Page 54 of Mortify

But tonight, I just hold Everly close, feel the warmth of her against me, and promise the little life inside her that I'll keep them both safe.

Whatever Dylan's planning, whatever the Patriot's next move, they'll have to go through me first.

And I've got more to fight for now than I ever have before.

That makes me more dangerous than they can possibly imagine.

Sleep finally takes me, but my last thought is of Dylan's camera.

Of the calculated way he documented everything.

Of the smile I glimpsed on his face before he melted into the trees.

He's planning something.

Something that involves those photos, involves the club, involves Everly.

But I'm planning too.

And my plans involve making sure Dylan Mitchell never hurts her again.

No matter what it takes.

No matter who I have to become.

She's mine now. The baby's mine, and I always protect what's mine.

CHAPTER FIVE

Everly

The antiseptic smell of the ambulance bay makes my stomach roll, but at least it's better than the bacon grease from the firehouse kitchen.

Everything makes me nauseous lately.

Ten weeks pregnant, according to the doctor Vail dragged me to last week.

Ten weeks of Dylan's baby growing inside me while I pretend it's Regnor's.

"You okay?" Vail asks, handing me another pack of gauze to restock. "You went green for a second there."

"Just the smells," I admit, shoving supplies into their designated compartments. "This kid hates everything."

"Morning sickness is a good sign," she says, but there's something in her voice. That careful tone people use when they're working up to asking something uncomfortable. "Means the pregnancy hormones are strong."

I focus on organizing the medication vials, checking expiration dates even though we did this yesterday.

Anything to avoid the conversation I can feel coming.

"Everly." She touches my arm, gentle but insistent. "Is Regnorreallythe father?"

The lie sits ready on my tongue, practiced and smooth after two weeks of repetition. "Yes."

"You're sure?" Her dark eyes search mine. "Because if Dylan?—"

"It's Regnor's." The words come out sharper than intended. "We've been... together. For a while."

Relief floods her features so completely it makes my chest tight.

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