Page 30 of Ours

Letting the room around her fall away, Lexi watched the monitor like a hawk as her baby danced across the screen. Feeling her heart swell, she silently counted each limb and made notes of his facial features. From what she could see, everything looked as if it should. He looked like a perfect little cherub.

“Is everything ok?” she asked, not taking her eyes off her baby’s profile.

Rolling the wand over her bump, Susan continued to take measurements for the doctor. Technically, she wasn’t supposed to give out any information after the data was reviewed, but she didn’t see any harm in putting her fears to rest.

“Everything looks great! She’s growing and moving around like she should,” she said.

Catching the misspoken word, Lexi blinked at the woman. She?She?Clearly, she had heard her wrong. There was no way her baby was a girl.

“I’m sorry...I thought I heard you sayshe,”Lexi said with a small laugh.

Clenching his free hand to center himself, Kade toggled his attention back and forth between Lexi and Susan.Shit.His ears weren’t playing tricks on him. She had caught it, too. The realization caused his adrenaline to spike through his veins.

This isn’t good,Demetri warned, mirroring his alter’s knee jerk reaction.

Oblivious to their palpable fear, the ultrasound tech pointed towards the monitor with a confident smile. “Yep! I did! Here, let me get a better angle,” she said, pressing the wand to get a view of the baby’s lower half. “Ahh...there we go. Yep! Definitely a girl! No penis, there! You’re having a very healthy little girl!”

Turning her head towards Kade, Lexi locked her stunned gaze upon his. With hot bile rising in her throat, she found herself unable to speak. The last thing she heard before she heaved was him saying the words that her mind wouldn’t stop screaming.

“Oh, fuck.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Unlocking the door to the mansion, Kade elbowed the hunk of wood open. Grabbing Lexi’s upper arm, he unceremoniously ushered her inside. They hadn’t said a word to each other since leaving the ultrasound room. Every time she attempted to speak, he was quick to warn her with a scathing look. There were too many ears listening in that damn hospital. He didn’t need her to accidentally make their situation worse.

Slamming the door behind him, he warily eyed her from head to toe. He wasn’t used to feeling this conflicted. He loved her more than anything butfuck.She should have been truthful from the get-go. Thanks to her lie, they were now in deep shit.

“Why did you lie to me?” he asked angrily, stepping into her personal space.

Standing ramrod straight, Lexi narrowed her green eyes. She was stunned and hurt by his accusation. What good would it have done her to lie? Especially over something that would be found out eventually. God, he was thick. Obviously, he didn’t know her as well as he claimed.

“Really? That’s where your mind went? You honestly think that Iliedto you about the sex ofmychild?” she countered, squaring her shoulders and standing her ground. “At my twenty-week ultrasound, the tech told me thatmychild was aboy–”

“Ourchild,” he corrected, his voice deep and rough. “She’sours,Lexi!”

Baring her teeth, she placed her opened hands protectively over her bump. His sudden outburst put her body on edge. Her blood raced through her veins, causing her temples to throb with every quick heartbeat. She knew she needed to calm down for the sake of her daughter but found herself growing more and more agitated with the man standing before her.

“Oh, so you still want to claim her? Even if she can’t be the heir to your precious crime organization?!” she asked, visibly shaking.

“Of course I fucking do!” he growled, his dark eyes locking on hers.“I love her!”

Furrowing her brows, she took half a step closer to him. He was confusing the hell out of her, and she didn’t understand why. “Then why are you mad atme?!” she hissed through gritted teeth.

Staring at her, he remained quiet for a long moment. He wasn’t mad at her, per se. He was angry with the whole situation.

“I’m not,” he said, purposefully softening his voice.

Scoffing from his reply, she roamed her hands over her stomach to try to stop her daughter from kicking. It seemed as if her little princess was just as upset with her father as she was.

“Then why are you yelling at me? Fucking hell, Kade! I feel chewed up and spit out. I’m hungry and tired. I have to pee...oh, and now...on top of everything else going on...I know it’s only a matter of time before Bloodbayne has me, andourdaughter, killed,” she said, her thoughts running all over the place.

God, you’re such a thick-skulled jackass, Demetri chastised.Comfort her right now, or I will do it for you.

Pushing out a defeated sigh, he opened his arms and pulled her into a full embrace. He hated the fact that she was terrified and wished he could take all of her fears away. Like hell he would ever allow anything to happen to his girls. She needed to believe that and trust him.

“He won’t kill you or our baby girl,” he said, nuzzling his lips against the crown of her head. “I won’t let him.”

Pressing her flushed cheek against his chest, Lexi closed her eyes. Listening to the steady thrum of his heart, she allowed herself to take comfort in his arms. Within a handful of breaths, her agitation with him melted away. He sounded so confident, she only wished she felt the same way.

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