Page 72 of Wild Card (The Trident Trilogy 3)

She looks up at me and squints her eyes—her lips lightly pursed. “I was going to wait to tell you until you got the people who killed JJ, but Dad told me I had to tell you now. I don’t want to distract you with what you have to do here.”

I push my forehead into hers. “Are we ever going to get past you hiding stuff from me because you think you know better than I do what’s best for me?”

“I’d like to say yes, but my record on this is really bad.” She smiles a little, making her eyes sparkle.

“Really bad. Like the worst,” I say, laughing. “I guess I’m lucky to have Mack on my side.”

“Yeah, he was not having any of my not telling you. He drove me here from the Outer Banks. He’s still waiting for me in the parking lot. He’s not letting me leave until I talk to you.”

“He’s a good man,” I say. “How’s he taking it?”

“He made us go right to the doctor after I fell off the board.”

“Wait—”

“Oh, and Mase, one more thing, the doctor did a blood test. I’m pregnant.”

I shake my head and hug her again. “I feel like you probably should have led with that.”

“Yeah, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” she says into my chest. “Mase, I’m pregnant.”

I squeeze her tighter. “I’m here for you no matter what you decide. Seriously, no matter what.”

“I want to have the baby,” she says quietly.

I try not to let my voice mirror the joy that’s suddenly surging through my body. “I thought you said you weren’t ready to have a baby.”

She sits back and looks up at me. “That was a long time ago.”

“Mills,” I say, smiling as I stroke her cheek. “That was a few months ago.”

She takes a deep breath. “I want this baby. I want your baby. I’m scared, but I want to have it.”

“Baby, why are you scared? We’re going to do this together—every step. I’m going to spoil you so much. Anything you want, it’s yours.”

She smiles, but her eyes are still sad. “I realize that you’re here for a while. And I’m okay with it. Really. I’ll be fine. Thousands of babies have been born with their fathers in service. I know you have to do what you have to do.”

I guess she doesn’t realize that there’s no way in hell I’m letting her go through this alone. I smile and squeeze her hand. “Will you stay here for a second? There’s something I need to do.”

“What?” She looks at me—her brow furrowing. “What do you need to do?”

“Just stay here. I’ll be right back.”

As I charge through the door, I see Culver walking down the hall to my left. I run after him and grab him by the shoulder, spinning him around.

“Did you know Millie was pregnant?”

“I did,” he says, squaring up for what he obviously thinks is going to be a fight. “Mack called me.”

“You chose Bravo over us to go wheels up today. Did you hold my team back because you knew she was coming here?”

He takes a step back and lowers his voice. “I did. Professionally, it was absolutely the wrong decision. And I don’t regret it one bit.”

I grab him into an awkward hug. “Thank you, Harry. Thank you.”

He lets me hug him for about three seconds before he pushes me back. He nods. “I told you when you came back that you were in or out. I won’t send you back to Coronado, and I can’t hold your team back again. I wanted to give Millie a chance to tell you in person, but that’s all I can do. The only way out for you is a full retirement.”

I take a deep breath. “I’m retiring. I’m officially retiring effective as soon as possible.”

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