Page 54 of My Shining Stepbrother

“If you can't apologize for taking what was MINE, then you don't need to speak about it!” She spits at him. “Don't say another word about it!” She starts grinding her teeth and clenching her fists.

“You never told him, did you?” Ronnie asks her with a weak smile. What didn't she tell me?

“Shut up, Ronnie! You ended that for me without even thinking of me. So stop.” A tear falls down her cheek as she screams at him. She is hiding something darker, I can tell.

“Maybe… you will… get that bab…” His voice gets weaker with every word before his head falls forward, and his breathing stops. Was he about to say what I think he was?

I looked at Rose and whatever he was about to say broke her from her trance. She ran out of the room crying and puking. I run after her, follow her to the bathroom, and pull her hair back from her face.

Her face starts to look pale, and she clutches her stomach. I look down, and her stomach is bleeding. I pick her up in my arms, running past Matty and Trigger, telling them to clean up the mess down here. I told them I would call them once I got home.

She is awake but barely. I got her to the car and drove her to the hospital. We are there for a few hours as they check her wound and vitals. They clean her up and restitch her stomach. I take her home and lay her down on the bed before calling Matty and Trigger, telling them to come over.

Once they get here, they walk in, grab a drink, and sit at the table. An awkward silence falls over the three of us. A rare and unfamiliar sight when it comes to us.

I take a deep breath before swallowing a big gulp of my drink. “Is it all cleaned up?”

“Every bit of it.” Trigger looks around the room before he leans forward, putting his elbows on the table. “What the hell happened back there? Do you know what he was talking about? I mean, that was a brutal way to kill a man. What the fuck did he do to her?” He whispers between us, trying to make sure she doesn't hear.

“I don’t know, but I have an idea. I don’t want to believe it, though.” My voice is just as quiet as his in my reply. I want to think no man did what I'm assuming he did.

“Wait, you don’t think?” Matty stops his question there as I sigh.

“He killed their baby? That’s the only thing that makes sense.” I swallow the rest of my drink and fill my glass with the bottle on the table.

“I would have cut off his balls with his dick if that were true.” Trigger follows suit in swallowing all of his drink in one big gulp.

“Maybe shove them down his throat after too.” Matty pushes the glass away from him and takes the bottle, drinking directly from it.

“I would have done all of the above.” I swallow my full glass once more before slamming the glass down. “And then some extra.”

We changed the subject and started discussing the cleanup and where they took the body. We change the location of dump sites after every kill. Most of the time, it is under the foundation of a newly built building. When the concrete is getting poured, or we know they will be pouring it within a day or two.

I get up, walking away from the guys and the table to check on Rose. I'm unsure if she is awake or even wants to talk, but we need to speak with many things hanging in the air. I need to know everything that happened.

I see her starting to sit up while she rubs her eyes. “Hey baby, how are you feeling?” I take a seat next to her on the bed.

“Like I was hit by a ton of bricks….” She lays her head back against the headboard. I can tell she is thinking, but I'm unsure what she is thinking about. “I’m sorry you saw me that way tonight… the things he did… I couldn’t stop.” She closes her eyes tight, trying to clear the memories from her head.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her closer to me. My grip is tight as the fear of losing her rolls through me. “Baby, it’s okay. You never have to apologize to me. We got it taken care of, and he is gone for good. He can’t hurt you or anyone else ever again.”

She takes a deep breath tensing her body in my arms. “I need to tell you what he was going to say. Please don’t look at me differently, though.” She sounds so weak and vulnerable. It breaks my heart to see her like this.

“I will never look at you differently.” I kiss the side of her head, giving her some of my strength.

“After Ronnie and I had been together for two months, I discovered I was pregnant.” She closes her eyes as some of her tears escape. “I have never told anyone this before, but I need to tell you. If we want the future of our dreams, I need to tell you everything.” She takes a deep, shaky breath.

“Go ahead, baby. I'm not going anywhere.” I rub circles with my thumb against her arm.

“I told Ronnie because I was so excited. I thought he would be, too, but I was wrong. He was furious and said I wasn’t mother material because I was damaged. He grabbed a pole or stick. I’m not sure because I never saw it, but he shoved it inside me until I bled and left me there to die. If I hadn’t forced myself up from the floor to get to the hospital, I would have died that night.” More tears fall from her beautiful eyes. “He killed my baby and a part of me.”

“Are you still able to have kids?” I asked the first question that came to my mind. The way her body tenses makes me want to punch myself for it now. Why was that my first fucking thought?!

“The doctor said I could, but it would be hard and a high-risk pregnancy. He advised against it, and I pushed all those dreams aside. I never thought about it again until I met you. I realized I wanted that in my life with you. I understand if you don’t, Reese, but please don’t hurt me like that. I know you wouldn’t, but I have to say it out loud for my peace of mind.” She looks away, not wanting to see the look in my eyes.

I put my hands on the sides of her face turning her to face me again. I kiss her with everything I have inside me. “Baby, I want an entire life and family with you. We will get a second opinion to see if you can have at least one kid. I can assure you, though, that I never plan on leaving or hurting you. Even without any kids, I'm yours.” I stare into her eyes as my words soak in.

“Thank you. I don't want you to feel pressured, though. If it's not what you want at any time, tell me, please.” She softens her body as she speaks, relaxing into my hands.

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