Page 43 of Taming the Demon

Her teeth chattered and the sudden urge to pee attacked her. Mara moved the pregnancy test between her legs and started to go. Darrow watched for a second, eyes wide, and then he stood up and turned away.

“There,” Mara called out.

She placed the test on the bathroom counter and reached for toilet paper to wipe. She then lifted her panties and pants and washed her hands.

“You can’t take this personally,” Cyrus said. “Nobody can. There are just answers I need. There’s shit on my mind. There’s just…”

He looked at Darrow. Darrow saw the pain and the sadness hidden within Cyrus’s eyes.

“Prez, let’s just talk it out,” Darrow said. “Just you and me, brother. Leave Mara out of it. Let me explain everything.”

Cyrus’s lip began to curl. “What is there to explain…?”

“Think about the position you put us in,” Darrow said. “And I get it. We’re all fighting demons. And with Priest in a coma. Fitz on the run. I get it.”

Cyrus grabbed Darrow’s shirt. “What the fuck are you getting at?”

Darrow told himself this was it. This was the moment of truth. Darrow opened his mouth, ready to accept his fate.

“Holy fuck!” Mara suddenly screamed.

Cyrus and Darrow turn their heads and Mara stood there, eyes wide, jaw dropped.

Mara was holding a positive pregnancy test.

Chapter Eighteen

A Bun in the Oven

Cyrus pushed Darrow away and grabbed the pregnancy test from Mara’s hand. It was positive. No doubt, even for a very drunk Cyrus.

Darrow’s heart pounded inside his chest. Beating faster than he ever experienced before. Trying to hold himself together during what was by far the biggest surprise of his life. Unless Mara had a pregnancy test hidden inside herself…

She’s really pregnant, Darrow thought to himself.

“She’s really pregnant,” he said out loud with a tone of confidence. “Are we done here, Cyrus? Because if you think I’m going to tolerate this shit for a second longer…” Darrow took a breath. Confidence hit him harder. “You ever question my loyalty or question who Mara is and I will fucking kill you with my bare hands…Prez…”

Cyrus reached out and grabbed the back of Darrow’s neck. “Never doubted you for a second, brother. Now we can really celebrate.”

When Cyrus turned to face Mara, she jumped back. All Cyrus wanted—and got—was a hug. He then placed his huge hand on her stomach.

“You belong here, Mara,” Cyrus said. “You were always smart and tough. You should have never been with that rat piece of shit.”

“I agree,” Mara said. “Now leave me alone, Cyrus.”

Cyrus laughed and stomped his way out of the room to make the official announcement to the rest of the club. It had a sense of déjà vu to it, except that this time…

“It’s real,” Darrow said to Mara. “Are you fucking joking?”

“What…” Mara shook her head. “Do you think I had a secret test stuck up my pussy or something?”

“Maybe.”

“Want to check?”

“Sure,” Darrow said with a smirk.

Mara slapped him across the face. “I’m fucking pregnant, Darrow! For real! This is real!”

---