Page 60 of Gilded Desires

A sharp-tipped finger jabs into my chest.

“I’d like to do my own talking, thank you!”

“You’re not looking good.”

“Of course I don’t! I just drove thirty miles in a downpour thinking the worst while hoping I didn’t kill us both by driving off the side of the road. Of course I’m not well.”

All six of us stand silently.

“Twoof you?” I ask, pronouncing my words slowly.

Nineteen

Belle

Ifreeze with my hand halfway to poking Aziel in the chest again. Shit. This day started out miserable and now it’s going to end that way.

The stab of pain between my eyes returns. “That is not how I wanted that news to come out.”

“Kill us both? What is that supposed to mean?”

I drop my hand to my flat stomach. In the months to come, it will grow with their child. Our child. “Both,” I say again a little slower. I look to my men. “I’m pregnant.”

Harlon roars with anger and I throw my arm out to stop him from burying his fist into Gage’s face. “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you for violating my sister!” The rage in his eyes rises to lethal levels. If he mentions the basement this will turn into an all-out brawl with me in the middle.

“Stop your dick measuring and posturing,” I yell right back. “No one did anything to me that I didn’t want. And you don’t get to kill them because I’m going to kill them.” I whirl on my men.“What the fucking hell? You leave me at your home to come and confront my brother? Why?”

“Confront? No. Talk to, yes.”

Gage’s expression is as flat as his tone.

“Do I look like a damsel in distress? Do I need you coming here to ask permission for me to see you three? Do I look like I need the three assholes taking my problems on their shoulders for me? And why the fuck are you all smirking.”

Aziel answers first. “You’re pregnant?”

I nod. Damn them. My anger slips when they all smile.

“I never thought it could happen.” I’ve never spoken those words aloud. Hearing them from my own mouth makes my heart cry and quiver with hope.

Blue eyes hold me captive. “What? That we would have a family? The four of us? Or that you would find love?”

“That I would find men strong enough to take a mafia princess on and win her heart.”

My men surround me and anyone else in the room is forgotten.

“And have we?” Rush catches my chin with a finger. “Won your heart?”

“Yes.” I take all their hands and settle them over my belly. “I didn’t want you to find out like this.”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you know you are our life now. Our world. Our everything. We will not let anything happen to you.” Gage’s words have a ring of finality.

“Damn straight.”

We all turn to look at my brother and his two friends. All three of them have peculiar looks on their faces. “Care for her and you’ll have our support in anything you need. Hurt her and the walls of God’s heavens will not keep me from finding you.”

“There’s not a being or force in this world who will harm your sister, Harlon.”

“You have all of our promises on that.”

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