Page 96 of Ruthless Beasts

Mercer drove silently until we pulled up in front of the home of Blaine’s family. When he turned off the engine, he turned toward me. “I don’t want to do this.”

“Me either.” I looked toward the perfect little house. Blaine was so damn proud of this place and its white picket fence.

“Should we have Adam do it?” Mercer asked, even though we both knew it wasn’t an option. We couldn’t drag him out of our home just to break a woman’s heart. We told him we’d handle it, and we would. It was just… hard.

Everything about this situation was impossibly hard. How could we tell a wife that her husband died to protect our wife from danger? Did we lie and vow vengeance, if only to spare her feelings? Vengeance would be had; I’d make fucking sure of that.

The car door squeaked when I pushed it open, and I cringed at the broken silence. Did she hear it? Did she know we were coming? Setting eyes on us would surely give away our reason for a visit.

We walked up the path, using a little lever to release the lock on the white fence that only reached mid-thigh in height, before entering the yard. The whole walk, I built up what I’d say, possibilities of how to break the news, but nothing seemed sufficient. No words would ever be enough when it came to breaking such news.

On the steps, we stopped, our eyes meeting before Mercer stretched out his hand, ringing the bell. We waited, the slight stir inside matching the increased rhythm of my heartbeat as steps approached the door. When it pulled open, we were frozen, staring into Anita’s wide eyes.

She knew. Her expression gave it away, but knowing and the confirmation of it were vastly different. I swallowed hard, working past the cotton in my throat enough to form words.

“Blaine’s dead.”

And when she crumbled to the floor, it was Mercer who caught her from falling.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

MERCER

The private service for Blaine was held two weeks later at our property, so all who were close to us, work family and his private family, could come and celebrate the life of an all-around good guy. It was hard to say goodbye, but wasn’t it always?

“You look comfortable,” I mumbled against Bellamy’s skin as I leaned down to kiss her hair. It was evening, and all the guests had gone home, allowing our little bookworm to curl up into a ball on her chair in the library and get lost.

“Mmhm.” She smiled up at me. “There were a lot of people, and I needed some wind down time.”

“You’re allowed to take what you need, little girl.” I reached over and removed the book from her hand, marking the place. “Care to take a break from your paper porn for some dinner?”

She tapped her chin, pretending to think. “I could eat.”

“Of course you can.” I placed the book on the table. “The little one likes food.”

She looked down at her stomach and frowned. “I’m getting huge.”

“Stop. You’re absolutely not.” I put my hand on her stomach, moving my thumb in gentle strokes. “You’re perfect.”

“I never said I wasn’t perfect.” She stuck her tongue out. “I only said I’m getting huge.”

“Then I guess I’m into huge because this right here is fucking hot.” Leaning down, I captured her lips in a slow kiss, getting lost in everything Bellamy for a moment, until she shifted. I pulled back in shock. “What the fuck just happened?”

“She kicked you.”

She kicked me. The little tiny being inside of there was powerful enough to lift my hand right off her mother’s stomach and fuck… I dropped to my knees. “Do it again.”

As if the child understood my demand, the tiniest flutter danced against my palm. “Wow, fuck, this is amazing! Have Adam and Ace felt this?”

My eyes were glued to her stomach, afraid I’d miss something big. If I squinted, I could just make out the movement just under the surface. She watched me for a moment before answering. “Her movements have just become noticeable outside my body, but I’ve been feeling her for weeks. She just so happened to pick you to perform for first.”

I was so fucking thankful for that. “I never thought about what it must be like to have her moving around inside of you. It’s insane.”

She laughed. “It feels different for sure.”

Standing, I leaned over and scooped her up. Her squeal was nearly glass shattering. But her laugh that followed was euphoric. Without further words, I carried her down the stairs, careful not to jostle her. I didn’t put her down until we reached the kitchen, where I lowered her to sit on the kitchen island.

“Men. I’ve got news.” She was giggling behind her hand at my antics. “It appears our lady has… a wiggle baby in her stomach.”

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