Page 9 of Sweet Refuge

Damn it to hell. She didn’t have the sort of life a baby belonged in. How could she attend PTO meetings and Little League games when Blackout wiped out her very identity?

Two minutes to go.

She peered at the panel on the stick and her stomach bottomed out.

A second line appeared, creating a perfect little positive cross.

Snatching up the instructions, she read the section on results again.

Pregnant.

Damn.

She dropped her face into her hands, breathing hard. Her head swam, and she realized she just might pass out if she didn’t get a grip.

C’mon, Graham. You air-drop into enemy territories. You helped take out one of the biggest terrorists that the world has known to date.

But she couldn’t raise a baby.

She sucked in a deep breath, held it and then took another big gulp on top of it—a technique that divers used to keep their brains from freaking out underwater.

It didn’t help.

She wrapped the test stick in a thick wad of toilet paper and tossed it in the trash can, taking a minute to bury it under several paper towels she used to dry her hands after washing them.

She couldnothave the guys finding that. They already razzed her about times of the month and female mood swings, even if she was more stable than most of her teammates.

She had to hide this from them at all costs—until she figured out what to do.

A glance in the mirror showed her the reflection of a woman who looked like she was going through some crap. But she couldn’t fix her expression or rewind time and walk away from Slade before he pumped his sperm into her and made a baby.

Agghh.

She slammed a palm off the bathroom door, shoving it open. Then she stalked to the conference room.

When she entered, Mustang shot her a smirk. He must have been the guy pounding on the door asking if she was having her period.

She extended her middle finger and used it to scratch her cheek as she walked to her seat and dropped into it.

“You’re late, Graham,” Sparrow, her commanding officer, said without looking up from the computer tablet he held.

“Sorry.”

His gaze flashed up and their eyes locked.

Please don’t let it show on my face.

To her relief, Sparrow started talking, briefing them on an event the commanders in the Pentagon were keeping close tabs on. Blackout was on call if the time came…

After a few sentences, Lena stopped listening.

She was going to have to finally answer Slade’s calls. What would he even say when she told him the news?

He wanted her back and made no bones about it. He’d probably be thrilled.

Butshewas stuck. She couldn’t carry a baby into combat.

“Missing SEAL from Blackout Charlie…”

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