Page 50 of Twisted Empire

“All I want is for you to be healthy,” Elias said, glancing at my abdomen again.

“I know. It was just a shock hearing all that,” I said with a faint smile. “For a second I thought you might’ve invited the Devil right to our doorstep.”

He chuckled briefly. Then his expression hardened again. “Look, I know you’re really fucking scared, but if all the fear was removed from our situation and we were just a normal couple leading normal lives, how would you feel about the baby?” he asked bluntly. “That’s all I really want to know right now.”

I hesitated, picking at my nail again as I considered the question. “I think I’d be nervous, but also excited,” I began in a halting voice. “I mean, like I was saying before, I never wanted to get pregnant at this age, but at the same time, I can’t think of a single other person in the world I’d want to have a baby with. Only you. So I’d be happy because of that alone.” I smiled gently and shrugged one shoulder. “I know we’re too young by most people’s standards, but I think we’d figure out a way to make it work.”

Elias put his hand on mine again. “That’s exactly what I wanted to say to you, Doll.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Before this, I never really thought about having kids. I always figured I would one day, but this early… no way.” He paused for a breath, leaning closer as his hand slipped down to my knee. “But with you, it’s okay. No, better than okay. I can’t wait until I can show you both off to the whole fucking world.”

I smiled. “We’re lucky to have you,” I said softly.

“So we’re doing this? You’re not thinking about—”

I cut him off, putting a finger over his lips. “We’re doing this.”

“Good.” Elias slid his hand down to rub my stomach. “I know our situation isn’t exactly ideal, but our kid is gonna be better off than us in one major way.”

I raised my brows. “What’s that?”

“Two parents who genuinely care about him or her. That’s worth more than all the fucking money on this planet, don’t you think?”

“Yes.” I smiled again. “You know, for such a man’s man, you’re actually pretty sweet sometimes.”

His fingers moved up to my breasts, sliding under my shirt to pinch a nipple. “How’s this for sweet?”

“I take it back.”

He chuckled and pulled his hand away. “Drink up,” he said, nodding to the smoothie glass. “What are you working on, anyway?”

I picked up the glass. “I was just writing some stuff about Mellie,” I said between mouthfuls as I finished the drink. “All the things I remember her saying about Henry when he was still alive.”

As I spoke, my eyes fell on the first few words of the quote I’d written down moments ago. Somewhere in the back of my head was a sudden click, tiny but irrevocable. It grew louder, a resounding crack. My eyes widened.

“I just remembered some of my dream,” I said hurriedly before Elias had a chance to respond to my earlier words.

He frowned in confusion. “What?”

“I think,” I began slowly. “I might know how to take down Crown and Dagger.”

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