by Logan Fox
Because I don’t want her to. I don’t want any of them to leave ever again.
“It’s cold out here,” she says, wrapping her arms around herself. She’s wearing the hotel’s robe, thick and fluffy, her dark curls pulled into a messy heap on top of her head. “Why don’t you come inside?”
“Just having a smoke.”
She quirks her mouth. “I thought you were going to quit?” Her hands frame her little belly.
I know what I said, I was there. The instant I knew Malachi was mine, a slew of promises filled my head.
I’d quit smoking.
I’d stop canceling my therapy sessions at the last minute.
I’d actually do the homework my shrink assigned me.
I’d give my brothers less grief.
I’d…be better.
I only told them about the smoking part. I guess, in a way, I didn’t want to take a chance that I’d fail at all the others. Because I knew I’d fail.
My life was a series of failures, and it showed no sign of changing. Until Malachi arrived, of course. I don’t know why my seed was the one that finally took, but I do know that’s a question I don’t actually want the answer to.
I have a feeling, if Malachi wasn’t mine, then I wouldn’t have stuck around long enough to know who his father was.
I’m selfish like that.
Trinity knows it. My brothers know it.
This time, the dice rolled in my favor.
I stub out my cigarette and grab the bottle of water I brought out here with me, rinsing my mouth with a few sips. Then I come up to Trinity and scoop her into my arms, hugging her as tightly as I dare.
She says nothing—just clings to me like she’d fall if I let her go.
But I don’t plan to.
Not ever.
I cup her face in my hands and lean back so I can look into her bronze eyes. “How could you ever love a wretch like me?”
She frowns. “Now you’re quoting song lyrics at me?”
I am? I glance away, but she reaches up and turns my face back toward her. “At first, I didn’t. But they did.” She cocks her head inside the penthouse.
I stare deep into her eyes, my chest growing tight. Then I shake my head and slowly go down onto my knees in front of her. Mindful of the cold air out here, I tweak open the front of her robe just enough so that I can plant my lips on her belly.
When I tip my head back, tears have gathered in her eyes. She quickly blinks them away, but I’m already on my feet, smoothing the hair away from her face. “Why?”
“Because this is all so…” She sniffs and squeezes her eyes closed. “It’s all so perfect.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing!” Her eyes shoot open, angry now. “Perfect isn’t a compromise, Zach. It’s what everyone strives for.”
Everyone but me.
Except…now…staring down at the woman of my dreams, the one who’s sheltering my child in her swollen belly, something stirs inside me. It could be many things, but I’m starting to realize that was always the case. I could have gone so many directions with things over the course of my life, but I always chose the negative.
Darkness had been such an integral part of my life that it became familiar to me. When I had to choose, I stuck in my comfort zone.
Choosing the light feels wrong. But I can’t be a fucking coward for the rest of my life. I want my son to look up to me. So I’ll be brave.
From now on, I’ll choose hope.
I smile at Trinity, and for a beat it’s as if she doesn’t know what to do with my expression. Then a flimsy smile graces her own mouth.
“Amen,” I whisper.
The End
Want to know when I release a new book? Sign up for my mailing list to receive new release notifications!
SIGN UP!
Copyright © 2021 Logan Fox
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.
For more information, address: [email protected]
FIRST EDITION
www.authorloganfox.com
Books by Logan Fox
Fyre & Ashes Series
Healing was Fyre’s obsession…until Charlotte Ash walked into his classroom. Now the darkly enigmatic Professor Gideon Fyre has only one objective: to make Charlotte his. Forever.
View all books in this dark stalker romance series.
Playing with Fyre (now available in the Stalkers Anthology, see details below)
Under Fyre
Catching Fyre (Coming Soon!)
The Stalkers Anthology
You should never fall for the bad guy...
Over thirty of your favorite USA Today and bestselling authors have come together to create an epic collection of forbidden, dark romance stories.
Get lost in this unputdownable mixture of short stories. From heroes to bad guys, there’s something for everyone.
Stalkers — All Platforms
A Crime Family Affair
Nyx Gray, an assassin-for-hire desperate to save her family, attempts a hit on the capo of a powerful Columbian cartel, triggering a war between two crime families and putting herself in the sights of the cartel's brutal lieutenant, Savage Domingo.
View all books in this dark cartel romance series.
Savage Hero
Wild Angel (Coming soon!)
The Sinners of Saint Amos
We’re ready to die for the sins of our fathers...but is she?
A dark bully reverse harem romance series.
Their Kingdom Come
Their Will be Done
Deliver us from Evil
Bad Bullies Series
View all books in this standalone dark bully romance series.
Brutal Bully — Prince & Indigo
Hateful Bully — Josiah & Candy
Their Cartel Princess Series (Complete)
She needs their protection. They need her heart.
View all books in this dark cartel reverse harem series.
Her Merc — Finn, Cora & Bailey
Her Don — Finn, Cora & Lars
Her Capo — Finn, Cora, Lars & Kane
Her Wolf — Finn, Cora, Lars & Kane
Her King — Finn, Cora, Lars & Kane
The Dark Hunter Series
After a steamy night with the billionaire founder of her rehabilitation clinic, city girl Clover expects to wake up to a gourmet breakfast. Instead, she finds herself naked and disorientated in the middle of the woods, being hunted by the very man she spent the night with.
View all books in this twisted romantic suspense series.
Dark Hunter – Clover & Hunter
Dark Ties – Kane, Hunter & Ziggy
Dark Devil – Clover, Hunter & Kane
Dark Deeds – Kane, Owen & Agony
Dark Reign – (Coming Soon!)
Bought by the Billionaires
She needs money. He wants a new pet.
A dark erotic suspense series. First book is free!
Bought
Bound
Trigger
