by Amo Jones
My eyes glass over. “You were trying to protect her.”
“In his own way, Tillie, he was. I know it’s hard to come to terms with,” Bishop adds. “But he was trying to protect her, while also looking at something in his gain, i.e., you.”
I sag back on the sofa, my eyes coming to Elena. “Secrets like this is why people die. Why they run away and why love is burned.” I glare at Bishop. He winces and looks away.
“Hector?” I question. “Do we have any more enemies?”
“We will always have enemies, Tillie.”
“Well can you kill them all in around eight month’s time?”
Silence.
“Wait! What?” Nate comes to the front of me, dropping to the ground.
I search his eyes, reaching into my hoodie pocket and handing him a little white stick. “Surprise.”
Nate’s eyes fall to the pregnancy test, and I watch as a swim of emotions pass over his face.
Shit. What if this is too much and he’s not ready? What if it’s still too raw and close to Micaela. I hear gasps from behind us, but everyone in the room melts away.
Nate finally brings his eyes up to me, a smile spreading over his face. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Well, no, I—”
He pulls me into his chest, his arms wrapping around my back as he lifts my body from the floor. His hands come to my face as he gently places my feet back on the ground. “You make me the fucking happiest man in the world, Tillie.” Then his hand comes down to the front of my belly. “We’re having a baby?” he asks, searching my eyes for validation.
“Yes.” I turn around to face Hector, who has a genuine smile on his face. “Please, Hector. Please don’t—”
He hushes me with a flick of his wrist. “I swear to you on everything I stand by, that no harm will ever come to your baby, Tillie.”
I bring my eyes back to Nate. “Can I trust him?”
Nate tilts his head over his shoulder to look at Bishop. “Yeah, babe. Yes, you can.”
Elena comes over to me instantly, rubbing my back and I sift through everyone congratulating us. I didn’t plan to blurt it out here, but I need everyone to know how serious I am. I also want reassurance that my baby will be guarded by the Godfather and his Kings.
I clear my throat. “I’m trusting you. All of you.” Taking a few seconds to catch my breath, I make an effort to bring my eyes to each of them. “I’m trusting you with something that you have broken previously. I know it wasn’t intentional, and I know that none of you actually did the act, but this world did. I can’t blame it all on you, or on Nate, because this world is mine too, but I’m trusting you. Please don’t break that trust.”
“Little terror?” Brantley teases once the silence stretches out into awkward territory. “You will be the most protected woman, and that baby will be guarded by Hellhounds, I promise you. I fucking promise you.”
I relax, my heart resting in my chest. I trust him. I trust my Kings. I may not completely trust Hector, but I know who my family are.
“I love you,” I whisper to Brantley.
He blows me a kiss.
Then we all quiet as faint footsteps patter down the stairs. All of our eyes shoot to the entryway of the sitting room, waiting to see who it is that turns the corner.
Long white hair.
Pale, smooth skin.
Dark green doe eyes.
A fragile body held together by a yellow sundress hanging delicately from her frame.
“Hi,” she announces softly. “I’m Saint.”
To my husband. For being a muggle.
To my kids, for being the best little assholes I could ever ask for.
To Sarah, for being my main girl. Not just in book life (glares), but in real life. You run my street team, handle everything that I cannot do, beta read my books, and still manage to be an amazing mum, wife, and work. You’re so much more than you realize.
To Chantal, for being the best distraction I could have asked for.
*clears throat* I’m not drunk enough for this….
To Anne, for being my rock. Seriously. This bitch.
To Lyla, for being my best friend. You’re one of the strongest girls I know. We’ve been through it all. Made mistakes together, made memories together, and cried together. I can’t wait to walk behind you as you get married. I love you so much.
To Nichole, for being the best friend a girl could ask for. For drinking my problems away with me, and then curling up in my bed to kick back and Netflix and chill. Drunk. With chocolate wrappers everywhere. You. Are. A. Diamond.
To Leigh, for reminding me who I am when I forget sometimes. You have had my back more times than I can count. I will always have you.
To Jacq, you had me read the darkest series I’ve ever read and distracted me from my writing. But it was worth it and I love you.
To Charleigh. Seriously? I need Seb. You distracted me from writing also, in the best fucking way possible. Now, write that next book…
To Ellie, for being all that you are. Your skills are irreplaceable. YOU are irreplaceable.
To Petra, for being yourself. For cleaning through my words with a respectful hand.
To my street queens, I love you. Thank you for being everything that I could ever ask for in a loyal bunch of girls.
To my bloggers, thank you for taking the time to read and review my words. I appreciate you more than you could know.
To my readers, if I wrote a 100k novel on how much I love and appreciate all that you are, it still wouldn’t be enough. Thank you for riding with me, staying with me, and joining me. You inspire me and keep me strong.
My Wolf Pack, you got the dedication, but again, *howls*
To CrossFit, because without you I would have committed first-degree murder.
To my haters, *waves* heeeyyyy, giirrrlll!
To my dog, Raze, for reminding me that I really should appreciate a clean yard…
Lastly, to anyone who is trying. The ones who are getting through but kicking off their worn shoes at the end of the day. I see you. I love you. And I acknowledge you. Stay strong.
Xo—Amo.
The Elite King’s Club
The Silver Swan
The Broken Puppet
Tacet a Mortuis
Malum: Part 1
Razing Grace: Part 1
Razing Grace: Part 2
Perilous Love (Sinful Souls MC, #1)
Intricate Love (Sinful Souls MC, Volume 2)
Tainted Love (Sinful Souls MC, Volume 3)
Crowned by Hate (Crowned, #1)
One Hundred & Thirty-Six Scars (The Devil’s Own, #1)
Hellraiser (The Devil’s Own, #2)
The Devil’s Match (The Devil’s Own, #5)
F*ucker
Losing Traction (Westbeach, #1)
Flip Trick
Manik
