Page 149 of Tarek

She takes up both sticks and her face scrunches. “Wow, just wow.”

“What is it?” My heart begins beating rapidly.

“Both tests say the word‘pregnant’on it.”

“What?” I scramble off the floor trying to reach Zeeta.

* * *

TAREK

“I hate these cravings, man. It’s like three o’clock in the morning and I’m out driving looking for blue Taki’s,” Archer cries just as Dax opens the door to his penthouse.

“What the hell is a Taki’s?” I ask.

“It’s a blue rolled-up corn chip,” Dax replies.

I walk in shrugging off my coat and tossing it over a chair. With Archer right behind me, I step into the game room and spot the guys gathered around the poker table.

“Guys, I would like you to meet Archer Holt. Archer Holt, the guys.” I pull a seat next to an empty chair.

“That’s Jasper,” I state.

Jasper gives him a small wave.

“The carrot top giant is Cole, the guy with the struggling blond goatee is Dax.”

“I have never struggled with anything a day in my life,” Dax replies as he pours whiskey into his glass.

Before I continue the introductions Rhet’s voice booms down the hall. “Dax you need to upgrade your toilet paper. One ply? Really?”

Rhet walks in wiping his hand in a paper towel and throws it in the bar’s dustbin.

He stops in his tracks and looks at us both. “Governor Holt. I heard about you. My dad hated your politics so you must be a good guy.”

Archer pulls the chair next to me and sits. “Thanks. Tarek is technically dating my sister so,”

Rhet nods. “Right, you’re Penny’s big brother I forgot that.”

“Don’t worry she is in good hands,” Jasper interjects.

Both Archer and I smirk and shake our heads at him.

“Well, shit,” Rhet says as he drops into the seat beside me. “Do you all see it?” he asked still staring.

“See what?” Cole asks.

Rhet chomps down on his bottom lip as he studies Archer and me.

“You know what, Zeeta warned me to mind my business this year. Forget it, let’s play.” Rhet knocks his fingers against the poker table, and Jasper begins to deal the cards out.

“Where is the Russian?” I ask.

“Dimitri? He went to Russia to fix some family business,” Rhet replies.

Cole narrows his eyes at Archer’s hand. “You’re a part of the Quarter Masters?”

The whole table becomes silent, and we all turn to Archer.

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