“I hurt everywhere.”
“How’s our little bean?” Trinity asks.
“Well, the bean doesn’t like olives anymore.” Lunch had given me a wicked case of heartburn. I lean against Trinity, and she wraps an arm around me. “I think I’m too old for this.”
Wrath—the jerk—lets out a loud rumble of laughter. “You’ll be fine, Cinderella.”
The war room door opens, and Z steps out, followed by Murphy, Teller, and finally Rock.
The four of them stop to stare at Trinity and me for a second. Rock’s mouth curves into a genuine smile.
At first.
Then his eyes gleam with amusement as if he’s remembering all the dirty details of my dream he ended up working out of me last night.
I narrow my eyes, silently warning him not to betray my dream-orgy.
He gives me a subtle nod and focuses his attention on Wrath. “What the fuck you doing out here?”
Wrath shrugs. “Tired of going in circles about the same issue.” He lifts his chin at Z. “You figure out what we’re doing with the driveway or not?”
“You know how much work that’s gonna be?” Z answers.
“Expensive too,” Teller adds.
“So hire someone if you don’t want to do the work, but it’s eroding more and more every year,” Wrath says.
“Look at you with the big words,” Teller mutters.
Wrath growls. “Watch it, welterweight.”
“Play nice, boys,” I warn.
Murphy stuffs his hands in his pockets and tips his head toward the open window. “Weather’s perfect for that project. We wait much longer, it’ll be too hot. Before you know it, it’ll be winter again and the road’s gonna be even worse.”
Z steps back, putting space between his brothers and himself. “You’re RC, why isn’t this your job?”
Wrath sits up. “Quit being such a baby. It’s your fucking job because you wanted control over the grounds.”
Unruffled by Z challenging him, Murphy tries again. “I’ll do it if you’ve got too much going on.” He jerks his thumb toward the woods. “I want to extend the driveway out to the houses anyway. Now’s a good time, since we already got guys coming and going, working on my house.”
“Actually, it’d be better if we do it once your house is finished,” Z says.
Murphy nods at me. “It’d be best if we get it done before she goes into labor, you selfish dick.”
Rock sweeps his gaze over Murphy with approval, but holds up his hands. “Simmer down. We’ll take a vote at the table.”
“Fine,” Z grumbles.
Heidi pokes her head around the corner of the living room. “Is it safe to join you guys?”
“No,” Wrath answers at the same time Murphy waves at her.
Ravage, Stash, and Sparky follow. Murphy’s eyes narrow. “Why you three creeps trailing my girl?”
Heidi presses her finger over his lips and kisses his cheek. “Be nice. They helped me carry a bunch of boxes into the kitchen.” She gestures toward the hallway. “Alexa’s ‘helping’ Swan make cookies.”
“Hey,” Trinity protests. “That’s my job.”
“Trust me,” Heidi laughs. “Alexa’s happy to help with cookie-making any time.”
“Why’s the energy so tense in here?” Sparky asks, staring up at the ceiling and then down at the floor. “The plants can’t have all this disharmony.”
“We’ll try to cheer things up, Sparky.” Rock’s tone straddles the line between serious and sarcastic.
“Z still bitching about the driveway?” Ravage asks.
Z throws his hands in the air and glares at Rock. “You have any idea what a pain in the ass it is to deal with so many fuckwits?”
Rock levels a completely straight face at him. “Yes. I do.”
Everyone cracks up.
“I mean—”
“I know what you mean,” Rock says. “My answer remains the same.”
Heidi shakes her head at the guys and drops down next to me, cuddling up against my side. “How do you feel today, Hope?”
“Just tired.” My gaze strays to Rock. “Not sleeping well.”
Heidi’s eyes sparkle with mischief for a brief moment before she shakes it off.
“What?” Trinity asks.
“Nothing.” She lowers her voice. “I remember lots of vivid sex dreams around this time.”
Of course, there’s a lull in the guys’ conversation, so they all hear the last few words.
