Page 87 of Hateful Union

I close my eyes and hold her close. Grateful that she’s not kicking me out of the room. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper to her, my throat tight as the pain of what I’ve done to her hits me. I’m a fucking prick.

“Why do you keep leaving?”

“It’s not because I don’t want to be with you or the kids. Fuck, Raylee, you’re my world. Nothing and I mean nothing would ever take away my love for you.”

She cries harder and I pull her closer to me. “Then why?” she whispers, her tiny body shaking with her sobs.

“It’s Jade,” I tell her, knowing that I should have told her when I found out. “We’ve found out that she was being beaten by the male guards in the prison.”

She sucks in a sharp breath and winces. “What?”

“Yeah,mo stór, she’s been beaten by fucking bastards.”

She shakes her head, crying harder. “Then get her out.”

I smile, fuck, I shouldn’t be smiling. We’re in a fucking hospital not knowing what’s going on with our baby and I’m smiling. “We’ve been trying, but it’s not that simple.”

“You should have told me. Why didn’t you? I thought you found someone else.”

“Oh, baby,” I whisper. “That is never going to happen. Seeing you for the first time over five years ago, I knew there would never be anyone else that I’d want. You are it.Mo stór,why would I want anyone else, when I have everything I need at home?”

She gives me a watery smile. “You’re a smooth talker, Malcolm Gallagher.”

I kiss her lips, needing to have that connection. “She’s been raped, I found out not long after she’d been inside that she’s being beaten and raped,” I tell her softly and her eyes meet mine. “That’s why we’re going to New York. Baby, we all were going to go.”

“How has this been allowed to happen?” she questions and it’s the same damn thing that we’ve all been asking ourselves.

“She’s out next week and we’re going to make sure that every fucking bastard that hurt her suffers.”

She nods. “Make them feel the same that she did.”

Ah, I forgot just how bloodthirsty my wife could be.

“Mo stór, I doubt any of us need to. Once Jade’s out, she’ll be exacting revenge. When she does, it’s going to be explosive.”

She gives me a weak smile. “Good.” She rests her head against my shoulder. “I’m sorry that I never told you about the baby,” she says softly.

Thankfully, the tears are subsiding. “Why didn’t you?”

She shrugs. “We’ve been so distant. You’ve been busy and I guess I was hurt and resentful that your job takes priority.”

She still doesn’t get it. She’s my priority. Always was and always will be.

“Mo stór,nothing, and I mean nothing is more important than you and our children.”

She makes a contented sigh and I continue to hold her. Hating that we’re fucking here with no answers.

The door opens and the doctor comes back in. About fucking time. It’s been almost an hour since she’s been gone.

“Mrs. Gallagher, the blood tests bring good news. The bleeding was only small and has since stopped. Spotting can be normal at this stage of the pregnancy. But we want to be on the safe side. So take it easy, no stress, and if the pain or bleeding come back, please come straight here.”

Relief washes through me. Thank fucking Christ. “Can I take her home?” I ask, needing to be out of this place and in our own house where she’ll be safe.

The doctor nods. “Of course, but please, come back if anything else happens.”

I get to my feet and look down at the beautiful woman that has my heart and soul. “I will,” I assure the doctor as I reach for Raylee and help her to her feet. “Let’s get you home,mo stór.” I kiss her lips softly and she leans heavily against me.

“Thank you,” I say to the doctor as I lead Raylee out of the room and toward the exit.

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