Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24377 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24377 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
She really wasn’t feeling well enough to do this today, but she wouldn’t be deterred.
Stubborn ass woman.
The door opened, and suddenly, she gagged, shoving past Ink to the nearest trashcan. I sighed and pushed off the wall, stepping into the chapel behind her. Joey was already crouched beside her, her blonde curls gathered in one hand, his other hand rubbing her back in soft, soothing circles as he whispered encouraging words to her.
He looked up at me and narrowed his eyes. I just shrugged at him.
“She wouldn’t be deterred,” I told him.
He grunted, clenching his jaw. He’d get over himself eventually. He always did. Besides, I had a feeling once he heard what she had to say, his attitude would do an entire one-eighty.
I was used to Joey’s foul moods. Antonio and Elaina were probably the only people he didn’t lash out at. And if he ever lashed out at either of them like he did the rest of us, there was a high chance I’d slit his throat.
And I knew he’d gladly do the same if I ever lashed out at them as well. It was a silent, unspoken agreement between the two of us.
“Oh, God, I don’t feel good,” Elaina mumbled.
Joey gently eased her back and then slid his arms beneath her, lifting her to his chest. Ink steadied his elbow as he rose from the floor with her cradled in his arms. Joey brushed past me with a scathing look before heading down the hall to put her to bed.
Ink arched a brow at me. I rolled my eyes. “Give them a few minutes,” I told him. “Trust me, if it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t have let her out of bed. I’d have chained her to it if I had to.”
His eyes widened. “You mean…”
I nodded at him. He cracked a grin. “Joey’s about to lose his shit.”
I chuckled. I knew that as well.
Joey
I gently laid Elaina on the bed, silently cursing Alejandro out in my head for allowing her stubborn ass off the fucking mattress. Nothing was more important than her well-being, and he fucking knew that. What the fuck was wrong with him?
“What do you need, sweet girl?” I asked her as I gently took a seat on the bed beside her, running my fingers over her cheek before smoothing my hand over her blonde curls.
She reached up and grabbed my hand in both of hers, playing with my fingers. “Joey…” Her voice trailed off for a moment. I frowned at her. Something was bothering her, and I didn’t fucking like it. Then, she drew in a deep breath, like she was trying to steel herself. What in the hell was going on?
“Sweet girl, what’s going on?” I gently asked her, getting seriously worried now. She was never like this. She’d learned to always be open with me. I could handle the truth a hell of a lot better than I could handle secrets and lies. She knew that—had learned that lesson the hard way a few years ago.
She slowly blew out the breath she’d sucked in. “I know that there are things happening, and you’re trying to ready the club for whatever might be coming, and Alejandro is trying to get the cartel up to speed to handle it and offer help,” she looked up at me with those stunning blue eyes, “but I’m pregnant.”
Pregnant.
I’d heard her right, hadn’t I?
She was pregnant.
Holy shit.
“Sweet girl,” I rasped, cupping her face in my hands, “did you think I’d be angry with you?” I brushed my thumbs over her cheeks, so fucking ecstatic and worried for her at the same damn time. It was the weirdest mix of emotions to have.
She nodded. “I know you’d mentioned it a few times, but—”
I brushed my nose with hers, silencing her. “But nothing. Sweet girl, you’re pregnant. I could never be angry about that.”
She smiled a little. “It’s yours. Alejandro was always careful about making sure to either wrap up or make sure he couldn’t knock me up.”
I looked over at Alejandro when he stepped through the door. I swallowed down the lump in my throat, my hands shaking on her face. “You two…”
He nodded once at me. I looked back at my beautiful wife, who was looking extremely pale and badly in need of some rest. I brushed my lips with hers. “Thank you,” I rasped, my voice filled with raw emotion I couldn’t contain. “Both of you. But especially you, sweet girl.” I brushed my thumbs over her cheeks. “I need to get you some ginger tea and crackers.” Standing, I turned to face Alejandro, drawing him into a one-armed hug. “Thank you, brother.”
He clapped me on the back. “Congrats, Joey.”
I slipped from the room and stepped outside, lighting up a cigarette to get myself together before I went to get her what she needed from the kitchen.