Heavyweight (Hallow Brothers Book 3)

by Tricia Andersen

  Henry barricaded the door closed with his body. He panted heavily. His skin was pale. He took off his glasses to rub his eyes. Instead of slipping them back on, they fell out of his fingers onto the hardwood floor.

  Delilah looked up at Sam as she loosened her grip on his hand. He loved Henry with a love she had never seen before. It was a love she envied. Before she could let go, he tightened his hold on her.

  Henry took a deep breath. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you both. It’s just that…” He let go a ragged breath. “Sam, I should have come to you sooner. Those guys, Rock and Cort, the ones that killed my assistant. They’ve come back. Twice. They want me to join their side. I don’t know why. They promised to give Delilah and me eternal life. When they wouldn’t give you the same thing, I turned them down. Both times. They then threatened to kill Delilah. And you in the cage. I think they killed your aunts. I am so scared. I’ve never been this scared in my life. What do they want from me? Who the fuck am I?” He looked away and swallowed back a sob.

  Sam glanced at Delilah before he led her across the room. He let her go to pull Henry into his arms. A second later Henry held her tightly to him in a one-arm death grip. She wrapped him snugly in her embrace.

  Sam lifted Henry’s chin and stared into his eyes. “You are staying here. Period. I can’t protect you in Duluth. I can protect you here. The three of us are stronger together. Why can’t you see that?”

  “Your family hates me.”

  “They don’t. They don’t trust the Heka. I can’t say I do, either. If you stay here, they will get to know you, and they will love you.”

  Delilah smiled at Henry as she tenderly rubbed his arm. “We need to find out what your connection to the Heka is. I’ll ask Eve to help me with a genealogy search on your family.”

  Henry’s gaze flickered from Samuel to Delilah, even with Sam’s hold on his chin. “But the drive to Duluth. It’s six hours round trip at least.”

  “Quit your fucking job, Henry,” Samuel answered. “We’ll find one around here. There’s a library near Littlefoot’s house. Fuck, what is it going to take to get you to stay here with me? Don’t you see that I need you?”

  Henry’s stare grew intense. “Marry me.”

  “What the fuck did you say?”

  Henry took a breath. “Marry me. Be my husband.”

  Samuel’s mouth gaped open and then closed. It gaped open and closed again. “I don’t know what to say. How?”

  “Simple. We go to the courthouse. We find a justice.”

  “There are three of us, Henry. I love you. I love Delilah. So we get married and leave her in the cold?”

  “No. I can go to her father and ask for her hand. I’ll woo her with flowers and wine and whatever it takes to get her to say yes.”

  Delilah glared. “I’m not that easy.”

  Henry returned her glare and then looked at Samuel. “You, Sam Hallow, are a different story. You’re so tough and masculine. Can you admit to having a husband? You wouldn’t admit to me being your boyfriend for over a year.”

  “I was wrong to do that,” Sam replied.

  “It’s history now. So what’s your answer?”

  Sam cupped his hand behind Henry’s neck to draw him closer. His other arm wrapped around Delilah, pulling her between the two men. The air snapped with electricity. The intensity was terrifying. “Henry, I will be your husband. And Delilah will be my wife. I don’t care what it takes.” He leaned in and kissed him. “I will marry you.”

  Then Samuel leaned down and pressed a kiss to Delilah’s lips. “Marry me.” He glanced at Henry and then back to her. “Marry us.”

  She looked at Henry and back to Samuel. She felt slighted a little. Henry never said he wanted to marry her, just Sam. But she could feel him shake against her skin. His eyes were still wide with fear. And her other lover stared at her in a way that made her melt inside. She hoped he still looked at her like that when they were all old and gray. She lifted herself on her tiptoes and kissed Samuel. “Yes, I will marry you. I’ll marry you both. I don’t know how, but we’ll figure it out.”

  She took Samuel’s hand in one of hers. She took Henry’s with her other and smiled at both of them. “Let’s go to bed.”

  They followed without a word. Delilah let them go once they made it to the bedroom. She dug in her bag for a pair of pajamas and slipped them on. Then she crawled on the bed and waved Henry to come to her. He didn’t bother to get undressed. He didn’t even kick off his shoes. He climbed in next to her and laid his head on her shoulder. She cradled him to her, softly whispering to him as she smoothed her fingers through his hair. She smiled as she felt the bed shift. Samuel returned her smile as he curled up to Henry and laid a protective arm over both his mates.

