Page 57 of Tainted Blood

“How did it go?” I ask when he walks in.

“I’m sorry, but Dad is dead,” he sighs.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Calista says.

“It is when he wanted to do the honors,” Jacks answers. Damn right I wanted to do the honors.

“So what happened?”

“Well, we were able to make it look like dad had lost control of his people that he was working with. Unfortunately, you weren’t the only one played today. Your friend Maggie was too. After she lured you in for the job by Jacob, she had been killed and stuffed into another box we just switched out the boxes, destroying yours. Thanks to the detective all the cameras were disabled in the railroad yard, so it was like the OK Corral and only those that lived could tell the story.

“So we’re good?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Oh,” she says, brushing my chest. “Thanks, Jack.”

“No problem. We’re family, Calista.” He smiles and then leaves.

Epilogue

Calista

The sun is beaming so high in the sky that you’d think it was warm, but it’s the middle of winter and I wrap up in my new dark blue coat that accommodates my size along with my white cashmere hat, gloves, and scarf set. This little bundle inside me has grown so fast. I look like I’m about to explode, and even though I look like a giant ball, I’m warm on this frigid day.

Ian chuckles as he runs toward me. “Hold on, baby. I’m coming.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just so cold. I wanted to get bundled up and in the car already. The damn sun is faking me out,” I grumble over the top of my scarf.

“Someone’s feeling a little moody today.”

“Bite me. I feel like I’m going to explode, and you just look as handsome as ever—cut, muscular, and damn good looking. Here I am, a big ball.”

“Baby, you’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. Your rounded belly just reminds me that I did my job and put my baby in there. Even if it never goes away, you’ll still be hot to me because your body creates life, and that’s a fucking miracle. Women are magical and should be respected.” He kisses my lips and rubs my belly. “So calm your sexy ass down, and let’s go to the doctor so that we can feed you afterwards.”

I grin from ear to ear, clapping my hands as the baby does another flip in my stomach. The baby likes that idea as well. We drove to the doctor, which is about fifteen minutes from the house in a little bit of traffic. We luckily arrived about two minutes before my appointment.

The doctor walks into the room with a grin on her face as she watches Ian’s hand on my belly. She pumps some hand sanitizer into her hands, rubbing it in as she asks, “How’s the little guy doing? Giving you much trouble?”

“Strangely, no. The baby hasn’t given me any trouble that I can remember.”

She takes a tape measure and tucks it from one end to another and stretches it along my belly to measure me. “Mr. and Mrs. McNamara, congratulations. Your baby is growing at the proper rate, and he looks to be very healthy. The great news is he’ll be here very soon.”

I can’t stop staring at my husband, knowing we’ve made this little baby that’s growing inside me. It’s amazing. I’m kind of glad that we didn’t get pregnant right away, but now all I want to do is have more of his babies. I love this man with all my heart, and the look on his face right now is worth everything to me and more. I groan and scrunch my face. “Are you okay, Mrs. McNamara?”

“Just felt a slight twinge of pain,” I groaned through clenched teeth. The pain doesn’t last too long, but it’s longer than the one I felt earlier.

“Well, you’re due any day now. Perhaps we should check your cervix and see if you’re dilated.”

“Yes, that’s probably a good idea,” Ian says. She prepares her gloves and the stirrups while Ian helps me with a gown and then helps me get into position.

I wave him close so I can whisper, “Maybe we could use those for us.”

He chuckles. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“Every couple says the same thing,” the doctor remarks, shaking her head with a smile. “Let’s see what we have here.”

“Wow, okay.”

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