Page 129 of Viper

Viper stroked Ella’s hair. “Well … did it all go worse or better than you expected?”

“Neither. It was as ugly as I’d thought it would be. What did Luka say to you?”

“Just that he thinks you can do better—I don’t disagree there—and he feels you’d be safer if I wasn’t around. I can’t really disagree with that either, but I’m going nowhere. I made that clear to him, and I was also clear about how much you mean to me. Give him time; he’ll back down. They all will.”

Ella squinted slightly, an accusing light in her eyes that was tempered by a warm amusement. “You went digging into their business.”

He shrugged. “I suspected they’d yell at you, and I wanted to be able to shut that shit down fast.”

“I’m sorry they all acted like dicks to you.”

He lightly splayed his hand around the front of her neck, the weight of his palm barely there, the pads of his fingers featherlight. Yet, his possessiveness came through loud and clear. “I get it. Luka … he’s just overprotective. Your mother and aunt were bound to react badly. Their ancestors—”

“Weren’t killed by you, so no one should be trying to hold you accountable for it,” Ella finished, sliding her hands up his chest. “My hope is that they’ll come round soon, but it’s more likely that they’ll drag their heels in silent protest.”

“I’m sorry about that for your sake, but I won’t give a flying fuck if they don’t accept me. All that matters to me is that they don’t talk you into leaving my side.”

“They could try. Probably will. But it won’t work.”

“Promise?” he asked, searching her gaze.

“Promise.”

Viper’s lips curved. “That’s my girl.”

Yes, yes, she was.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Setting down the role of packing tape, Ella cricked her neck. “I’m never moving again. I just wanna throw that out there.”

“You said that last time you moved,” Mia reminded her, putting together another box.

“Yeah, well, I seriously mean it this time round.” Over the past five days, Ella had gradually relocated her belongings to the compound. There wasn’t much left to go.

Viper and his brothers had done all the heavy lifting, treating her like she was made of spun glass. But since she wasn’t a fan of hauling stuff around, she hadn’t complained. In fact, she and Mia had had fun observing all those male muscles bunching and rippling.

“It puts a slight downer on things that I don’t have the blessing ofallthe people I love before taking this big step,” said Ella. “Stupid, right?”

“Not stupid. Theywillpull their acts together eventually. Even Luka.”

Ella sure hoped so. He wasn’t being atotalass. He’d taken to texting her twice a day to check in and see how she was doing. He also called her regularly, his overprotective nature on hyperdrive due to her pregnancy. But he refused to acknowledge that Viper was her child’s father.

She’d asked Luka how he’d like it ifsheacted this way towardhispartner. He’d merely stared at her, his expression one of total incomprehension. In hindsight, she shouldn’t have tried appealing to his sense of empathy—it was too detached.

She didn’t want there to be a rift between her and Luka, but that could potentially happen. Because how could sheeverpick his side—despite being his anchor—if he made any kind of move against Viper?

Neither male would go down easy in a fight. Blood would be spilled, and both were the type to keep battling until someone was dead.

Viper wouldn’t end Luka’s life—that would risk ending hers. But Luka might not pay him that same courtesy. And if her anchor somehow succeeded in killing him, Viper’s brothers would seek revenge by executing Luka and his entire lair.

She didn’t wantanyof them fighting. Didn’t want to see any of them dead—not Viper, not Luka, not the Black Saints.

She also didn’t want her mother or aunt to put some kind of hex on these particular celestials, but it could very well happen. Melodie and Jocelyn were visibly pleased by the pregnancy. They just annoyingly acted as though the child was an immaculate conception.

Whenever Ella mentioned Viper, they would either lapse into silence or quickly change the subject. It was ridiculous, but at least they were welcoming toward the baby.

“Do you regret telling Mom, Jocelyn, and Luka about you and Viper so soon?” asked Mia.

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