Page 84 of Silence and Surrender

“That’s okay too.” Allegra squeezed my shoulders. “You don’t have to know everything right now. You don’t have to make any decisions today.”

But some decisions couldn’t wait. Some truths needed telling.

“Will you...” I swallowed hard. “Will you…if it’s not his, and I decide….”

“Of course.” She kissed my forehead. “Whatever you need. Whenever you’re ready.”

Ready. Would I ever be ready? Ready to tell Colton I might be carrying his child? Ready to face the possibility that I wasn’t? Ready to admit that somewhere between arguing and fighting for survival, I’d fallen in love with him?

The sunlight streaming through the bathroom window caught the pregnancy test, making that little plus sign gleam. Such a small thing to change everything.

“He’ll want to marry me,” I said suddenly. “If it’s his. He’ll think it’s the right thing to do.”

Allegra smiled slightly. “Would that be so terrible?”

“It would if he only did it out of duty.” I stood on shaky legs, needing to move. “I don’t want him to feel obligated. He has already done so much for me. More than he ever should have…”

“Isabella.” Allegra’s voice stopped me at the door. “The way that man looks at you...obligation has nothing to do with it. Remember, Colton and Cooper are twins. I’ve seen the same look on my husband’s face. Colton loves you. All of you. Even the parts you think are too broken.”

I closed my eyes, remembering how Colton had held me through nightmares. How he’d touched me like I was a precious jewel. How he’d changed his whole world to help me fight darkness.

Maybe love wasn’t such a terrifying thing after all.

Family. Love. Hope.

Three words I’d thought were lost forever in that bunker.

Three words Colton had helped me find again.

Three words that might just be worth fighting for.

Even if fighting meant facing the scariest truth of all—that I loved him enough to let him help me through whatever came next.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Colton

Isabella was quiet again. She sat with me on the terrace, looking out at the sun as it slowly sank behind the hills, casting a pink light throughout the valley. Allegra had made an excuse to go inside, to put Clara to bed, but it was oddly early for that. She’d give us privacy, but for what, I wasn’t sure.

We weren’t touching; I’d kept my distance, allowing her time to come to me when she was ready. After the first night when I’d showered her with affection, convincing myself that she was safe, I let her lead. As bad as I wanted to touch her, hold her…I wouldn’t make her uncomfortable.

So when she moved towards me and put her hand on my thigh, I instantly felt my body come to life. My cock stirred, and my blood started to burn.

But then I looked up at her face, and could tell there was something wrong. The reason Allegra left us here. And whatever it was…it was terrifying to my Bella.

My Bella.

“Just tell me what it is,” I said.

“You’re always straight to the point.” She sighed, moving closer to me, but keeping her gaze fixed ahead.

“I’m a lawyer. It’s my nature.”

She didn’t say anything, and I was beginning to think she wasn’t going to tell me whatever it was she had on her mind. But then, her lips moved, her voice small and timid.

“I’m pregnant, Colton.”

My head snapped to look at her, and I could see the tears cascading down her cheeks. My heart stopped, putting together the implications instantly. My mind was sharp, full of statistics and probability. I had fucked her without a condom right before she was taken, but that was…what? Eight weeks ago? Seven?

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