Page 110 of A Twisted Arrangement

“I had it under control.” I press my forehead to his, eyes closed, basking in the sound of his breathing. My entire body starts to shake, like it chose this exact moment for my adrenaline to wear off.

“Are you okay?” Matthias grips my arm just as the nausea hits me.

Not now, not now, not now.

I jump up from the bed and rush into the attached bathroom just in time to vomit. All the strength leaves me, and I’m about to fall when strong arms wrap around my waist.

“I need a doctor. Get us a doctor now,” Matthias’s voice booms, likely echoing through the entire hospital.

“I’m fine. It’s okay. I’m fine.”

“You are not fine.” His growl reverberates through my back.

I twist in his arms. This wasn’t exactly how I was planning to tell him, but there’s no way he’s going to get back into that bed unless I do.

“I’m pregnant.”

His eyes flare wide, mouth dropping open, then closing like he’s trying to say something but can’t. He grips my arms, holding me so we can face each other.

“I’m going to be a d…dad?” His voice cracks.

I push him back, careful not to apply too much pressure. “Yes, we’re going to have a baby. Now, get back into bed.”

Matthias just stares at me. “I’m going to be a dad.”

“Bed, now,” I command, and he gets on the bed obediently.

He grips my hand and pulls me onto the mattress beside him. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I snuggle into his shoulder, breathing him in. “Positive.”

“There’s something I need to say, and I need you to just listen,” he says, running his thumb over my cheek.

I look up at him, trying to read his expression, but there’s no tell there. “Okay.”

“You don’t need to do everything on your own. You are not alone. You’ve never been alone because even if you didn’t know it, you have always had me. I have belonged to you for so long I can’t remember what it feels like to belong to myself. Loving you has been the reason I wake up in the morning. There is nothing about you I would change. Not your past. Not your dreams. Not your family. Nothing. You are and you have always been it for me. I was a stupid fifteen-year-old kid, but even then, I would give you anything you wanted. I would wait for however long you needed me too. I was happy to sit by and watch you because it’s what you needed. But now you…”

Matthias rubs my stomach, and tears pool in my eyes.

“Now you both need me. There’s no end to how much I care about you. There’s no bottom to the well of my love. I want to be here for you. You don’t have to do any of this alone. So pull everything you need from me. I won’t break.”

He cups my face, holding all of my attention and promises.

“You’re mine now. I’m never letting you go.”

Chapter 52

Scarlet

We invitedthe entire Everette family over for breakfast, and our farmhouse is filled with the brothers speaking over each other. Well, our home may look like a farmhouse, but it’s anything but small. It’s as if Matthias knew I’d want to have our home boisterous with family before I did.

Misty and Damon are cuddled up on the love seat, lost in their own world, as Bash and Xander finish up the dishes.

I can’t help the smile overtaking my face at the fact that this is my new life. My home growing up had been a cold, unforgiving place, where nothing but perfection was accepted. I bite my lip as the two youngest brothers make their way to the living room, a constant bickering between the two of them.

“I still can’t get over that fucking bastard Oliver. To think, I actually liked that guy,” Bash says, collapsing on our wide leather sofa. He’s been rambling on about what happened for the last week. They’d all been shocked when I explained everything.

I pass him a steaming cup of coffee. “It’s alright. He fooled us all.”

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