Page 67 of Twisted

“Maisie Jane, this is the happiest fuckin’ day of my life, aside from the day I met you. No one’ll ever hurt ya again. No one will hurt our family. I would carve out my own beating heart before I let anythin’ happen to you two.”

She clung to him and sobbed and nodded, and for the breathless span of eternity, all was peaceful.

20

Jaeger

Present Day

They’d known about the pregnancy for two solid weeks. Just yesterday they’d ventured into town to confirm a heartbeat and due date, Maisie shaking the entire time but relaxing immensely as soon as they’d been given the good news. Everything was fine, moving along as it should, and Maisie was healthy.

Those two things were all that mattered to Jaeger, now; Maisie and their baby.

They walked hand in hand along the stretch of beach, Maisie unable to sit still for long. She was either restless, sick, starving, or sleeping. But Jaeger loved it, for it gave him a real chance to prove to Maisie how he could and would care for her and their child. With the trial just a week away, they pushed every other thought aside and focused solely on what was most important.

“Ooh, this one looks like your eyes,” Maisie said, bending carefully to pluck a piece of sea glass from the sand. It was a blustering, stormy day, but neither seemed to mind. He watched the way she moved, studied how different it was from before; everything she did, she seemed to do it with their baby in mind, even down to how she moved. It brought a soft smile to his lips. He would never tire of witnessing such a miracle.

She held up the piece of glass, palm open, the smooth, rounded edges glistening in the dreary day. It was a light shade of green—close to peridot, but opaque. It did match his eyes. His grin grew as she stowed it in her pocket. He knew she was making something for the baby with all her beachfront finds, but he didn’t ask her about it; it felt personal to her, something she needed to do on her own to honor the other child she’d lost against her will.

She’d told Jaeger in clipped tones what had happened with Randy and Carter. He didn’t press her on it; he didn’t need to or want to hear anymore. Holding onto his future with her was the only thing keeping him sane. But every night in his dreams, he saw their blood, envisioned their screams of pain at his hands. He wished—not for the first time—that he’d been the one to dole out that justice.

He couldn’t continue his lifestyle; he knew he’d somehow have to run, because there was no denying a man like Hades. There was no quitting a job that involved being a murderer for its first requirement. He’d burned that bridge as soon as Rancho had let them go. He knew if Hades ever found them…well, it simply wouldn’t end well. He liked the idea of Montana—somewhere vast and open and endless. After the trial, maybe they’d go visit, find a ranch he could work on. Anywhere but here.

They meandered back to the stairs of their cottage, the little trail in the sand dune leading up to it growing more precarious. Bending, he swept Maisie up into his arms, catching her eyes and then pressing a kiss to her scar. She blushed without hesitation.

“Love you, baby doll,” he said, voice hushed but still carrying over the crashing of waves. Her smile faltered.

She’d still not been able to say it back. He knew she would, in her own time, but it still stung slightly every time his words weren’t reciprocated. Her brows furrowed, her lips pursed, as though to speak, when a dark shadow fell over them both.

Jaeger’s attention snapped up to the porch, his stomach and heart sinking like a stone. Above them, clutching the railing, was none other than the devil himself.

Facing his sins in such a way was daunting. He was normally fearless, but now he had everything and more to lose. Hand in hand, they stood on the porch, staring without saying a thing at the two men who held their fates in their hands. Maisie was trembling, clinging to Jaeger, normally a spitfire herself but knowing her duty now had changed. Jaeger could sense it, that instinctual need to protect their baby, and it made his love for her grow even more.

Hades, ever dark and menacing, glared at Maisie, while Rancho hung back, bespectacled eyes watching the swells come in.

“Keep an eye on Miss Walkup, please. Ensure she’s warm enough.”

Hades’ voice was deep, commanding, and Rancho pulled away from the view, meeting Jaeger’s eyes for the first time. In those brown orbs were his death sentence, but he could see their mercy, also; they would take care of Maisie. It crashed around him in that instant, the feeling of his impending death. Knocked the breath from his lungs in such a painful way. But he couldn’t let Maisie see that.

Broadening his shoulders, Jaeger stood to his full height. He wouldn’t go down without a fight, but he knew it was fruitless; the most he could ask for now was that Maisie would never want for anything. That she’d be safe, and their child would someday understand the sacrifice their father had to make.

Maisie squeaked, about to protest, when Jaeger squeezed her hand tight and turned to her, cupping her wind-bitten cheek, eyes swishing between hers. He could only smile. Because at least leaving her here and now, it was peaceful. They wouldn’t be so cruel as to kill him in front of her. But he was still leaving her—breaking his promise to some degree.

Her bottom ruby lip wobbled, tears gathering like a flood in her eyes. She cried at the drop of a hat these days, the emotions Jaeger’d always wanted to see now stitched onto her every sleeve. He knew in dying he’d not miss a thing—but seeing her now, the way those trusting round eyes blinked up at him—he ached for everything he’d miss.

The way her belly would swell. Holding her hand and encouraging her through the birth of their child. Watching their baby grow. He’d never know what they would look like, but he hoped they were like Maisie. The world needed more of her unending, gracious type of beauty. In that moment, he felt it in his bones that it was a little girl. His throat constricted with unshed tears. He wouldn’t let them fall; he’d be her strength until the bloody end. Always.

Leaning down, he pressed his forehead to hers, the tips of their cold noses touching. She sniffed and shivered and clung to him with a fierceness he’d always craved. He’d waited too long for this woman to finally be his, and he supposed that was the way of this world; a taste of heaven, a belly full of hell.

“Gonna miss ya, baby doll. Be good, ya hear?”

Her tears became a waterfall, but she knew what was happening; she wasn’t so disillusioned to not think there were consequences for actions. At least with him out of her life, she’d be safe. He knew Rancho would ensure that.

Slow, he pressed his wide palm to her lower belly. If he pressed hard enough, he could feel the tiny swell of their child, a little knot growing rapidly every day. Taking in a shuddering breath, he swallowed his tears. She slipped her cold little hand over his.

“If it’s a girl, do me a favor, yeah?” he whispered, voice hoarse. Her eyes fluttered closed as a choked sob escaped, but she nodded.

“Name ‘er Lula. Lula Jane. After my nana. After you.”

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