Page 13 of Paradox
“No problem.”
I leave with Tek, finding Gage in the same position I left him. At least he’s eaten—the plate is empty and he’s now nursing a bottle of beer. He glances up at me, eyes hopeful. I shake my head, knowing he wants to find out if Raven will allow him inside.
“Fuck!” He shoves the plastic plate away and it collides with the wall in front of him.
Tek says nothing, making his way to the bar.
“How is she? The babies?”
“I’m giving her a few hours. If her blood pressure doesn’t come down, we have to take her to the hospital. Her age and this being her first pregnancy, plus having twins, all increase the risk of preeclampsia.”
“What’s that?”
“A problem we don’t need. The only way to treat it is delivering the babies.”
“Fuck.” His eyes go wide in fear. “Could they make it?” His Adam’s apple bobs with the question.
“They could be perfectly fine, but there could also be complications. I don’t want to play the what-if game.”
“I’m going to kill that fucking bitch.”
I watch his fingers tighten around the neck of the bottle, threatening to break it. As tough as he talks, I know he has a hard time killing women. The last time he had to do it, he made it quick, and that’s not like him. When a man does him wrong, they suffer first.
“And then what happens to her son? You gonna take him in?”
“Fuck!” he shouts, anger radiating from him. “Every fucking time I’m happy and things are going good, something happens to fuck with my life. I wish I never laid eyes on the bitch, let alone put my dick in her.”
“Don’t worry about it. Once the test results come back, everyone will see her for the troublemaker she is, and she won’t show her face around here again.”
“Fuck that. She put my wife and kids in danger, and that shit’s not gonna fly.” His eyes are focused on the wall before him as he takes a sip of his beer. “It’s time to let the Reaper out of his cage.”
***Ellen***
A soft moan drifts into my ears, slowly pulling me from sleep. I crack a heavy lid open, wondering where it’s coming from. While adjusting to ease the ache in my back, there’s another sound. That’s when I remember Raven. My eyes snap open, quickly surveying the woman next to me. I fell asleep in her bed from fear of leaving her side in case something happened. Charger, who’s asleep in the chair Tek vacated, slowly wakes. Our eyes meet and he rushes to the side of the bed, dropping to his knees.
“Is she okay?” he asks.
“I don’t know. She was moaning.”
His eyes are frantic as they move over her body, his hands frozen mid-air as if unsure what to do. He really cares for her. He’s been her de facto bodyguard since the beginning, and I know they grew close. Each of the men came in at one point or another during the night to check on her. She’s more than the president’s old lady, more than my sister-in-law; we all love her and can’t stand to see her hurt.
She awakes with a jolt, hand flying to her stomach.
“Raven?” My voice is filled with anxiety as I move to my knees.
She groans, trying to sit up but falling back onto the pillows. Charger and I help her up, waiting for her to speak.
“I’m fine, guys. Really.”
“Are you sure? Maybe I should get Jon.”
“That’s not necessary. I’m okay, just can’t get comfortable.”
Charger’s gaze locks with mine, seeking direction. I shrug, following Raven’s lead. If she says she’s okay, who am I to say otherwise?
She rubs her belly in slow circles, taking deep breaths and exhaling through her mouth.
“Is he still at the door?” she asks.
