Page 71 of Twisted Games of Revenge

I roll my eyes. This is his fault for stealing the test from me before I was ready to share the news. “I peed on the stick, and it came up with two little lines. If you’re asking if the test is real, then yes.”

“Obviously we will need to run some blood tests and have an ultrasound to make sure, but these home tests are pretty damn accurate,” Ricky explains.

Alex tucks the test into his suit pocket, the widest fucking grin I have ever seen appearing on his face. This is what he wanted allalong. He moves toward me, pulling me into him as he smashes his lips with mine forcefully, kissing me so deeply I feel it right down to my toes. His love for me is so powerful. I knew he would be happy about it, but I have never seen him like this. Like a little kid that got the puppy he had been wishing for, for his birthday. “We’re going to have to move up the wedding.”

My eyes go wide, and I take his hands in mine, stopping him before he can snowball this idea by calling his mother. “No, let me wrap my head around one lifechanging event at a time. Please.”

“She’s scared about what this really means. What happens if Enzo finds out who she really is.”

“I’ll take over our plans. You can stay here, where it’s safe. I have a score to settle with the police commissioner anyway, and I’m sure Ricky and Maddox will take great pleasure in ending Enzo when we’re done.”

My heart aches knowing this is exactly what I didn’t want to happen, all the power taken away from me again. I have worked too damn hard to get here to give up my fight now. “I started this, and I’m going to fucking finish it with you. You’re not excluding me now because one of you bastards knocked me up. I need this just as much as all of you do. I have to make him pay for what he did to my family, or I can’t go into this next chapter of my life.”

His eyes narrow, and his jaw clenches, his face hardening into a mask of anger. I see every one of his protective walls shooting up. His lips twitch, and I know he’s suppressing what he really wants to say to me. He’s getting better at holding his tongue with me. He wants to demand I do what I’m told. I can see it written all over his face. “I won’t lose you and our baby because you’re so hellbent on getting revenge, Harley. I love you too much.” He surprises me with honesty that gets me right in the chest, instead.

A large lump forms in my throat, and I swallow hard, trying to push it down. It’s so difficult for him to open up, after the way he was brought up, but with me he’s trying. And I can’t ask for anything more than that. Taking his hand in mine, squeezing it softly, more tears form in my eyes. “I love you too, and I promise to be careful. But I’m one of you now. This life has shaped us. This revenge is ingrained in my DNA, you can’t wrap me in bubble wrap to protect me. You have to trust me now more than ever.”

Ricky takes my other hand. “How about we run some tests and find out how far along you are, see what we’re working with. I can get you some information on nutrition and vitamins and book an appointment with the antenatal clinic, I know one of the obstetricians there well.”

I stare back at Ricky, feeling overwhelmed by all the words he’s throwing at me. “Can we just start with lunch? I’m kinda starving after vomiting all morning.”

“And you need to go tell Maddox and Geovani. We can work out the rest later.” He says the last part looking toward Alex in warning.

I inhale a deep breath, knowing he’s right. Me having a baby is going to change all of our lives. Not only that but the dynamic we have going on here. We had gotten into a rhythm, one I was really starting to enjoy. But now things will be different.

The three of us enter the main living space and find the other two already digging into their gourmet sandwiches. I pull up a seat beside Maddox and collect the spare sandwich, biting into it, moaning when the chicken, lettuce, and mayonnaise hit my taste buds. This is what I needed to bring me back to life.

Ricky swats it out of my hand, and I stare back up at him like what the fuck. “No mayonnaise for you, I’ll make you one without.”

“What the fuck, Ricky, she loves mayonnaise,” Maddox pipes up on my behalf.

Ricky gives me a not-so-subtle look, offering me one last chance to tell the boys before he does. I shrug, not able to find my own words to tell them this news anyway. “The baby can’t have it,” he mutters, a half smirk twisting his lips.

“Baby?” Geovani coughs as he spits his mouthful onto the plate in front of him. “What fucking baby?”

“Our girl’s knocked up.” Alex beams, proud.

“Surprise.” I offer a half smile, not sure what else to say.

Maddox fades instantly, looking like he’s seen a ghost. When I glance toward Geovani, he’s just as pale. They have mega issues with their own parents, and they, probably like me, haven’t entertained the idea of having a kid of their own. This is going to be a lot for them to process.

“Holy fucking shit,” mutters Geovani.

“Ha, yeah, I know.”

Chapter 30

Maddox is in thekitchen cleaning up the lunch mess when I approach him. He was deathly quiet after the boys told him my news, and I’m worried about him. I lean into the counter beside him, offering him a lopsided smile. His eyes rake over me; the hunger that’s always there still shines through, even though there is a sadness to him as well.

“You were awful quiet at lunch.”

He stops stacking the dishwasher. His hands coming to my waist, he picks me up and places me on the kitchen counter delicately. “What’s there to say, temptress?” He moves in between my legs, pulling me in close as he inhales my hair.

“Something. Anything. I’m freaking out, Maddox, I don’t know how to do this.”

“You have all of us, you will be fine.” He kisses my forehead.

I reach up and cup his chin, looking right into his broken eyes. “Talk to me, big guy, please.”

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