Page 37 of The Sinner's Touch

Angel knew for a fact how he felt about abortion, but he was telling her it was okay if that was what she decided. She huggedhim tighter. Despite his own personal beliefs, he put her ahead of himself. That was what brothers were for. That was what he’d done her whole life. He stepped in and did what needed to be done.

“No, Peter. No abortion. I won’t do that.”

His whole body sighed with relief. “Okay, kiddo. Then we’ll deal with it. Have you told Kade?”

“No.” She shook her head.

“Don’t you think you need to?”

“What if he acts like an ass and walks away?” She hiccupped.

“Then I’ll beat the shit out of him, and we’ll never worry about the bastard again. Uncle Peter will make sure the kid never misses a good-for-nothing absent father.”

He always knew just what to say to make her laugh when she was crying. God, what would she do without her big brother?

“Do you really think I can do this?” Peter handed her some tissue he’d snagged from the roll, and she blew her nose. “What if I screw up? I might hurt it accidentally or something.”

“You will screw up. Mom and Dad screwed up.Iscrewed up all the time?—”

“You did not,” she interrupted. “You were always there, doing exactly what I needed.”

“I was terrified. Every second after Mom and Dad died. Constantly worrying about you, if I was doing what I was supposed to. Remember that first temper tantrum you threw over me grounding you for skipping school? I was so scared you’d hate me forever.”

“I only hated you for about an hour.”

“Trust me, kid, if I can do it, you’re gonna be a pro. And you won’t be by yourself. Kade or no Kade, you and me,” his index finger went back and forth between them, “we’re stuck witheach other. I got your back. Always. We’re gonna get through this together.”

“I love you, Peter.”

“I love you too, Shortcake.”

She snorted, and a stream of snot shot out, making Peter curse when it landed on his shirt. He hadn’t called her that since she was little. She used to love Strawberry Shortcake, and with her red hair, it was Peter’s nickname for her.

“Nugget’s going to love you too.”

“Nugget?” He looked down at her curiously.

“The baby. I’ve been calling it Nugget since I took the damn test.”

“Nugget. It’s not a bad name until we figure out if it’s a boy or a girl.” He moved to help her off his lap, and she cried out when he grabbed her arm. His face paled. “Shit, Angel, your arm is purple, and it’s swelling.”

“I think that happens when someone smashes a door into one’s arm.”

“Well, fuck. Let’s get you to the emergency room and make sure it’s not broken. We can get you a blood test there too. Sometimes those pregnancy tests are wrong.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, a girlfriend of mine had a scare a while back. She took three, and they all said she was pregnant, but her blood test was negative.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“You were about twelve at the time. I didn’t tell you everything.”

“I don’t think the test is wrong. My period’s late, two months.”

“It’s gonna be fine. Really. You, me, and the nugget. We got each other’s backs. Promise.”

Listening to Kade, Nikoli, and Victor made Angel think of her own brother. She never let herself think about Peter. She buried memories of him as much as she did those of Kade and the nugget. The pain was too much. The only way she’d survived it was to lock it all away, to push it down and refuse to let herself think about any of it. It made her colder, harsher, bitchier. She knew that, but it was how she survived.

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