Page 76 of Ruthless Beasts

Was he fucking mocking me?

“It’s- she- we…” I stumbled over my words, not knowing how to put a voice to all my thoughts and feelings.

His hand came down on my shoulder. “It will be fine. Plus, I’m excited to see that little squiggle bean again.”

Belle walked up with Ace right as Mercer spoke. She rubbed the bump as she chimed in, “It’s a little more than a squiggle bean now.”

“Nonsense. It’s only been a few weeks.”

“Babies grow quick, Merc, and it’s been like what? At least twelve weeks since you first saw it.”

The best twelve weeks I’d had in years, now that I knew I’d be a father again. Now that I’d let myself feel the freedom of a connection again. Now that I’d begun to live again. I reached out, taking Belle’s hand, wanting the connection. No,needingthe connection because sometimes I couldn't believe this wasreal and not some mental break I’d suffered from. Except I woke up this morning, with her palm against my bare skin, and I didn’t think I could recreate a feeling like that. It had to be real.

A door opened, and a male stepped out, a smile on his face as he looked around. “Bellamy Ferrari.”

She stepped forward, but I refused to let go of her hand. When we got closer, the guy looked around. “I’m sorry, only two can come into the room. Which one is the dad?”

“We all are,” I stated, daring him to challenge me.

“That’s…” He swallowed as I refused to blink, and I knew behind me, Mercer and Ace were using their size as their own intimidation tactics.

Defusing the situation, Belle leaned in. “Listen, I know there are rules and all and I’d never ask you to bend them. But is there maybe a bigger room we could use so they all could come? I’m okay if we need to reschedule, but I can’t pick one. You know how males are. It will become a competition.”

“I just don’t?—“

“Please.” Her voice broke, and when I looked over, she suddenly was sobbing, tears pouring from her eyes. She sniffed hard. “Don’t make me choose.”

Fury consumed me and I saw red. I wanted nothing more than to take the technician’s throat between my fingers and squeeze the life out of him. Maybe it was the tears, or maybe he sensed my anger because the technician cursed. “Just… give me five minutes, okay? I’ll see what I can do.”

The door shut, and I turned, fuming that he had the audacity to make her cry. But she only cleared her throat as she used her sleeve to wipe away tears. “See, that wasn’t too hard, now was it? Much easier than the macho shit you three were trying to pull.”

After gifting us with an eye roll, she turned and strolled back to the waiting area, taking a seat, leaving us all standing there in a mess of confusion. Had my wife… just manipulated… all ofus? Fuck, I hadn’t thought the sweet thing had it in her. I’d seen nothing so fucking attractive.

Ten minutes later, we were in a room, Belle squirming as she cursed the stupid water she was forced to drink. “I’ve never had to pee so much in my life.”

“It’s fine, you’re okay,” I promised, even though I’d never been in her position. It couldn’t be that bad, could it?

“I literally could pee my pants right this moment.” She looked serious.

“It was only a glass of water.” Ace sighed.

“And the weight of this child’s ass on my bladder,” she whimpered.

“That’s like what, two pounds at most?” Ace tried to reason.

“We’re just going to get a few measurements, then I’ll let you use the restroom.” The tech sat on a chair and squirted some jelly onto her stomach. This tech was a girl. The male was probably too afraid to open that door and face us again. “And just so you know, boys, pregnancy is tough. Having to pee can be so unbearable.”

I held up my hands in surrender. “I believe you.”

Belle shot me a look because moments before, I had tried to lessen her suffering, but honestly, I was trying to convince her more than myself. I knew none of us could ever handle being pregnant, even if it were possible.

She winced as the lady dug the wand into her skin. “You’re hurting her.”

“Easy there, papa bear.” The tech laughed. “It’s uncomfortable, I’ll admit. But we need to make sure this kid is measured correctly.”

“Can’t you do it without hurting her?” I growled.

The tech’s lips quirked a little. “That’s up to your child. Seems like it’s as stubborn as its father.”

---