Page 69 of Consequences

“No big deal? Are you serious?”

Her shriek forces him to pull the phone away to save his eardrum. Tony holds back his chuckle as he hears the screech. “I’m okay.”

“He’s going to try and get you killed in there,” she whispers. “I talked to Dad, and he can’t do anything. Ramsey won’t work with him. Brock… I’m scared.”

He hears the tears, ad he hates how stupid he was. “Baby, don’t cry. We’ll figure it out.”

“What you did was really stupid, Brock. We have a family, and you went off and did something without letting the club know. You know better.”

“Summer—”

“You acted like you have no one waiting for you. Is that what you want? Because I thought we wanted to grow our family. I thought we both wanted another baby.”

Sighing, he looks at his feet. “We do, and I’m so sorry, Summer. When I get out of here, I’m going to make it up to you. I promise.”

“Lily can’t get in to see you again. No judge is willing to go up against Ramsey, and she’s trying to take it as high as she can. With the number of people in power he has under his thumb, it could take years before she’ll make any traction.”

“I love you, Summer.”

“Stop it.”

Closing his eyes, Brock forces the tears stinging his eyes to stay at bay. “Stop what?”

“Stop acting like you’re saying goodbye.”

“You always knew me better than anyone.”

“You can’t tell me we’ll figure something out and turn around and tell me you love me like it’s the last time we’ll ever talk to each other.”

His tongue slides out over his lips as he takes a moment to collect himself. “I want to have hope, but the truth is, there’s a good chance I’m going to die in here, baby. What I did was stupid. So fucking stupid, and I felt like I had something to prove. You’re right. I knew better, and I just… did it anyway. There’s no good excuse, but it’s the truth. And in retaliation, Ramsey will probably have me killed. He owns the warden.”

“You have to get out, Brock,” Summer whispers. “I need you home.”

“You’re so strong, Summer. You always have been, and you’re the best mother I could have imagined for my child.”

“Children. I’m pregnant, Brock.”

He nearly drops he phone. “What?”

“I was going to wait until you got home, but I need you to fight to stay alive and get out. I can’t go through this alone. We made another baby, and he or she deserves to be raised by both of us. At home. Together.”

“You’re pregnant?”

“Guess we were meant to have another one considering how quickly it happened, huh?”

He knows the laughter is to hide her tears, but he hears them anyway. “I love you,” he whispers. “I’m going to figure it out.”

“You better. I can’t do this without you, and dammit, I refuse to not have you here to run out and get whatever I’m craving throughout this entire pregnancy.”

“You sure do know how to motivate a guy,” he says with a chuckle as he wipes his eyes. “I’m sorry I’m not there, baby.”

“Don’t be sorry until you’re home. Be motivated instead.”

“Time’s up,” Tony says.

“I gotta go, baby. Love you. Kiss Marie for me.”

“I love you, too. One quick thing…”

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