“Whoa!” Ravage howls. “Which one of you lucky ladies has been blessed with me in their vivid sex dreams?”
“I think you meant cursed,” Murphy says.
“Come on.” Ravage’s mischievous gaze skips over Trinity, me, and then Heidi.
“Nobody,” Wrath and Z answer at the same time.
Rock seems to be having trouble keeping his straight face. I glare at him, and he shakes his head.
Stash zeroes in on us immediately. “Aw, Prez.” His gaze ping-pongs between the two of us. “Come on. Spill it.”
“It’s a pregnancy thing,” Heidi jumps to my defense.
“Thanks so much, Heidi,” I mutter.
“Prez, you can’t allow your woman to have sex dreams about other men,” Ravage says.
“Allow? Did you say allow?” Heidi gasps and sits up. “It’s not something you can control. Don’t be a jerk.”
Ravage’s jaw drops and he stares Murphy’s way. “Did your woman just call me a jerk?”
“Yup.” Murphy sits back and puts his arm around Heidi’s shoulders. “Like I always say, smartest girl I know.”
The guys crack up and heckle Ravage. He throws a wink my way. “Hope knows I’m messing with her, right?”
“Uh-huh. I’m not in a joking mood.”
“The dream must’ve been about you,” Stash says. “That’d put any sane woman in a foul mood.”
Even I can’t help laughing at that.
Z smirks and taps his chest. “If she’s dreaming about anyone, it’s gonna be the best-looking brother.”
Trinity glares at him. “Really, Z? I expect better from you.”
“Why?” Wrath deadpans.
Rock casually leans over and shoves Z off the end of the couch.
“Ow, what the fuck, Rock? You know we’re just messing around. Hope doesn’t mind.”
I turn, catching Wrath’s eye and the worst possible thing happens. A flash of last night’s dream fires in my brain. Wrath staring up at me, licking his lip.
My cheeks turn red-hot. Naturally, something Wrath doesn’t miss.
Great. I can’t wait for him to tease me too.
Instead, he shoots a pissed-off glare at Z, Ravage, and Stash. “Stop fucking around and go get some quotes for that driveway,” Wrath orders Z. He points at Ravage and Stash. “I nominate you two assholes to help him with the labor.”
“I don’t do manual labor,” Stash protests.
“Yeah, well, now you do.”
“Prez,” Stash whines.
Rock stares at him without saying a word.
“Fuck.”
Ravage doesn’t seem to mind the assignment. He flexes his arms. “Manual labor will do you good, Stash. Looking a little flabby there, bro.”
He lifts his shirt and tries to grab a handful of belly fat. “Can’t pinch an inch.” He pats his stomach and shrugs at us apologetically. “But I am still carrying a bit of winter weight.”
“No one cares,” Murphy growls.
“Walk your lazy ass down to the gym and do some cardio,” Wrath suggests.
Instead, Sparky and Stash head down to the basement.
Heidi leans over and hugs me. “Sorry about that,” she whispers before leaving with Murphy and Teller.
“I’m gonna take the dogs for a run,” Z says. “Rav?”
“I’m coming.” Ravage leans down to whisper in my ear. “I’m sorry. I really was just teasing.”
My lips twitch. “It’s okay.”
“You’re a g
ood sport, Hope.”
“I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“Nope.”
After he and Z leave, I hold out my hand for Rock to help me sit up. “I guess we should head home too. I need a nap after all that fun.”
Rock chuckles and takes my hand.
“Wait a second, Cinderella.”
Oh no.
I turn and glare at a smirking Wrath. “What?”
Trinity reaches over and slaps his arm. “Stop teasing her.”
Rock’s chest brushes against my arm, and I turn. He’s not preparing to smack Wrath as I’d hoped. No, my husband’s shaking with laughter.
I place my hand on my hips and glare. “Really?”
He stops laughing, but his mouth twists as if he might burst. “It’s a little funny.”
