Page 112 of A Twisted Arrangement

“I’ll get my place ready too,” Xander chimes in.

The brothers all speak over each other in their excitement, keeping themselves distracted as Matthias and I get up.

His strong fingers curl over my waist, and his chest rests against my back, his sturdy presence easing my nerves.

“Listen up. Scarlet has something to say.”

Damon’s face snaps to Matthias’s, clueing in seconds before I say the words.

I take a deep breath. “We’re happy to announce that your son will have someone to play with…because I’m pregnant.”

“No shit?” Bash collapses against the back of the sofa, a dopey look on his face, but it’s Damon who has my attention.

He’s crossing the room in three strides before pulling Matthias and me into a bone-crushing hug.

“Easy on my wife.”

Damon steps back immediately and looks me up and down as if he’ll be able to spot signs. “You’re really pregnant?”

“Yup, Uncle Damon,” Matthias replies, and the room erupts with noise.

My heart swells as all the brothers are off their feet, hugging everyone. I can’t stop myself from laughing when Bash hugs Xander, his joy overflowing.

It takes a while for the room to quiet down and for us to finally be able to take our seats. Tears of happiness prick my eyes as I glance over at Misty, who’s already looking back at me. Loud, boisterous, full of love. I can’t imagine a better place to have my family.

Hours later, the last Everette brother finally leaves, and I get to collapse against Matthias on the couch, exhaustion taking over me. My eyelids grow heavier with each blink, and Matthias shifts me so I’m laid out over him, his arms securing me in place.

I rest my chin on his chest, meeting his eyes, and voice the worry that’s been plaguing me. “Do you think after everything that’s happened, I can be a good mom?”

My husband’s arms tighten, and his eyes bore into mine, as if trying to imprint the truth of what he’s about to say. “Despite everything you’ve been through, you are still the most caring person I know. Plus, there’s not a doubt in my mind you will be able to protect our kids.”

Kids. Plural. I like the sound of that. “Promise me we will never be like our parents.”

“You never have to worry about that. We’re going to surround them with so much love they won’t be able to comprehend how we grew up. They will never know what it feels like to have parents who don’t adore them.”

I push a strand of his hair back. “You’re going to spoil them, aren’t you?”

He kisses my forehead. “You have no idea.”

My breath catches. “I love you.”

“I love you more.” He buries his face into the crook of my neck and shifts so I’m beneath him, his hard cock pressing between my thighs.

My mind’s blank, and my heart’s full as I bask in our new life. One that he’s given me everything I’ve ever dreamed of.

Chapter 53

Epilogue

Matthias

I balanceEve on my hip. She’s a runner, so if I have any chance of drinking my coffee, I have to keep her feet above the ground. Her little fingers dig aggressively into the back of my hair, holding herself in place as she watches her siblings attentively.

“Olivia, stop picking on your brother,” I tell my oldest daughter. She’s got Tucker in a headlock Uncle Bash would be proud of.

“He started it.” I don’t miss the way her grip tightens slightly before finally releasing him.

“Nuh-uh. You started it.” Tucker glares up at his big sister, and I catch his arm just as he scoops a large handful of dirt from the raised garden bed. My poor coffee is abandoned on the ground.

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