Page 25 of Tempted to Rebel

I take the supplies from Rage’s hands and busy myself with preparing strips of gauze and tape. He glares at his bruised knuckles, then at his younger brother, brooding expertly as he clenches and unclenches his fists.

He doesn’t like to lose, and right now, he’s losingbig time.

“I won’t apologize for loving you, Celia.”

My heart races at his sudden admission. Flicking my gaze to his, I try not to shrink from the intensity in his eyes. “What did you say?”

Rage places his hand on my thigh and leans in close enough that I can smell what little remains of his cologne. Brushing his lips across my temple, he smirks against my skin. “You heard me.” As Rebel wanders over with the brightest little smile on his face, Rage presses a chaste kiss to my forehead and steps back to make room. Although I turn my attention to cleaning the cuts on Rebel’s hands and trying to salvage his split lip, I can feel Rage’s eyes on me.

He won’t apologize for anything, because he doesn’t think that he’s done anything wrong.

I use too much force to close Rebel’s lip and tear some of the skin off with the tape. The cut splits back open, dripping blood. He winces but still manages to smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve healed from way worse than this. I’ll be back to kissing you in no time. Unless—” His ebony eyes spark with mischief—“you wanna get a little dirty with it.”

I dodge a messy kiss attempt while Rage growls from across the room. “Don’t youdareget blood on her.”

Rebel whines. “You’re no fun. She might like it!” He winks at me, and I can’t help but laugh as I wrap gauze around his knuckles and tape it into place. I can’t ever see myself wanting blood with my kisses, but I guess if the mood is right and it’s only alittle?—

“Blood washes off,” Ruin murmurs from across the room. I finish taping Rebel’s hands and look over to find him staring as usual, but there’s a tension in his shoulders that wasn’t there earlier.

Rage throwshima death glare this time, but I’m more careful with my approach. I may not know enough about Ruin yet, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to shoot down his attempts at conversation, no matter how unorthodox. “Yeah, you’re right. Blood does wash off.”

The doctor arrives then, announcing himself at the door. “Celia Monrovia,” Dr. Sakovia greets, a friendly smile on his face as he reads my chart. “It’s been a while since I last saw you. What brings you to—” He looks up and notices all three brothers staring at him intently. “Gentleman.” Closing and locking the door behind him, he rolls up his white coat sleeves. “I didn’t realize you were affiliated with Miss Monrovia.”

“Damn right we’re affiliated,” Rebel says with a bright smile. “She’s my girl, Doc.” He throws his arm around my shoulder.

“She’sours,” Rage attempts to clarify, the sour look on his face pinching as he squares up to the doctor. “So anything related to her care, we are your first call, got it?”

I’m sure that intimidation tactics usually work for Rage, but Dr. Sakovia is experienced with unruly men. He ignores Rage and looks directly at me. “It’s your call, Celia. We can add them to your HIPPA authorization before you leave today…ifthat’s what you want.”

I set the medical supplies down and lace my fingers together in my lap. “I know how this works, doctor.” They could get my records even without my consent, so it’s a matter of policy. I’d never want to hurt Dr. Sakovia’s reputation—he’s one of the most reliable doctors in the city, known for his discretion with bratva matters. “I’ll sign the forms.”

Doctor Sakovia isn’t much older than I suspect Rage is, but he’s had silver hair for as long as I can remember. Asilver fox, as the ladies in my neighborhood HOA used to call him. Despite working in medicine and keeping bratva clients out of his records for years, he doesn’t look a day older than thirty at most. It’s what makes it easy to be around him—he’s calm and collected and sitting on the right side of gorgeous.

He smiles kindly and washes his hands in the sink, humming to himself while Rage hovers way too closely to be comfortable. Any other man might be unnerved.

Wren Sakovia looks right at home with thugs and criminals.

“Alright, then. Your intake forms say you might be pregnant?” After drying off, he snaps on a pair of latex gloves and wheels over the phlebotomy kit a nurse brought in earlier. “How are you feeling?”

I swallow. “Um. A little nervous.” I bite my lip and avoid looking at the three men whose sole focus is suddenly back to me. My face heats, and I wring my hands together. “You know how hard it’s been for me to… conceive.”

Wren isn’t a gynecologist or obstetrician by trade, but I’ve met with him for checkups over the years, so he knows my history better than most. He always agrees to meet with me when I call.

“I want this to be a healthy pregnancy,” I continue, “and I’d like to go back on my fertility supplements if possible.”

“Let’s see if you’re pregnant first, and then we can prescribe as needed.” As Wren fills two vials with my blood, all three of my men watch in earnest.

It’s Rebel who speaks first. “How soon until we find out the results?”

“A few days. We’ll call with the results and update Celia’s chart on her patient portal.”

“And paternity?” Rage’s jaw looks glued shut from how hard he’s clenching. It’s a miracle he can speak at all. “How do we know who’s the father?”

I shake my head while Wren wraps my forearm in a bright pink bandage. “I don’t want to know. Finding out during pregnancy can risk the baby’s safety if we’re not careful.”

“It’s a little more nuanced than that,” Wren interjects, “but you can talk amongst yourselves and come to a decision closer to then. We won’t be able to test for paternity for a few more weeks, and we have non-invasive procedures that are safe for both the baby and the mother.”

“She must get pregnant first,” Ruin mumbles, his voice obscured by his mask. I look up to find him staring intently at my stomach, like he’s picturing a baby inside of me right now. Although I wouldn’t call his gaze soft, especially considering the expressionless mask on his face, his energy isn’t nearly as dark and mysterious as normal. If anything, he seems… curious.

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