“It’s not remotely funny.”
Wrath snaps his fingers. “I knew it.”
Trinity glances at me with an apologetic smile.
“Don’t be too jealous, Trin,” I say. “You were there too.”
“What?” Her eyes widen as she absorbs my meaning. “Oh.” She laughs and hugs me. “Well, if I was ever going to mess around with a girl, it’d be you for sure.”
“Aw, I feel so warm and fuzzy inside now,” I tease, hugging her back.
“I’m going to need more details,” Wrath says.
“No, you don’t,” Rock answers. Apparently now he’s reached his limit on this subject.
“Aw, come on, Rock.” I smirk at him. “A minute ago you thought it was hilarious.”
We stare at each other for a few beats. He cocks his head and lifts an eyebrow, daring me to share the dirty details with Wrath and Trinity.
Wrath wraps his arm around Trinity’s shoulders and pulls her against his chest. “Tell me, Hope. What exactly were Trinity and I doing in this vivid dream of yours?”
“It’s Trinity’s fault. She’s always bragging about how good you are at certain activities.”
Rock helps me off the couch and pulls me into his arms, kissing my cheek.
“Certain activities?” Wrath glances at his wife. “I’m good at everything.”
Trinity pats his cheek. “Yes, you are.”
“What do you brag about?” Rock whispers in my ear.
“A truly satisfied woman brags to no one about anything,” I whisper back.
He nuzzles against my neck and nips my earlobe. “I have an urge to satisfy you right now.”
My knees turn to jelly, and I sway a little in his hold.
“I think it’s time for that nap, baby doll.”
“Sweet dreams,” Wrath calls after us.
Without turning around, I flip him off over my shoulder.
Their laughter follows us out the door.
Chapter Six
Hope
It took a few days for the guys to go in for the tests. Instead of giving me reports one by one, unless they come up with a winner—or loser depending on your point of view—the results are supposed to be delivered to both parties in writing simultaneously.
So I don’t expect to hear from the lab so soon after Wrath and Z gave the last samples.
“Ms. Kendall, I have some preliminary results. Unfortunately, there was an error at the lab, and I need two of the candidates to return for another swab.”
“You’re kidding. Are you saying one of them might be the father?”
“No. We haven’t been able to determine that yet. There was an error,” he repeats.
I’d researched the facility before agreeing to it. Shoot, if the other side hears about a screwup, they might ask for all the tests to be redone. “Is that common?”
He coughs. In the background I hear papers shuffling. “No. But it happens. We had some delays due to information from the California lab arriving late.”
That still doesn’t really answer my concerns. “Fine. Who do I need to send back?” Please don’t let it be Bricks. He already left for Puerto Rico and has only been in limited contact with Rock.
“The first two. Let me find their numbers so you can match them up to the names.”
Icy dread curls in my stomach. I know exactly who went first.
Still, I wait for him to say the names. “Marcel Whelan and a… Rochlan North.”
Jesus Christ.
My stomach falls, and my lunch threatens to make a reappearance.
All this time.
I haven’t doubted Rock once.
I still don’t.
But…
Could he somehow be the father of Inga’s baby?
Chapter Seven
Hope
It’s no big deal.
Mix-ups happen all the time.
It doesn’t mean anything.
Haven’t there been cases where the hospital amputated the wrong leg?
Okay, that’s not helpful or relevant.
I spend lots of time trying to calm myself down before explaining to Teller and Rock that they have to return to the lab.
Teller turns green when I inform him he has to go retake the paternity test.
“What do you mean there was a screwup?”
“Teller, I’m giving you all the information I have. Honest.”
“Shit.” He tears his fingers through his hair.
Rock doesn’t take the news that much better.
But where Teller’s anxiety stems from the fact that he might actually be the father of Inga’s child, Rock’s annoyance is directed at the lab who is “wasting his time.”
There’s not even a flicker of concern in his voice otherwise.
He stares at me for a few seconds and hooks his hand around my waist. “What’s got you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing.”
