Page 110 of All In

That means he wouldn’t hurt her, right? But even being in the vicinity of that family puts her in danger on some level.

It’s really hard to hear about how awful these people are and how much power they wield.

“We’ll discuss this more later,” Ranger says firmly. “It’s causing Laken distress, and she should be calm for her upcoming appointment.”

I almost snort.

I don’t think he realizes how absolutely impossible that would be.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Tanner

The office staff is polite as we check in for Laken’s appointment. It’s an entire process of her filling out paperwork, having lab work done, and giving a urine sample before we’re finally shown to an exam room.

The wait isn’t bad, but we’re all clearly on edge.

We meet Dr. Garza, get shooed out while Laken has a physical exam, and then we’re brought back in while they do an ultrasound.

It becomes blatantly clear that she is pregnant about the time we hear the heartbeat echoing around the room.

Ranger keeps a placid face.

That fucker.

My jaw drops, and I may stagger a little into the wall.

As of a week ago, I was single and planning to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

“Well, there you go,” Dr. Garza says, leaning over the ultrasound tech’s shoulder. He points at the blob on the screen. It kinda looks like a lima bean to me. “This is the gestational sac, and that’s the fetus.” He moves to what I think is the butt and says, “There’s the head, and here’s the spine.”

I frown, tilting my head, but no matter how hard I squint, I’m not seeing what he’s seeing.

Laken laughs, holding out her hand to me. I shove off the wall and head over to link our fingers.

“All I see is a blob too,” she whispers, shrugging.

“Does everything look healthy?” Locke asks from behind me.

“So far, so good,” the doctor says.

“I’m going to have to kill so many people,” Ranger says, then lets out an oomph.

“Ignore him,” Locke says, likely to the ultrasound tech. “He doesn’t make good jokes.”

“So. Many. People,” Ranger repeats slowly.

“Ohmigod, stop.” Laken laughs. “I already have to pee.”

“Okay, I’m going to let the tech finish up, and we’ll regroup before you head out,” Dr. Garza says.

I ignore everyone else, kissing Laken’s cheek. “We’re having a baby.”

Her eyes widen. “I guess so.”

Once Laken is dressed, we head back to the first room and wait for the doctor all over again. He goes over a bunch of Laken’s and Locke’s family medical history, gives us copies of the ultrasound pictures—which still look like abstract art to me—and writes our omega a prescription for prenatal vitamins.

Ranger waits patiently for a pause in the doctor’s speech before diving in to a shitload of questions. “Our bonds are fresh, but now that she has those, will her system regulate? Or will she continue to have what feels like waves of heat?”

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