Page 43 of Twisted Obsession

I cut him off. “Last night I had a lot to get my head around,” I tell him, sipping at the glass of orange juice he places in front of me. “This morning, I feel like I’ve been given my life back.”

“That’s great news,” he says, stepping forward and kissing the top of my head, making me feel ever so slightly guilty for deceiving him.

Except I’m not. Not really. Iamrelieved about the Viper. More than I can properly put into words. It’s just that it's been overshadowed by this new bombshell. But I don’t even know if that’s actually a thing yet. After all, shock and trauma can affect your period, and I’ve sure as hell had my fill of that. So it could be nothing… Well, that’s what I keep telling myself, anyway.

“Well, that will stop me from fretting since I have to go out of town tonight and Ciaran’s got a late dinner with Million.” He smirks as he mentions Maximilian Smith and cuts a glance at his twin who’s been forced to play host to Million’s obnoxious daughter recently.

Ciaran only grunts in response, his eyes glued to what looks like a set of photos, and Callum shakes his head, waves goodbye, and leaves the room.

“So, since you and Cal are both gone this evening, I think I’d like to go hang out with Lyah. It’s been a long time since I went to stay with her and I’d kind of like to get back to normal now any danger from the Viper has passed.”

Ciaran looks up from the pictures in his hand, but I sense he’s not giving me his full attention. “Is everything okay?” I finally ask, shelving my own agenda out of concern for my normallystoic brother. “You’re not going to tell me it’s all a mistake, are ye? And the Viper is still alive?” I can’t keep the tremble out of my voice that makes the Irish in my accent thick.

Ciaran huffs out a breath and shakes his head. “Oh no, he’s dead alright.”

Relief sweeps through me once more. Thank the lord, or else I might just have lost my breakfast right here in front of my brother.

“But?” I ask, because I know there’s a but. Janey Mack! Could he have found out about Dominic? He’s managed to get all this other information from somewhere. Probably an LCN soldier on the take who is open to providing information.

“Maricela was hurt… badly,” he finally reveals and just the thought hurts my heart. She was tossed back to that evil monster because of me, and I can’t help the whimper that escapes my throat at the news that despite the Viper’s demise, he brutalized Maricela before he met his maker, making me wonder if she’s the one who pulled the trigger, and what that might mean for the poor woman. My brother is clearly riddled with guilt over what has happened to her too, which is… unexpected. Not that he’s a completely heartless monster. But it does beg the question of whether there was more going on between them than I know about. But that’s a conundrum for another day.

I’m fortunate Ciaran is completely preoccupied with the news and doesn’t question my sudden decision to spend the night at Emylyah’s. Or maybe he just thinks it’s a good idea, since he and Callum are otherwise occupied. Either way, he gives his blessing, and I breathe a sigh of relief before excusing myself to go pack an overnight bag.

In the afternoon, Liam drops me off and leaves me for the first time since the night of my escape from the Viper's clutches. It feels strange to watch him drive away, knowing I’ll no longer be under constant surveillance. A mix of freedom and vulnerability washes over me as I turn to where Emylyah waits for me at the front door of her own gated compound.

My friend greets me with a tight hug. "I've got everything ready," she whispers, ushering me inside.

Once we're safely in her bedroom, Emylyah pulls out a small paper bag from her dresser drawer. "Here," she says, handing it to me. "I got a few different brands, just to be sure."

I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.

With shaking hands, I rummage through the bag and extract several boxes containing pregnancy tests.

"Do you want me to wait outside?" Emylyah asks gently.

I shake my head. "No, please stay. I don't think I can do this alone."

The next few minutes are a blur. I follow the instructions mechanically, then set the tests on the bathroom counter. Emylyah sets a timer on her phone, and we sit on the edge of her bathtub, waiting in tense silence.

The three minutes I have to wait feel like an eternity. I pace back and forth, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. If I am pregnant with Dominic’s baby, what does that mean for our organization? How will my brothers react? And most importantly, how do I feel about it?

Deliberately, I don’t even peek before the time is up. When the timer on Lyah’s phone finally chimes, I take a deep breath,slowly turn and walk back to the counter to look down at the tests. Each one shows two pink lines, clear as day.

Positive.

My mind numb, I sink to the floor, my back against the cool tile wall, as the implications of this result wash over me. I'm pregnant. With Dominic's child. The very thought sends a shiver down my spine—a mixture of fear and... something else. Something I'm not quite ready to name.

I place a hand on my still-flat stomach, my heart racing. How am I going to explain this to my brothers? They'll be furious when they find out I'm pregnant, let alone when they learn who the father is. And Dominic... What will he do when he discovers I'm carrying his child? Do I even tell him?

The fragile peace between our families suddenly seems more precarious than ever. One wrong move could shatter it completely.

"Roisin?" Emylyah’s concerned voice pulls me out of my internal dilemma. "Are you okay?” she whispers, sitting down beside me and giving me an awkward side hug.

“I don’t know,” I tell her honestly, pushing to my feet, my mind still in a daze. I splash some cold water on my face, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I need a plan, and fast. This pregnancy isn't something I can hide forever, especially not from my overprotective brothers.

The truth is, the Viper may be gone, but I'm carrying a secret that could be just as dangerous.

Chapter

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