Page 51 of Patching Over

“And in the meantime, my own sister was kidnapped.” His tone is self-deprecating and my heart cries at the pain I hear.

“I survived, Banshee. I fucking survived,” I remind him. “Thanks to y’all joining in with the Royal Bastards, there were brothers who came to help find me and also heal me and my wounds. I was beaten and left for dead, yes, but they never did anything worse and for that, I’m more grateful because that might have shattered me forever. Please forgive yourself because as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing I have to forgive you for. The only ones to blame are the ones who were behind the plot to take me to begin with, as well as my fake parents. They’ll never earn my forgiveness, but it’s okay because I’ve got it on good authority that they’re burning in Hell while paying for their earthly misdeeds.”

Rael made sure to tell me how each of the three suffered; Laura, Dave, and Enoch found their end reward screaming after being tortured for what they’d done to me. Brick wasn’t happy about me being told, but as Rael explained to him without any remorse, I deserved to know since I was the one who’d suffered at their hands, so he finally relented and let go of his resentment.

He finally nods and unpauses the screen, hitting the play button once again. This time, I watch while everyone is cheering as I pull myself up then unsteadily toddle. Straight into Brick’s legs. He scoops me up and I watch as my younger self pats his cheeks and says, “Mine. Brick mine.”

Brick’s phone rings and I see him stiffen when he catches the name on the caller ID. He answers it then immediately hands it over to me.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Child, it’s Madame Laveaux. You’ve always been his and he’s always been yours. The Fates decided that long ago. Do you see it now?” she asks.

I don’t know how she does what she does; it’s kind of spooky.

“Yes, ma’am, I do.”

“You’ve been worried for no reason. It’s not good for the baby.” With that she hangs up.

Baby? What baby? Did she just imply—? Surely not… I’d know, wouldn’t I? Besides, I’m on birth control so how would it even be possible?

My eyes are huge as they look up at Brick. I’m positive he must have heard her because I’m practically sitting in his lap while we watch the movies.

“Brick? Did I hear her say what I think she just did?”

“What? What who said? Who was it?” Banshee questions, his hackles raised.

“Madame Laveaux,” Brick responds, not taking his gaze away from me. “Seems my ol’ lady has been concerned she wasn’t good enough or something to be mine, which Madame Laveaux says isn’t good for the baby.”

“Baby?” Ban whispers.

“Apparently so. Okay, so we’re gonna take off, keep that under your hat, brother, while we go grab some tests to confirm what she’s just imparted on us, although it’s merely a formality at this point because she doesn’t make mistakes such as this.”

I’m still in complete and utter shock as Brick hustles me out of the house with barely a goodbye tossed over my shoulder toward my brother. Then before I know it, I’m on the back ofhisbike and we’re headed into town and the pharmacy. Although, he’s going much slower than he ever has in the past which has me secretly smiling into his back. His protectiveness knows no bounds and I love it.

Brick

As I pace outside the bathroom door, my heart pounding a mile a minute, I can’t help the worry that wants to creep into my mind. We’ve got this fucking threat from the Demon Devil Douches now and I’m not stupid enough to think they won’t come after my woman to get to me. Only this time, there’s more than one life at stake if Madame Laveaux’s prediction is confirmed.

One tiny stick will change the outlook and course of our lives.

“Anything yet?” I call out while cradling both kittens in my arms. It’s as though they sensed I was stressed because they both took running jumps onto my jeans then crawled up my legs like they were tree trunks until I picked them up and dug their sharp claws out of my flesh.

She giggles then sasses, “It says the results take three minutes to show up, Brick, and it’s been less than one. Patience, handsome.”

Patience be damned.

I’m always patient.

With everyone and everything. Hell, until she came into my life, I was the epitome of what being in control meant. Since then, my life has been a bit topsy-turvy and a whirlwind of endless anxiety, but I have no desire to change a damn thing. I went from being alone and lonely, to having this feisty, sassy woman, as well as two fuzzy furbabies as she calls them.

Now, I might be adding a human baby, the first one born into the club since we patched over and became a branch of the Royal Bastards.

I send up a prayer to the universe that my pops will be around long enough to meet his grandchild, even if he won’t necessarily remember. I wish there was some way to heal him, even just a little bit, because I find myself needing his directionjust like I did when I was much younger and navigating my way into adulthood.

The door slowly opens, and I freeze in place. “Brick?” she questions, her eyes as wide as saucers, while she holds multiple tests in the palms of her hands.

“Sweetheart, did you take all of those?” I ask, unsticking myself and moving toward her, a smirk on my face.

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