Page 66 of Breeding Justice

“Showtime,” I whispered into the earpiece, the thrill of it sparking through me like a live wire. “Our friend Dante’s got his poker face on, but these guys look trigger-happy.”

Bash’s response was quick, laced with the kind of calm you only got after walking through hell and back. “Stay sharp. We only get one shot at this.”

I felt the words hum through me, feeding the adrenaline that coursed just beneath the surface. The tension was electric, every moment stretched taut like the skin of a drum. This was the kind of situation that defined us—made or broke us in the blink of an eye.

I watched the yard, the players moving into place like pieces on a bloody chessboard. Dante was the wildcard, but I knew he wouldn’t be for long. We had our own hand to play, and we played it ruthlessly.

“Hope you’ve got your knives ready, Bash,” I muttered, cracking my knuckles in anticipation. “Looks like it’s gonna be a long night.” And what a night it would be, teetering on the brink of chaos, just the way I liked it.

Epilogue: Justice

Istood in the bathroom, sunlight streaming through the frosted glass, cutting bright lines across the tiles. I stared at the positive pregnancy test in my hand, my heart racing so fast I thought it might burst out of my chest.

The room felt too small, too close, for what I was trying to process.

I blinked, trying to absorb it—trying to accept that the little plus sign on the test wasn’t just a cruel trick. Another baby. After everything.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. My fingers trembled as I stared at that damn test. My thoughts were a mess, tangled in a knot of fear, joy, and disbelief. This wasn’t part of the plan. Hell, I wasn’t even sure what the plan was anymore. I’d thought survival was the endgame, but life had other ideas.

I placed a tentative hand over my belly. There was something terrifying and beautiful about this moment, about what it meant for the future. My mind wandered to SJ. He’ll have a sibling. The thought hit me harder than I expected, twisting my heart in a way that almost made me dizzy.

Maybe this time, things would be different. Better. We weren’t living in a war zone anymore—not constantly. The hope was fragile, but it was there, a tiny spark flickering beneath all the fear and uncertainty.

I stood in that quiet bathroom for a long time, unmoving. Letting the weight of possibility sink into my bones.

When I finally walked out into the living room, the scene was almost laughably normal. Skylar was sprawled on the couch, flipping through TV channels like he was allergic to focusing on anything for longer than two seconds. Zane sat nearby, reading the news on his tablet. Bash was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with his usual calm confidence, sipping coffee.

Hassan stood by the window, gazing out at the Miami skyline like he was contemplating something deep. And in the center of it all was SJ, chasing his remote-control car across the floor, giggling like the happiest kid in the world.

I paused in the doorway for a second, taking it all in. This was our life. Chaotic, messy, but real.

Skylar spotted me first, flashing that grin that always made me want to punch him and kiss him at the same time.

“Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he teased. “Big night thinking about how amazing I am?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ve got something better.”

That caught their attention. Bash raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. Zane set his tablet down, his focus shifting entirely to me. Even Hassan turned from the window, his expression softening with quiet curiosity.

My heart pounded. For a moment, I debated saying something else, making a joke to deflect the enormity of the moment. But no. This was too big.

“I’m pregnant.”

The room went dead silent. SJ’s car hit the wall and spun in lazy circles, the only sound breaking through the stillness.

Bash blinked, the shock in his eyes giving way to understanding. "...Pregnant?" he echoed, like he needed to say it aloud to believe it.

“Well, shit,” Skylar said, breaking into a wide grin. “You work fast, huh?”

Zane chuckled, shaking his head. “Fast isn’t the word. Precise.”

Hassan took a step toward me, his concern palpable. “How are you feeling?” he asked gently.

“I’m okay,” I said, though my voice felt small. “Just… still processing.”

Skylar leaned back against the couch, stretching his arms out dramatically. “Okay, but the real question—whose kid is it?”

“Mine,” Bash said without hesitation, his voice completely deadpan.

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