Page 9 of Bound by Love
He turned to Brie and asked, “Did you see what I built for the kittens?”
“I did!” she answered. “It’s totally amazing!”
“The little buggers certainly seem to enjoy it.”
“So you are really planning to keep all six?”
“To be honest, I couldn’t bear breaking up the family.”
“I’m thrilled to hear you say that,” Brie told him, taking advantage of his timely lead-in. “Because that’s the real reason I came here today. Shadow feels the responsibility of his fatherhood and, naturally, he insists on paying child support since he can’t be here to care for them himself.”
Master Anderson laughed. “So that’s what the bag of ‘kitten support’ was doing on my porch…”
“Yes, it would be wonderful if Shadow could visit his family sometime, don’t you think?”
“Oh, hell no! I’m not going to allow that cat anywhere near my Cayenne again. Once was more than enough, thank you.”
“But you don’t understand. Shadow legitimately misses them, Master Anderson. I canfeelShadow’s pain.” Brie looked at him sadly while pouting her bottom lip, hoping to convince him.
Master Anderson shook his head. “You don’t play fair, young lady.” He glanced over at Rytsar and asked, “How the heck am I supposed to resist that face?”
Rytsar chuckled at him. “As the winner tonight, I say you grant her wish.”
“I wouldn’t go abusing that power so soon,champ,” Master Anderson said with a bite of sarcasm.
Rytsar started walking toward the door, his gate stiffer than before. “My job here is done,” he announced, heading out.
Master Anderson stopped Brie before she left. “Make sure the Russian didn’t hurt himself. I tried not to tax his ribs too much.”
“Wait…did you let him win?”
He chuckled. “What you witnessed was a test of wills, young Brie. We’re square now.”
Brie left, smiling to herself.
What had started out as a humorous break-in had ended with two old friends making amends. Turned out, making whoopee truly was a beautiful thing.
Secrets to Keep
When the car finally pulled up to the hospital, Sir instantly took charge. He told Brie to stay put while he went to get her a wheelchair. It seemed silly, since she wasn’t suffering from labor pains yet and could walk just fine, but Sir insisted. Rather than argue, she acquiesced, grateful that he cared.
While she waited, Maxim got out of the vehicle and wrestled Rytsar’s wheelchair out of the back, setting it up next to the passenger door.
“Put that away!” Rytsar insisted through clenched teeth when Maxim opened the door.
“Rytsar, what about the doctor’s orders?” Brie reminded him, reaching over the seat to touch his shoulder. “I don’t want our baby’sdyadyainjuring himself just before her arrival.”
Rytsar grunted. “I promise to sit in a chair like a normal person during the birth, but I amnotgoing to be wheeled into that place.”
Brie saw the double doors slide open as Sir walked out of the hospital, rolling an empty wheelchair toward the car. Brie blushed with embarrassment, now understanding Rytsar’s reluctance, and did not press him further.
“No wheelchair?” Sir asked when Rytsar stepped out of the car.
“Do not concern yourself with my affairs, comrade. You have your woman to look after.”
Rather than argue, Sir opened Brie’s door and helped her into the wheelchair. Rytsar grabbed Maxim’s shoulder and leaned against him for support.
Smiling down at Brie, Sir stated, “Let’s go deliver this baby.” He wheeled her to the hospital and her heart skipped a beat as they passed through the entrance. The next time she went through these doors, she would be holding their little girl in her arms. Brie looked back toward Sir, shaking her head in amazement.
