Page 67 of Under His Embrace

She groaned.

“There you are,” Dante said as Romeo came into the room.

“What’s wrong with her?” he asked of Nina.

“I’m pregnant, that’s what.” She cringed. “That’s not what I mean. I’m glad to be pregnant. I’m excited. But I’mthispregnant and I can’t tell if I’m having the baby.”

Romeo’s eyes bugged out. “Now?”

“Okay, okay. Let’s take this down a notch. Nina? Are you having anything that resembles a contraction anywhere right now?”

She pursed her lips and uttered a quiet, sheepish, “No.”

“Then we’ll watch it,” I advised.

“Are you sure?” Dante asked. He had his phone in his hand, seeming ready to call for help.

“Well, I’m not a doctor, but I was pregnant before.” I patted Nina’s arm and she latched on to it, gripping my hand like it was a lifeline.

“I’m so happy you’re here.”

She said it because I was uniquely able to sympathize with what she was experiencing, but her words touched me, anyway.

“I’m happy to be here.” As Franco entered the kitchen and caught my eye, I smiled. “And I’m happy to stay here.”

“Oh, shit.” Franco looked at Nina’s distressed expression. “Are you having the baby now?”

“I think you’re supposed to sayoh shoot,” Caleb said. “So the young ones don’t hear bad words.”

“Whoops.” Franco nodded at him.

“Whycan’tI have the baby today?” she snapped at him.

“For one thing, it’s too early,” I reminded her.

“Because I need to chat with Caleb first,” he replied.

My heart beat faster, knowing why they’d have a conversation.

“And we need to discuss what happened last night,” Romeo said, looking at Dante.

“What happened last night?” I asked.Wes? Did someone find him and kill him?I didn’t feel bad about wishing for it.

“The ‘war’ is done,” Dante answered.

Franco nodded. “Reports came in overnight that the Devil’s Brothers MC and the Giovannis eliminated each other.”

I appreciated that he toned down his announcement around Caleb. It would take some adjusting to inform him about what this family represented.

“So.” Franco pointed at Nina. “Baby emergency or no?”

Nina looked at me expectantly.

I laughed lightly. “Maybe not yet.”

“Okay. Caleb, wanna see the basketball court?” Franco said.

“Yeah!” Caleb wiped his face off with a napkin and hurried off his stool.

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