Page 70 of Sunshine & Ink

“I didn’t do it for myself,” I said sharply. “I did it for you, baby girl. I couldn’t risk him ratting you out to the Elders. Fucking low-life.”

She still kept her hands over her mouth and I felt a cold sweat break out on my neck.

What if this meant she’d never trust me again? What if it meant I had screwed my chance?

“I’m sorry about your son,” I said roughly. “I will do everything I can to protect him and take care of him, no matter what happens. Even if you never forgive me. I promise to always care for you and protect you both. You have my word on that.”

She dropped her hands and her lips tightened.

“Why should I trust your word, Raker? You’ve always broken your promises to me.”

Her words landed on my chest harder than any blow Leo or the guards ever could have, punching the air from my chest and leaving me feeling like a hollow jackass.

“I am sorry for being a shithead. And you’re going to see you can trust me now. But even if you never forgive me, it’s my fault you had to turn to him. I’ll take care of you and your baby even if you hate me every day for the rest of my life. I won’t stop.”

“Why are you being like this?” she cried, turning away from me, but not before I saw tears hovering on her eyelashes.

“What’s wrong?” I asked roughly, and I couldn’t help drawing her into my arms, cradling her stiff and resistant body to my chest, craving her softness even though she wasn’t giving me any of it.

“Why now, Raker? Why are you being so nice now?”

“I’m not a good man,” I said, “And I’ve never been good with my words. But I screwed up with you and I want another chance. I’ll bring up your son like he was my own. And when he’s old enough, I’ll tell him that I killed his father and man up to it so he can hate me.”

Sunni turned her face up to mine. The tears clustered on her dark eyelashes.

“That would be a lie, Raker. Leo wasn’t the father of my baby. You are.”

CHAPTER 25

Raker

“Can I help you with anything?” I asked, knocking gently on the door of my room. “Hopefully you sleep well tonight,” I added.

Sunni was sleeping in my bed while I bunked in the prospect room.

The revelation that she was carryingmybaby had almost brought me to my knees.

My child, my woman, my wife.

How had I fucking screwed up something that should have been the most treasured part of my life? How had I thrown away Sunni’s love like it was nothing? With one raw brutal action I had shattered her sweet, pure love for me,

“I’m fine,” Sunni said, but I saw a flash of pain cross her face, as she put a hand to her side.

My heart immediately clutched with fear.

Was something wrong?

Was Sunni sick?

Was she keeping an illness, an injury, from me?

“You’re not fine,” I said sternly, crossing over to her. “Tell me right goddamn now what’s wrong.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted, backing up until the side of her knees hit the bed. “My milk is just coming in.”

“Your milk?” I asked. “How do we fix it?”

“Wedon’t fix anything,” she said, but I saw her swallow convulsively, her breasts heavy and swollen under her robe. “I just need to take a warm shower and put on a cold compress for the pressure.”

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