son. I need to know what is going on and everything I missed in his life.”

  “Now I’m proud of you,” his mother said. That was one of the first times his mother had said that to him.

  “I’m just as stunned as you by today’s events. I fully expect the entire family to know within the hour.”

  “That goes without saying,” his father said.

  “I figured. When I leave here I’ll go to Sam’s and see what I can find out. I need to get Tommy on my insurance. He needs better coverage. I guess I need to see a lawyer. I want everything on the up and up. Whatever I owe her I’ll take care of and figure it out and how.”

  “What is she asking for?” his father asked.

  “Nothing. Nothing at all. But I’m not giving her the chance of taking him out of my life either. She knows and I don’t think she’ll fight it, but I won’t risk it either.”

  “Smart,” his father said. “How are you handling this?”

  “I don’t know right now. I’ll talk to Marissa tomorrow and get more information. I don’t know where to even start, but Tommy’s health comes first. We’ll get that all squared away and work the rest out as it happens.”

  “I have no words,” Diane said to Grant when Ryder left to go to Sam’s. “I want to be mad, but I’m so happy and then sad at the same time.”

  “I feel the same way. Ryder has done a lot of stupid things when it came to women in his life, but this time, I don’t know what to think.”

  “Did you notice he didn’t say much at all about Marissa and what relationship they had or how it was? He hasn’t dated anyone seriously since college. And I don’t remember ever hearing her name.”

  “Me neither,” her husband said. “There has to be more going on than we know. Most women would have at least told the father. Especially someone with our backgrounds. They would have made sure their kid was supported.”

  “That’s part of the mystery. But made more confusing in my eyes that she did give her son Ryder’s names. Do you think that she is the reason he is the way he is? Is it possible?” Diane asked.

  “I’m not even going to try to guess at this point. We’ll get answers when we do. The same as when Ryder does I’m sure.”

  “But do you think he will tell us everything?”

  Her husband laughed. “No. Whatever is going on, I doubt we’ll find out the full truth. But for now, we’ve got news to spread. The youngest of the family actually has the first grandchild. Go figure.”

  “Don’t remind me,” she said. “Ryder always had girl drama, but even I never expected it quite like this.”

  4

  Full Of Mistakes

  “Are you sure this is the right thing?” Marissa’s mother asked her on Friday night. They’d be heading to Ryder’s tomorrow morning bright and early for the weekend.

  “You know it is.”

  “But you didn’t even tell us who Tommy’s father was. I can’t believe you told his father before us.”

  She knew her parents and brother were hurt over this, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it at this point. “You know why I had to tell him.” She’d told her mother everything that had happened a few days ago when she was at Duke with Tommy.

  “I wish I had been with you. You know your father and I wanted to go. Even Cody.”

  Her parents and younger brother had been so supportive of her pregnancy and being a single mother. They never pressured her to find out who the father was in the beginning and never thought to check out Tommy’s birth certificate. She’d listed Ryder as the father. She knew the day might come and it was the right thing to do.

  If something ever happened to her, Ryder had a right to know he had a child. She should have told him way before now, but the more time that passed the harder it was.

  “It was better this way. Deep down I had a feeling this might happen. I had to handle it on my own.”

  She’d finally confessed to her parents the next day everything that happened with her and Ryder. Her father and brother were livid and wanted to go after Ryder for the things he’d said to her, but it was in the past. She had to put it there. There were more important things to focus on.

  “You always were the independent one. Tommy does seem excited over it rather than hurt or upset.”

  “He is. He’s too young to feel anger right now. I expect it to come, but for the moment he’s just excited that he can feel better and that the doctor that is going to help him is his uncle. You should have seen Ryder and Tommy at dinner. The two of them never shut up. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.”

  “I guess now I know where Tommy gets that from. And how do you feel seeing Ryder again? What’s going on with you two?”

  “It doesn’t matter how I feel. There is nothing going on other than getting Tommy better and getting through this surgery. That is the most important thing. Ryder already got Tommy on his insurance. Not sure how it happened and I didn’t ask. I think the fact I had Ryder listed as his father on the birth certificate was all the proof they needed.” br />
  “That has to be a load off your shoulders to know that cost is covered. He owes you so much. Do you think he’s going to take you to court for custody?”

  Which was a huge fear she had and still did. “I don’t want anything from him. I’m not even asking. I’m not going to rock the boat. He and I will talk. I won’t fight him if he wants to spend time with his son and get to know him. I couldn’t do that to Tommy after I saw how excited he was to meet his father.”

  The pain and guilt of that was always going to be in her heart. She did what she thought was right years ago and held on longer than she should have due to stubbornness and misplaced pride.

  “He’s got a lot of money and power behind his name. You know that. He’s related to those in Charlotte you said too?” her mother asked.

  “First cousins.” She’d been following the Fierce Five for years. She knew all about them. She knew all about Ryder’s family too. Those few months they’d dated, they’d told each other so much even though they never introduced the other to their families. She’d never told her parents she was even dating Ryder.

  Her relationship with Bryan had hurt her so badly and Cody and her father wanted to bust his ass wide open when they found out Bryan had been cheating on her for months. She’d been so stupid and never saw it. When a few catty women threw it in her face, she’d ended things fast with Bryan and hated that she wasted a year of her life falling for his lying cheating ways.

  She’d sworn off men and had been single for a few months when Ryder approached her. Wealthy cocky men were a no-no in her mind. But he wore her down while she’d promised herself to not let anyone know until she saw where things went after graduation.

  She got an eye opener there too. It seemed like her life was full of mistakes she’d be paying for.

  “And his family owns the firm he works at? His brother is a doctor?”