Page 108 of Reckless Promises

“Go.” He tips his chin to my car. “I’ll finish this up. It’s my fault anyway.”

I’d tell him it’s not, but he’s the one who let Odette out of his sight. And he’s going to repay me for that.

Daniel doesn’t say more as he turns to walk away. He’s on his phone again, ordering the men to new positions. Slowly, they’ll take down the entire Moreno compound, and luckily for us, it’s so far from anything that no one will know until it’s too late to stop it.

Officially, there will be no proof of what happened here. But anyone who needs to know will know. And they’ll know better than to try and mess with my family again.

“We need to go.” I lift Odette’s chin to get her attention.

She nods, starting to climb to her feet, when I pick her up in my arms. It’s my fault this happened. I’m the reason she’s hurt. But I’ve learned my lesson. And I’ll do anything to protect her moving forward.

I set her inside the car and climb in. The moment I do, she clings to me, and it’s the warmest feeling on this cold night. That she could fear me—for what I’ve brought her or what I just did to Joseph—but instead, she seeks out my comfort.

Scooping her up, I hold her on my lap, and she buries her face in the crook of my neck. Each breath is a reminder of my purpose.

“I’m sorry.” I hold her tighter. “I never should have left the hospital. I thought I needed some space, but itwas selfish. I just couldn’t sit there and wait and not do anything.”

“Cillian, it’s okay.”

“It’s not.” I tip her chin up and look into her eyes. “I should have been there. I never would have let them take you back for any kind of test alone.”

She frowns, but I can’t read her expression.

“What?” I brush her cheek with my hand, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“It’s about the tests.” She bites her lip, nervous energy overwhelming her. “There’s a reason I didn’t want anyone to come with me. I couldn’t risk someone telling you before I got the chance.”

“What would they tell me?”

My mouth dries with the question. My heart races as her hand moves from my arm to her stomach, the same way it did when Joseph threw her to the ground.

Except now, I don’t see it as her feeling sick. She was protecting it.

“I’m pregnant.”

Once more a sheen of tears coats her eyes. Her fingers clutch her hospital gown as she watches me for my reaction. She’s as scared to say it as I am to hear it. At least—I would have been, any time before tonight.

“You’re pregnant?” I repeat.

She nods, and my insides pull in every direction.

My wife is hurt, but it’s not just her. She’s carrying our baby.

Our baby.

“We never talked about this.” Her eyes dart around the car, and I sense her starting to panic. “I didn’t even think about birth control since my father didn’t believe in it. And we were just wrapped up in the moment. I don’t know what I was—”

“Odette.” I plant my thumb over her lips, pausing there. “You’re having my baby?”

She presses her lips together, taking in a deep inhale through her nose as she nods once.

A tear breaks loose from her lashes, and I move my thumb to wipe it—to catch it. I want every part of this woman to be mine forever.

Dipping down, I seal my mouth to hers, and I lose my heart as she wraps her arms around my shoulders. She sinks to my body, and there’s nowhere in the world I belong except with her at my side.

“I love you,” I say as I pull back to look at her.

I’ve never been sure I could love anything, but what I feel for her is so big there isn’t room for it inside me. I think maybe if I say it, I can get this love out in pieces. But with each confession, it just grows.

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