He searches my eyes. “I’m not gonna be mad at you if you’re having doubts.” He gives me a tense smile. “I got nothing to worry about.”
“I know,” I whisper.
“Don’t be so sure, Hope,” Teller says. “At this point, I wouldn’t put it past this bitch to dig a condom out of the trash and inseminate herself.”
“Eww,” I groan. “Thank God we don’t use those.”
He cringes at my zinger. “I walked right into that. Gross.”
Rock cocks his head and glares at Teller. “The fuck’s wrong with you?”
I squeeze Rock’s arm.
Hey, at least Teller’s laughing now instead of looking like he might choke the first stripper who crosses his path.
Charlotte rubs her hands over Teller’s back. “We will sue the ever-loving-shit out of that bitch if it’s your son, Marcel. I promise you that. Already looked into getting admitted to the California bar on an ad hoc basis in case we can’t sue her in New York.”
“Christ,” Teller mutters.
Charlotte’s been rather practical about the whole situation, but at least she hasn’t blamed Teller. Not to my knowledge anyway.
“If that boy belongs to anyone in this club, Hope and I will make her life a living hell,” Charlotte promises, waving her hand between the two of us.
“Thanks, sunshine,” he says, pulling her against him. “You make this so much easier.”
They whisper and kiss until Rock, and I slowly edge away from them.
I don’t bother correcting her. Nope, after Rock’s out of this litigation, I’m out. It’s already caused me enough stress. I need to focus on Grace.
I love the club, but I love my baby more.
Chapter Eight
Rock
Because it was their screwup, the lab schedules us right away. It’s raining, and I pick Teller up about an hour before our appointments so we can talk. After the lab, we’re supposed to meet up with Murphy, Wrath, and Stash. We’re headed to our drop-off with the Demons, something I’m almost as eager to get out of the way as much as this fucking test.
Charlotte waves to me from the front porch and kisses Teller before he leaves. So I guess that’s a good sign.
“She still handling this okay?” I ask once he shuts his
door.
He glares at me. “Yeah, we’ve had all sorts of fun conversations. ‘No worries, babe. I’m pretty sure I’m not the dad, but I gotta go in and give my DNA again.’” He leans over and runs his hand over his hair, spraying water droplets everywhere.
“What are you, a dog?”
“Been called worse.” He peers out through the windshield. The rain’s coming down so hard I can barely see ten feet in front of the truck. “What the fuck’s with all the rain?”
“Guess it’s better than snow.”
He snorts. After a few minutes of silence, he asks, “What the fuck am I going to do, Rock?”
“We don’t know anything yet. Don’t worry about it until you have to.”
“Yeah, that’s what Hope keeps saying.”
“Then listen to her.”
“She doing okay? She’s seemed calm every time she talks to us about it, but this has to really suck for her.”
“It fucking sucks and I hate every goddamn second of it. This is the last thing she needs right now.”
“The baby’s okay, though, right? I know Hope wants to handle the case, but maybe you should pass it to Glassman.”
The thought has crossed my mind. More than once. But I agree with Hope. I don’t want anyone to think we’re not united. “I thought Charlotte wanted to handle it?”
“Fuck that. I don’t want her involved. That’s your call to make anyway, Prez.”
“I’ll call him if I think she needs a break.”
Teller sighs and sits back. “This is such bullshit. I barely fuckin’ know Inga.”
“Then I guess you shouldn’t have stuck your dick in her.”
“Thanks. That’s helpful. Very helpful, Prez.”
I spread my hands wide. “What do you want me to say? It’s a risk you take. If he’s yours, you’ll man the fuck up and do what’s right for your kid.”
“And what exactly is that? ‘Co-parent’ with a woman I barely know and don’t respect?”
“Co-parent?”
“Charlotte says it all the time.” Frustrated, he waves his hand in the air. “That’s not the point.”
“Marcel, stop. Chill the fuck out until we know for sure.”
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