Page 64 of Beautifully Reckless

“It’s okay.”

Reaching out, I slide my fingers through his thick, unruly hair, which, just like his beard, has grown untamed since I saw him three weeks ago.

He really hasn’t been looking after himself… because of me.

“You know, it’s okay ifthisis too hard.” I gesture to my bump. “I don’t expect anything from you. The baby… Well, it’s a lot.”

“It’s not too hard, Angel. I just wish the circumstances were different. I fuckinghateknowing what you’ve had to endure.”

I sigh at hiswords, because yeah, we’ve both been through hell.

Our experiences may have been different, but we’ve both suffered unimaginable pain.

“I feel the same way about you…” I clear the growing lump in my throat. “What you told me on the rooftop last night. I’m so sorry that happened to you.”

He offers me a warm smile, and chuckles. “We are a fucking pair, huh? Damaged goods.”

I giggle, liking that he can joke about it, even though it’s still heartbreaking.

Running his hand gently over my bump, he leans forward and presses his lips just below my navel. My breath catches, the intimacy of it sending heat surging through me, and his eyes flutter closed, like he’s savouring the moment.

Before I can even figure out what to say or do, the door flies open.

“Oh, fuck, sorry, I…” JD freezes like a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide as he stares at Ringo, who lifts his head from my stomach and glares over his shoulder.

“What is it?” he snaps, and I can tell by the way JD is looking everywhere but at me with his lips twitching, that he’s trying not to laugh.

He probably has no idea what he just walked in on, but since it’s also none of his business, neither of us rush to explain.

“Ahhh… thought you’d want to know, our spotters reported seeing the Stone and Allen kids nearby.”

I stiffen.

Daniel and Donny are nearby?

How the hell did they find us?

12

Iinsisted on driving Andrea’s bloody mum van back to the apartment. It wasn’t that I doubted her driving skills, but I knew if we ended up being followed or chased, I was the one built for that shit. Not a nurse who’d worry about hurting others on the road.

Sure, I don’twantto hurt bystanders, but I’ll do what I have to in order to protect what’s mine.

We make it back to the apartment without any issues, but I’m fucking wired, certain the longer we stay in the city, the higher the chance that Officer Allen and his corrupt pig mates will show up and raid the fucking building.

“The instructions are in the bag.” Andrea smiles at Abbey, handing over a bag filled with information and some prenatal vitamins the sonographer and doctor recommended.

Given Andrea is a nurse and knows the doctor running the private clinic, they worked together to gather everything Abbey will need while I was busy in the sonographer’s room, staring at Abbey’s stomach.

Fuck.

My first instinct was to bolt, because the second I saw her bare skin and the swell from her baby growing inside, I was hit with memories I’ve fought hard to bury.

But then I shifted my focus to my pink-haired Angel, watching the sonographer with wide, nervous eyes, and I couldn’t fucking leave.

“Thank you for your help.” Abbey gives Andrea a small smile, and Lexi hugs into Abbey’s arm as we travel up to the apartment in the elevator.

“Anytime, hun,” Andrea smiles warmly. “And if you ever want to know anything about nursing, if you decide to go ahead with training in that field, just ask.”

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