Page 55 of Redemption's Inferno

“No.” Viggo held up a hand. “Friendship, co-parenting and platonic love, absolutely. Romantic or sexual? No. That’s done. We continued our sexual relations because Jamie wanted a child.”

“What if…” Chains swallowed, hating himself for what he was about to say. “Please forgive me—” He superstitiously knocked on the wooden coffee table. “I’m only being realistic. What if something happens to this child—during the pregnancy?”

Viggo sighed and Emilie bit her lip.

“Then we move on to Plan B,” Jamie said firmly. Emilie started to say something but he cut her off. “No, really. You’re putting off your life, to an extent, for almost a year to do this for me. I wouldn’t dream of asking you to do it again. I, um…” He felt a flush creeping up his neck. “I already spoke to Misty about it.”

“You did what?” Viggo stared at him.

“I figured Emilie wasn’t pregnant and at this point wouldn’t want to do it, so I mentioned it to her and Misty said she would consider it. Having a child born in the U.S. would help her immigration status as well.”

“You did this behind my back?” Viggo looked pissed.

“Babe. I mentioned it to her to see if she was even interested. There was no point in talking about it if she said no.”

“Jamie, you can’t make unilateral decisions like this!” Viggo grunted.

“Can we talk about this in private?” Jamie gave him a look and Viggo scowled but closed his mouth.

“Look, let’s not worry about that,” Emilie interjected. “I’m going to be fine, we’re going to have a beautiful baby together and all of us are going to be a family. Bad things happen, but let’s not think about them or invite trouble, okay?”

“She’s right,” Chains said. “Let’s take things one day at a time. I’m on board. Let’s give it a whirl and see how things go. To be honest, I’m beat and Emilie must be dead on her feet.”

“Tomorrow I’ll make an appointment to see my doctor, and we’ll find out all about our little bundle of joy.”

“One question,” Jamie said, looking at Chains.

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to need permission to touch her stomach on a regular basis—’cause if my kid is kicking, I might lose my mind if you say no.”

Chains smiled and shook his head. “Naw, mate, that’s ridiculous. My concern was about any ongoing romantic feelings between you—not whether or not you touch her stomach or get a glimpse of her breasts when she’s feeding the baby or whatnot. I’m a bit possessive, but not an idiot.”

“I know,” Jamie nodded. “But I had to make sure.”

“Yeah, all good, mate.”

“Fuckin’ A!” Jamie threw his arms around Viggo’s neck. “We’re gonna be dads again, babe!”

“Yeah.” Viggo kissed the underside of Jamie’s chin. “Are you happy?”

“Are you kidding?!” Jamie looked at him as if his husband had lost his mind. “I’m fucking ecstatic!”

“Don’t tell anyone until we’ve seen the doctor,” Emilie said gently. “Although there’s no reason to think anything is wrong, there could be. We have yet to hear a heartbeat or anything…”

Jamie sobered. “Yeah. You’re going to make an appointment for soon, right?”

“As soon as she can get me in. Promise.”

* * *

Two days later, Chains and Emilie got to Club Inferno early in the afternoon for a meeting with Dante, Becca, Jamie, Joe and Franny. They needed to get up to speed on everything going on at the club, including new members, the incidents since they’d been away, and upcoming shipments and events. Jamie had become part owner of the club and since he wasn’t playing hockey right now, he spent more and more time participating in the business side of things both to stave off boredom and learn the ins and outs of daily operations.

“It’s about time you two came back!” Franny chortled, shaking her head. “Joe’s good at his job, but he blushes too much!”

Joe turned red, making them all laugh.

“Sorry,” Emilie said. “I’m back now and won’t be taking any time off until March, I believe.”

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