Page 27 of Black Mark's Heart

Chapter Four

"This is very cute," Cassandra smiled, holding up another little girl’s outfit.

"It is," I agreed.

Cassandra looked at me. "Are you disappointed it's a boy?"

We'd been in for our twenty-two week scans and had the sex confirmed. Cassandra was getting her princess, I was growing a prince.

I looked down and caressed my tummy. There was no hiding this now. Flowing top or not, my breasts were already two sizes larger and I'd stopped being able to wear anything but elastic-waist pants a week ago. When I woke up one day last week, you would have thought I had swallowed a bowling ball.

"No, I'm happy. I just haven't felt him kick yet," I frowned. "The scan says he's fine, but I thought I would have felt something by now."

"It will happen, Mora," Cassandra assured. "Are you sure you are happy to take Nick's baby clothes? I would understand if you want to buy your own," Cassandra checked for the fifth time today.

"Cassie, they grow so fast. I'm happy to save my money and take your beautiful and expensive baby clothes off your hands," I assured. "I'm going to go look at the furniture. Zander wants me to make my mind up about a cot and change table this week so we can start setting up the nursery."

Cassandra blew out a breath. "You're meant to be helping me with this baby shower registry."

I laughed, "You've done this twice already, Cassie. We both know that Sophie has you doing my registry at the same time. You know what I'll need better than me. Go crazy."

Cassandra smiled and stopped hiding the second scanner. I made my way over to the furniture section and stood looking at the two cots I was tossing up between. The obstetrician had told me it was going to be a big baby, so I wasn't even considering a bassinet. That went out the window about the same time he started gently raising the subject of booking in for a caesarian. That was something I was determined to avoid but, as I considered Darius's size, height, and bulk, and get your mind off the monster just this once, the idea of trying to push a son of his out of my pelvis was terrifying. I was starting to think the obstetrician had the right idea.

Just thinking about Darius's monster made me squeeze my thighs tight and hear his deep laughter. I jolted when I realized I wasn't imagining that laugh. I dared a look over my shoulder and saw Darius standing twenty meters away in the clothes section, talking to Cassandra.

Turning to put my back to him, I looked around for a place to hide. I checked over my shoulder again. Cassandra was doing a great job of distracting Darius, focusing his attention on a really cute boy’s outfit, which put his back to me.

I moved to the changing room and stepped inside, only to run smack bang into Rebecca, Darius's sister.

"Mora?" Rebecca looked shocked, more so when her eyes fell on the large belly I was sporting. "Holy..."

I covered her mouth with my hand and forced her to take several steps back into the changing room. "Shh. Please? I know he's your brother, but you can't tell him about this."

Rebecca stepped back, eyes wide in bewilderment.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice tearing on a sob.

Rebecca lifted her top to show me her growing belly; it almost looked like we were the same distance along. "I'm five months along. You?"

I dropped my head, "Five and a half."

Tears started flowing from Rebecca's eyes. "That's my brother's child?"

I swiped at a tear running down my cheek and nodded.

"Okay," Rebecca took a breath. "Shit! You haven't told him?"

"Shh!" I scolded her. "I tried," I confessed to her. "I wanted to tell him so often in those first weeks... He told me to get out of his life, so I did."

Rebecca started crying. The curtain behind us pulled back and I turned, fearing Darius had come looking for his sister. Instead, Warren stood there, pale as a ghost, looking at me. His eyes traveled to my belly and he turned away, walking out.

"Shit!" I whispered.

"Warren," Rebecca pushed past me and grabbed his arm, dragging him back in. "Warren, you can't tell Dare."

I looked at Rebecca, surprised.

"She's been through enough. He did this. He chose his millionaire club over her. We were there when he told her to get out of his life. He made the choice, so we don't tell him this," Rebecca lectured.

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