Page 56 of Rage

I’d paid my dues, did my debts. I’m owed a happy ending, and that ending involves Zaiden.

“Bite me, motherfucker,” I want to growl aloud whenever my thoughts wander.

Zaiden ismineand may God fuck anyone who threatens that reality.

All fucking mine.

Chapter Four

Say Her Name

Zaiden

Zachary scowled and paced the length of his work room when I’d informed him of Sarah’s imminent arrival. Apparently, it was both an unexpected and unwanted surprise.

But she’s carrying my child and I refuse to allow a divide, a line to be drawn between one and the other because I’ll always choose Sarah, each and every time. I hope she knows it. It’s been twenty minutes since I’ve talked to her department manager who’d assured me my future wife was given permission to return home and to take the next two weeks off.

But, I’m not home and she should be headed here. Whatever version of hell here is.

“I mean, does she have to come here? You can’t like, go meet her then come back?”

I turn my glare on him, lips pressed into a line. He throws his hands up.

“What?” he gestures at the strapped down, whimpering man, “We’re kind of in the middle of something and your littleprincess—” I take a step toward him and he laughs, blue eyes brightening like headlights.

He’s goading me. Does he fucking want me to hit him?

“Nat let me—What the fuck, Dayton?” I whirl around at Sarah’s voice. My face falls at the horror painted across my raven.

“I can explain—” She takes a step into the room and I intercept her. What feels like an eternity is mere minutes of her lifting her gaze from the piece of meat—Zac’s term—to lock gazes with me.

My mouth gapes open, words getting stuck on my tongue. I’ve never had to—I can’t. If she leaves me, I’ll—A hand lands on my cheek and I flinch under the gentle touch.

“Relax, remember to breathe,” she whispers, sliding as close as her stomach allows. It’s not close enough. I want under her skin.

“Zachary,” she calls out, voice firm and strong. “What did he do?”

I point at my chest and her head shakes, sending dark hair whipping past her shoulders.

“He raped a woman outside of Rhys’ bar. I trailed him after calling the authorities for his victim?—”

“Did she have dark hair? Brown eyes?” Sarah peers around me to look at my twin and I want to jerk her face back to me.

Silence except for clothes rustling comes from behind me. I’m assuming he’s shrugging because of course he doesn’t pay attention to anyone that isn’t Natalia. If the man wasn’t strapped to the table, I’m not sure he’d know the guy’s hair color either.

Sarah’s hand slides away and she moves to step around me. I chase the motion, standing in front of her, blocking her entrance.

She frowns at me.

“You can’t,” I say, gesturing down at our unborn.

“Ourbaby will be fine. The child of the woman that man attacked?” Tears glisten in her eyes. “I don’t think it made it but I—” She shakes her head, swallowing several times. After taking a deep breath, she continues, “I couldn’t do a bedside ultrasound. I just—I didn’t want to see it.”

Her eyes stay fixed to my chest. My fingers tip her chin up.

“Tell me.” Her eyes close, body shifting toward me the barest inch.

“My third time trying to get pregnant,” a tear slips past her closed eyelids, “I couldn’t—It didn’t—” Her shoulders bow and I pull her into a hug, resting my chin on her forehead.

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