Page 150 of Merciless Desires

“What?” I feel dizzy. “When?”

“A couple of months ago, apparently.” He approaches me. “She’s pregnant, too.”

Tears fill my eyes, thinking of her with that priest-killing monster. And he got her pregnant? “If your brother hurts her.” I shove a pointed finger in Darragh’s face.

He grabs my finger, using it to pull me close to him, so our lips are touching. “I have it on good authority they’re happy.”

I had to accept the world would keep spinning when I left, but this? “I want to speak to her.”

“Not yet. The same reason I told you before applies.”

“You’re no better than Cormac.” I break away and pace in front of the row windows. “I went from being his prisoner to yours.”

“I just told you this to make you understand what’s at stake. If your father tries to slaughter my family for what Cormac did, your sister is an O’Rourke now.”

“Papa wouldn’t hurt her.”

“He tried to marry her off to a man who beat her up.” Darragh’s cold voice strikes a nerve, weakening my knees. “My psycho brother saved her. He loves her. He’s keeping her safe. Let me do the same with you.”

“Someone beat up Katya?” I can’t hold back tears anymore, and I crumple onto my bed.

Darragh crouches next to the mattress. “Just once, from what I was told, the night before the wedding. Lachlan saw her bruises and stopped it.” Darragh reaches out to run a calming hand over me. “Then he married her. We’re furious with Cormac for what he did to you, and Eoghan is dealing with that. Kieran wouldn’t put up with Lachlan not treating your sister with anything other than respect.”

I sniff, taking in his words. “So, we’re…related. You and me?”

“I guess we are.” He cracks a smile.

“Wait… My father let your brother stop a wedding he arranged and—?”

“Your father is more unhinged than ever. And wants you back more than ever that he’s making these pathetic deals. The groom, the dead groom, was helping him find you.”

I glance down, cradling my stomach. “God, I feel awful.”

“I just wanted you to know your sister is okay.”

“Thank you.” I lean forward and hug him.

“I’m glad the ultrasound looked good today,” he whispers in my ear, his warm breath sparking my arousal again.

God, his voice is so hot.

Sniffing, I mumble, “Me too, really.”

“I told Eoghan to ask Balor to look into hacking your trust fund. It is your money. But not to take and run away with. Not with the baby.” He caresses my stomach. The touch, the warmth of his hands, and the firmness of his thick fingers set me on fire. “Our baby.”

“Then what?” I squeak, seeing that future a little clearer right now.

“We’ll figure it out.” He kisses my forehead softly. “I have something else to tell you. Tomorrow night, I signed us up for a prenatal class.”

“Us?”

“You and me. We’re having a baby.” He stands with his arms folded. “Have I not made that clear?”

CHAPTER 12

Ana

The following evening, Darragh drops Sophie off at her Girl Scout Brownie meeting, and off we go to a prenatal birthing class.

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