Page 76 of Body Lock

“I couldn't. I wanted to protect you, Cadence. That's why I'm here, that's why I'm fighting.”

I expected her to yell, and scream at me that I had no right to hold that information from her. That I was an asshole, and she hated me for not telling her what would happen to her if I didn't do this.

Except she didn't.

Her face, once white as a sheet, turned a bright scarlet. Her mouth turned down, lips taut, the small muscles twitching within the arch. She stood briskly, heavy footed she stormed right towards me. Her arm drew back, hand open, ready to strike.

Twisting my stance, I grimaced, waiting to take the hit. She was pissed and she had every reason to be upset. I didn't want her to know about this, I thought she had been hurt enough.

If taking a swing at me was going to make her feel better, I'd take as many as she needed. If it took twenty wails against my cheek just to give her a twinge of satisfaction, it'd be worth it.

A loud smack ricocheted through my ears from behind me. “Fucking asshole!” she yelled. “How could you?”

“What are you talking about, Honey?” Her father crooked his jaw, rubbing his cheek.

I hadn't even realized he had walked up behind us.

“Don't play that game with me. You know exactly what I'm talking about.” Shaking her head in disbelief, she veered her stare. “I fucking hate you.” Turning away, she twisted her head over her shoulder. “I hope you're happy. Oh and by the way... Congratulations, you're going to be grandfather.” Storming off, Cadence disappeared into the sea of people.

Did I hear her right?

She's pregnant?

A smile swelled up over my face, satisfaction glowing in my cheeks.

Now she was mine.

We were going to have a family.

There was sense of shock that hit my gut, and a heavy weight that broke over my heart. Cadence was pregnant, she was having my child, and that thought sent a whole different rush of emotions through my body.

This fight had just become more. I wasn't just fighting to keep her safe, I was fighting to keep my family.

“She knows now I take it?” His hand cupped his cheek, mouth opening and closing to the strike. “Why are you smiling?”

Smirking at the Macro, I said, “I just found out I'm going to be a father.”

“That... Yeah, that's irrelevant in the matter. This fight is still happening.”

I couldn't believe that he went unfazed by that, that his own child was carrying one of their own. And he didn't give a flying shit about it. It meant nothing to him.

He really has no soul.

“Why do you think I'm still here?”

Louis clicked his jaw, rolling his chin around in circles. “I'm glad you could find the time to stop screwing my daughter so you could be here.”

“After tonight, you won't have a daughter, unless you change.”

“Yes, well, in all reality you're wrong.” He entered the small area, straightening his suit as if it had just been ruffled by some junkie begging him for money. “We have to go over a few things before you head out there.”

“What things? I fight, I win, you leave Cadence and me alone. Doesn't seem too complicated.” I shot him a crossed glance, my spine hardening, heart pounding angrily.

I didn't want to do this for anyone other than her. Now my child was inside her, that thought alone sent a carnal rage through my veins. I was going to win, I was going to step out of that ring and hold my girl.

The muscles in my arms clenched tight, a veil of raw emotion covered my face. A part of me wanted to just take out her father right there, end this whole thing by taking down the creator.

I can do it right here. Break his fucking legs and choke the life out of him, then he'd leave her alone. He'd leave us alone.

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