Page 104 of Devilish Ink

“Can’t find what?” Liam asked. “Ry?”

“Maybe Rachel accidentally threw it in the trash with the box.”

Liam looked like he was about to lose it. His concern was on the verge of boiling over.

“Took what?” he asked. “Ry, are you alright?”

Liam’s impassioned eyes fixed on mine drew my attention back to him.

I smiled. Tears began anew.

“Took what, baby?” Liam begged.

“A test,” I said, bottom lip trembling.

Liam hesitated. “A test?”

I took in a shuddering breath. My hands gripped Liam’s wrists.

I could feel his pulse thundering. Despite the cold, his skin was on fire.

“A pregnancy test,” I said, searching his eyes as I spoke.

I felt his heart leap beneath my fingertips.

“A pregnancy test?” he repeated in a much quieter voice than before.

“A positive pregnancy test,” I whispered. “I’m pregnant.”

LIAM

Ever since I’d finally confronted Rian, my head had been a mess. I’d known it and Ry had known it. For days I’d wandered around her apartment like a ghost, hardly eating, barely sleeping, sometimes just sitting in the chair next to her, watching her toss in her sleep.

She’d told me that Rian had confronted her.

She’d told me about his ultimatum: me or him.

I forced myself, as I traced her sleeping form with my gaze, to consider that perhaps Ryleigh was better off with Rian and the Dublin Ink family than me.

I forced myselfnotto think selfishly. Isn’t that what they say, if you love something let it go?

That had been the stupidest thing I’d ever heard, until now.

I’d even confided in Darren at the garage, asked him if he thought I needed to leave Ryleigh. That maybe as a form of penance, I had to let my brother have her.

That I should disappear into the night like Ryleigh had so many years ago, so that she could carve out a better life for herself without me.

Just look at what my selfishness had done: I was a bomb that exploded her fucking life with my lies.

Darren slapped me on the back of my head. “Don’t be fecking stupid.”

Still, my questions echoed in my head. Round and round like a broken record. Until she’d said those words.

“I’m pregnant.”

Light tumbled back into my life, purpose shining like sun’s rays.

I’d been so stupid. I’d let my guilt over my brother cloud my heart.

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