Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“I’m sure he’ll have to put it to a club vote,” Ace said. “Shoulda been done a while ago, but we never considered there’d be a need.” He shook his head. “I’ll do the henna, Cyrus, but not the real tatt until after she delivers.”
“Not perfect, but it’s the only option we’ve got. I won’t put the baby at risk.”
I sucked in a breath. “Like I did.” My voice was soft and guilt rode me once again. I’d struggled with it since the day I’d woke up so sick after my night of feeling sorry for myself.
“Honey, it was one time. And you only suspected you were pregnant. Given the circumstances, I think you needed a break from reality. We’re taking care of you and the baby now. Everything will be fine.”
“I hope so.”
Cyrus squeezed my hand and smiled. “Worry about how to keep yourself healthy from this point forward, lil’ bit. We’ll worry about anything else if it becomes an issue.”
The next couple of hours was done in subdued silence. Ace spoke softly when he had questions while Cyrus stood next to me, holding my hand while Ace worked. He did a single-color variation of my hummingbird. The design was the same, though. Once he’d finished with me, he worked on Cyrus. His tattoo was my name in the same elegant script inked around his ring finger. Cyrus had him add “Beloved Mate” along the inner side of his finger. Naturally, that set off a bout of crying on my part.
“Stupid hormones,” I sniffed before Cyrus dried my tears and gave me a tissue to blow my nose.
He kissed me gently. “Lean on me, Odette. Cry if you need to. I’ll keep you safe.”
“I know you will.” I gave him a watery smile. Then we left Ace’s place and went to see Sting.
“We’ll have to discuss it in church, but what alternative do we have? It’s just bad timing, and we’d never insist either of you willingly put the baby at risk. Not unless it’s life or death. This can wait. The temporary tattoo will do for the short term.” He shrugged. “It might be necessary to restrict her movements within the club without an escort until she’s fully inked, but as long as you’re with her, Cyrus, everything will be fine.”
“She’s not going to be more loyal after she’s inked than she is now. But rules are rules.”
“Once we discuss it in church, I’m sure we’ll come up with a reasonable plan for her to exist with us inside the compound as an old lady to you.”
“Seems like all I do is cause problems.”
“You’re not a problem, Odette,” Cyrus assured. “We’re in uncharted territory. At worst, you’ll be confined to the areas the other families are unless you have an escort. No one’s going to consider you a problem.”
“We’re having to adapt is all,” Sting offered. “We’ve been doing it a lot in the last few months. Not the first time. I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
While we sat in the common room chatting, the door opened and my brother strolled in, his gaze darting around the room. When he found me, he let out a harsh breath.
“Odette. Thank God you’re safe.” He hurried to me, pulling me into his embrace when I stood. “Why’d you take off? You had me worried sick.”
“There’s been some things going on in my life I didn’t tell you about. Everything kind of came to a head, and I just needed to get away.”
“All the way from Palm Beach to Evansville? Honey, that’s a thousand miles! What happened that you ran a thousand miles away?”
I glanced at Cyrus who was standing by my side. I was so nervous I thought I might throw up. Knowing my brother was on the way and him standing in front of me were two entirely different things. My brother loved me with everything he was. He’d taken care of me when our parents had died and had done it gladly. He’d never made me feel like I was in the way or a responsibility he didn’t want. He’d loved me and given me everything he could emotionally as well as materially.
Taking a shaking breath, I blurted it out. “Donovan, I’m pregnant.” I gripped Cyrus’s hand as hard as I could, terrified of my brother’s reaction. What I got wasn’t what I was expecting.
Donovan jerked like I’d struck him, then blinked rapidly. He glanced down at mine and Cyrus’s laced fingers then to me. Then to Cyrus. Before I knew what was happening, Donovan lunged at Cyrus and landed a haymaker across his jaw.
“You son of a bitch!”
“Donovan! Stop!”
“You better do the right thing and take care of her if she’s carryin’ your kid, you bastard. You don’t? You’ll find out why they call me Blade.”
Cyrus had let go of my hand right before Donovan landed his punch. He staggered backward two steps from the impact but stayed on his feet.