Page 163 of Deceit

When Ky and I went to the hospital to see the babies, one of the nurses said that they had been discharged. Kyson was livid, my heart and stomach dropped out of my ass, and we ended up here to tell our fellow brother.

I couldn’tnotsay goodbye or see those kids. I’m already living with enough contrition to last me ten lifetimes.

However, if Mills did kidnap those kids, I’ll help him hide the evidence. I’d do anything that involves Emmy and the well-being of her offspring.

“Uh…no,” he replies, bouncing the baby gently in his arms like he’s done it a million times before.

He looks slightly uncomfortable, and I can’t say that I blame him. He just ripped two infants off.

Stepping to—I don’t fucking know—help Mills, he eyes me suspiciously as I approach. Two bassinets are set up next to each other in his living room, and he’s going to need all the aid he can get.

Peering down at the second little bundle in a white blanket, it’s sleeping and sucking on one of those pacifiers. Remnants of dark curls softly lay on its forehead as it peacefully rests.

“Which one is this?” I ask through the significant blockade lodged in my throat, backing away because I’m full of germs and shit. I don’t know crap about kids, but I have a feeling I’m about to quickly here.

“Atlas,” Mills answers. “It’s the girl.” I turn my neck to face the one in my buddy’s arms, the boy.

Emmy would be perfect to raise a rowdy little shit. The thought almost makes me smile until Mills opens his mouth again.

“Alaric.” His gray eyes slam into mine. “His name is Alaric.”

I stare at him, hearing his words, but…that’smyname.

Are these my fucking kids?

My attention snaps back to the girl, Atlas, and I can’t fucking tell. She has pudgy little cheeks, and the only thing that resembles me is the hair color.

No, no,she’d never do that to me.

Not a secret this large. She’d definitely never stay with Alexander while carrying someone else’s children.

I think.

No, she wouldn’t let another man raise my offspring, right? Is it because she wanted to do something to subtly tell me how she felt? Is it because we went through so much shit? Is it in honor of me?

Squashing the civil war in my head, I focus on the kids at hand.

Thestolenkids at hand.

I think this one takes the cake over all the stupid shit we used to do.

“Why doyouhave them?” Kyson’s question is livid-pissed. And for once, I’m taking Mills’s side. Ky will have to deal with it and whatever honorable bullshit that’s dashing through his head.

“I need to feed them real quick.” Mills’s stormy eyes ping-pong between Ky and I. “It’s been a long day.”

I bet.

“And it’s gonna be longer if you don’t spill your shit,” Kyson shoots back, showing up at my left and playing big-brother. “You didn’t borrow Emmy’s car or steal her phone charger. These are her fucking kids.”

“No shit,” he mutters, still bouncing Alaric.

“Chill,” I drawl, who’s tapping his foot impatiently on the hardwood floors. “They belong to us.”

A knock on the door behind us sounds and it opens promptly afterward, causing Kyson and I to both glimpse over to find Blue striding in with a few plastic bags in her hands.

She frowns when she notices Ky and I. “Oh, hi.”

“What areyoudoing here?” Kyson presses, crossing his arms along his chest and watching her walk to the kitchen.

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