Page 81 of Forgive Me For I Have Sinned

"It's his,” I blurt, looking at Gia.

He grins. "She told you, and you don't know that."

"She married him legally. You made sure the first child was yours. Fair is fair."

He shakes his head like what I said is crazy, but I know Draven. He's been fucking Gia and pulling out or giving her anal so his brother can have his heir. Poor Gia will be pregnant again when the kid turns one, or should I say lucky.

"Either way, I'm happy for you three." I turn to Jess. "Why is Reid taking so long?"

She knows I mean for her to get pregnant with a little Riordan.

"He's waiting for you and Alaric."

"I'm not married and––" I trail off, rubbing the back of my neck where the tattoo was placed. A reminder of what I am in the grand scheme of things.

I still have to marry Dorian at the end of graduation. I'm not free.

Dravin clears his throat. "We'll see."

* * *

After class on Friday, I head over to Babylon to meet with Jess and Gia. We began a sort of routine after school since I got the results from the doctor. I'm pregnant. I don't know how if I'm on birth control. I didn't miss a pill and have been keeping up with filling my prescriptions.

When I walk in, it's packed. There needs to be a seat at the bar. Three bartenders are running around serving drinks. The pool tables are all taken. My eyes scan the booths, looking for Jess and Gia in their normal spot.

I know I've found them when Jess smiles and gestures me over. A hand slides around my waist as I enter the crowd. "Where are you going, princess?" My body stiffens, and my chest tightens as fear grips me when I hear Dorian's voice over Seether's “Fake It.”

I pull away. His smile is full of capped teeth glowing white under the dim light of the bar. He’s wearing a white t-shirt under a leather jacket, trying to fit in.

My eyes sweep over him in disgust, reminding me of something foul. Like the smell of trash when you walk behind a building. "What are you doing here, Dorian? This isn't your crowd. Aren't you too old to hang out with college kids?"

"Alaric does."

I bare my teeth. "That's because he fucks me better than they do."

"I can do better."

I snort. "I think I'll just ask your secretary. She obviously got bored of you."

It bothered me that Alaric slept with her, but I'm a big girl, and I've done bad things. It's all in the past, and right now, I carry something more important than regrets and hate inside me.

Dorian gives me a wintry smile that suddenly turns into a frown. "You're a long way from the city, Dorian. I didn't think you hung out here chasing college pussy," Valen says behind me.

Dorian glances at me and then at Valen, then back at me. "I don't. I prefer real women. The kind that don't fuck little boys. I'll just have to show you, Veronica."

My lips turn into a salacious smile. "Oh, Dorian. You couldn't make me come the way they can, but I prefer chains to warm baths. Just ask your perverted dad. He can tell you all about it. How much I hate baths."

Dorian’s nostrils flare when Alaric shows up with the twins, and Adam overhears the last part. "Damn, Black. You keep it in the family. It's kind of sick." Alaric leans closer. "I know all about it. It's pathetic that your daddy had to pick your wife for you, too, getting off with his three-inch dick, but don't worry, I have something special lined up for you both." Alaric slides his hands protectively over my waist, erasing Dorian's touch and kissing my neck hotly. "And for the record, I'm not a little boy."

"Have fun with your daddy," I chirp.

Dorian's jaw hardens. His eyes seem desperate, but he gives a sharp laugh. A laugh when someone doesn't get their way but knows he's outnumbered and can't do shit about it. I would be afraid of him if I wasn't in a bar full of people and if the sons of Kenyan weren't all around me. Protecting me.

When I slide into the booth next to Jess, she asks, "What did that pathetic piece of shit want?"

"To get under her skin by showing up in random places everywhere, like the creep he is," Gia says, popping a French fry in her mouth.

"The guys should get rid of him," Jess chimes in.

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