Page 65 of Caught In the Devil's Game

As well as a change in my own.

There would now be two lives I’d need to protect. Two lives for my enemies to use against me if they were ever discovered.

“Please tell me you don’t hate me,” she sobbed out, making me realize that I hadn’t said anything.

Leaning down, I brought her head closer, kissing her on her forehead. “I could never hate you. It was just a bit of a shock, but a good one. I know we didn’t plan for this, but it happened, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

“Really? she sniffed. “This whole thing is my fault. I forgot to take my pill. One freaking day and I end up pregnant.”

Realizing maybe she didn’t want this, I asked, “is this not something you wanted in life, having a child? Or is it that you’re having it with me?”

She shook her head. “No. I’ve always wanted kids, and to have one with you is great. It’s just... I never thought I’d be pregnant this early in life, so it’s just a little jarring, you know?”

I chuckled a bit, knowing the amount of protection I had planned for her just got doubled. “I do know. But I also know that even though we didn’t plan for this, I want to do this with you.”

“I want this with you too.”

“Then we’re going to do this, you and me.” Another hour went by before they finally felt she was hydrated enough to leave and go home. We’d stopped on the way back to the house and picked up some crackers she liked as well as some Pedialyte, and the prescription for the prenatal vitamins the doctor had prescribed for her. She hadn’t said much on the ride home, neither one of us did. We were both digesting this news we’d been given, knowing all of our priorities in life were about to significantly change now.

Pulling into the garage, I went over to help her out of the car. The look in her eyes said it all. She was scared. I brought her in for a hug. “Everything is going to be ok; I promise. We just need to take this one day at a time. I need you to know that I will be here for you, anything you need. Day or night.” Those words brought another issue up in my head, another one I knew would pack yet another level on the weight she was already feeling. But this one wasn’t open for discussion. It needed to happen. I would wait until later to deliver that news. Right now, I just wanted her to rest up and feel better.

After I got her to lay down, she went out like a light, giving me time to call Keiran and update him on my situation, and where things will go from here.

He picked up on the third ring. “Everything ok?”

“Everything is good... but just got a hell of a lot more complicated for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Clarice wasn’t feeling well, so I took her into town to the doctors, and we found out she’s pregnant with my child.”

He was silent for a moment. “Wow. Well, I’d say you just obliterated the fuck out of the rules you set for yourself. How do you want to handle this?”

I was pacing now, running my hand over my face, and head. “Do you trust Nicky?”

“I do.”

“No. I mean do you trust the kid enough to bring him in?”

“Oh.” He took a beat. “I do. I’ve put him through some fucked up loyalty tests recently, he’s currently on another one as we speak with that job I told you I had for him. If he passes this one, I’d say the kid is golden.”

“I need you to be sure because I’m going to need him with Clarice 24/7, whether I’m there or not.”

“I’m going to be straight forward with you, I don’t like the idea of bringing anyone else into the loop, but considering the situation, I don’t see another way. He’s young and wants to make a name for himself with us, so I think he would be the best man for the job.”

“Then if he does pass your last test start the process, but you had better make one thing crystal fucking clear to the kid. His life only keeps going as long as hers does. Something happens to her or my baby, his will end.”

“I will be sure it’s made crystal clear.”

“Good. Tomorrows Monday is your guy set up to be at the boys school to follow them home?”

“He’s actually staying at a motel just a mile down the street, so he can be there first thing in the morning. He’s hoping the mother drops him off and he can just follow her back. That way if traffic shit happens again, he’ll already know where they’re headed.”

“Smart. I like it.”

“He’s good. Thinking about keeping him on the payroll.”

“I want the picture the second it hits your phone.”

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