Page 54 of Twisted Obsession

Taking a deep breath, I swing my legs over the side of the bed. The room tilts alarmingly, so I grip the edge of the mattress, willing the dizziness to pass. One step at a time, I tell myself. Stand up. Walk to the door. Open it.

I've barely made it halfway across the room when my bedroom door bursts open and Emylyah and Maricela rush in. “Roisin, what the heck are you doing? Get into bed, right now,” my friend chides, turning me around and helping me back to where I came from.

“Lyah…” Her name comes out as a croak on my lips and Maricela, herself pregnant with my brother’s child, immediately hurries to fetch me a glass of water.

As soon as I’m situated on my comfy mattress, I take a grateful sip but refuse to let them distract me. “I need to speak to my brothers… explain. Find out if Dominic…” My voice cracks again, but it’s not because I have a dry throat this time.

Maricela's face softens and she perches on the edge of the bed, taking my hand in hers. “The baby is fine, Roisin.” She squeezes my hand. "The doctor says everything seems okay, but he wants you to rest and get a proper check-up tomorrow. As for your brothers..." She trails off, glancing towards the door.

I follow her gaze, my heart racing. "They know, don't they?"

She nods slowly. "The doctor let it slip. I'm sorry, Roisin. They're... processing."

That’s a polite way to put it. I close my eyes, fighting back tears. "I need to talk to them. Explain everything."

"Are you sure you're up for that right now?" Emylyah asks, concern evident in her voice.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "I don’t have a choice. If they jump to the wrong conclusions, it’ll only be worse.”

Sighing, Maricella climbs off the bed. “I’ll tell them you’re awake then.”

I fall back against the pillows as I wait for the inevitable.

The door creaks open slowly, and I brace myself for the onslaught. But when Callum and Ciaran enter, their faces are shrouded in worry and confusion. The two of them approach the bed cautiously, as if I might shatter at any moment.

"Roisin," Callum begins, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," I lie, forcing a weak smile. "Just a bit dizzy still."

He nods, perching awkwardly on the edge of the bed, and Emylyah moves away, crossing the room to stand with the woman who will be my sister-in-law. There's a long moment of silence before Ciaran speaks. "Is it true? What the doctor said?"

I swallow hard, meeting his gaze, then switching to his twin. "Yes. I'm pregnant."

Ciaran exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair.

“How far along?” Callum demands, his eyes hard, and I know the answer has the potential to start the war I thought we’d managed to dodge.

I move my hand to my baby bump. Both their gazes follow, the realization I’m undoubtedly further along than they expected, and the implications of that, dawning on them.

“Roisin?”

I swallow and stare at my hands. “Twelve weeks,” I whisper, trying not to cringe when I hear their indrawn breaths and the barrage of curse words that follow.

“Do you know who the father is?” Ciaran grates, his tone dangerous.

The words sting, but I bite back my retort. Getting defensive won't help. "Of course I do, Ciaran. It’s not what you think.”

“Tell me who the bastard is so I can castrate the fucker,” Callum bellows, and this time I do flinch at the pure, unadulterated venom in his voice.

I stare at him, my eyes wide and shake my head, my knuckles turning white on the bed covers as I grasp them to me like they might offer some protection. Terror trickles down my spine, and there’s no way I’m saying anything to endanger Dominic while they have him locked up in the basement.

“Excuse me, Sir…” A man I don’t recognize interrupts, and I assume he must be the doctor. Callum looks like he might just murder the man, but Ciaran turns to face him, with what I call his ‘personable’ mask firmly in place.

“Yes, Doctor?”

“Umm, I have some information…” he stammers, looking from me to my brothers. My eyes plead with him not to tell them what I think he’s going to say. “The identity of the baby’s father…”

“You have that?” Callum demands, stalking across the room towards the man.

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