  Samuel and Delilah gazed at each other as they soothed their mate. It took over an hour for Henry to stop trembling. Once he did, though, he fell asleep. Samuel sat up long enough to slip Henry’s shoes off his feet and quietly set them on the floor. He tugged the comforter over the three of them and then gently kissed his mates good night. Delilah pressed a kiss to Henry’s forehead before she drifted to sleep safe in the arms of her lovers.

  Chapter Eleven

  The warm summer sun was up when Delilah slipped out of the house. Samuel was already gone when she woke. She left Henry fast asleep, snoring away. She glanced around the camp and then hurried across the courtyard to the main building. She glanced in the gym to watch Sam train and smiled. Her new fiancé was pretty dang sexy when he was battling his brothers. Her brow creased. That was if he was serious about marrying her and Henry. She shook her head as she continued her journey to the kitchen. She had more important things to deal with at the moment.

  She waved at Eve and Meg as she stepped into the kitchen. The other two women were cleaning up from the early morning breakfast.

  Eve winked at her. “Did I see a new car this morning? Did you have two warm bodies to snuggle with last night?”

  Delilah felt her cheeks get warm. “Yeah. Henry’s here. He’s still sleeping.” She glanced around. “Is Momma here?”

  “No, she’s visiting with Littlefoot in her cabin. Why?”

  Delilah took a deep breath. “Where would I go for a medical test?”

  Meg frowned at her. “Noah. He’s Littlefoot’s nephew and our doctor. What kind of test do you need?”

  “A blood test. Or a stick to pee on. Whichever he has.”

  Meg folded the towel on her hands and hung it over the oven handle. “Well, funny you should ask. I was going to ask him about the exact same thing. Let me give him a quick call, and we’ll leave in a couple minutes.”

  Eve set the bowl in her hands on the counter. “If there’s room, I want to go too.”

  Meg hugged her friend. “Eve, I don’t think it’s a good idea. If our tests are positive…”

  Eve pulled her at arm’s length and stared Meg in the eye. “I need to take the test.”

  Meg’s eyes widened. “Do you think you’re…?” Her words died off. Eve nodded in response.

  Meg continued with a smile. “Well, then. I’ll call Noah. Three tests. Wow. I’ll be back.” She slipped out the back door.

  Delilah looked at Eve. “So, you think?”

  “My period is never regular. But I’ve never felt so sick in my life. And my boobs are killing me.”

  “My breasts are painful too. And there’s the obvious sign. But I haven’t felt sick. I just assumed the lack of my period was stress and the sudden physical strain I was under. I’ve been in Egypt for a month. Before that, I was in Mankato for three weeks and before that Beijing for four months. I’ve been climbing rock formations, digging up dirt, and all sorts of other crap.”

  “Not everyone feels sick. I’d happily spend months hovering over a toilet if it meant I was.”

  Meg slipped back inside with a huge grin. “He’ll be ready for us. Let’s go.”

  Delilah slipped a set of keys out of her pocket. “We can take my rental. I migh
t as well get use out of it before I return it.”

  The three women made their way out of the family building and hurried across the camp to the cars. Delilah stopped when she heard her name called. She slowly turned to find Henry following her.

  “Where are you going?” he demanded.

  Delilah shot a look at the other women and then smiled. “We girls are going out to run an errand.”

  He frowned. “Can I go?”

  “Henry, it’s a girl thing.”

  “Dee, I’m the only guy mate. No one likes me here. What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”

  “Sleep. Read. Watch Sam train.”

  “What are you doing that you don’t want me to know about?”

  Meg interrupted. “Delilah, Noah’s waiting. We have to go.”

  Henry glared at Delilah. “Who’s Noah?”

  There was a rustle in the grass. They all turned to find Littlefoot had joined them. “I’m heading home. Henry can stay with me while you ladies visit Noah.”

  Delilah glanced from Littlefoot to Henry to Meg and Eve. This was a battle she wasn’t going to win. “Okay. We need to go. Jump in.”

  “I’ll follow in my truck,” Littlefoot replied.

  Delilah slipped behind the wheel as everyone else climbed in. She glanced at Henry. He looked hurt and confused and still spooked out of his mind. She sighed as she started down the trail. He thought he was scared now. He was about to be terrified when they found out the test she was about to take was positive.

  »»•««

  The three women looked at each other uneasily. Delilah glanced at her watch and sighed. Every second seemed like a year. She needed an answer.

  Once their blood was taken, the nurse sent them out, promising to call when they had the answers. Littlefoot took all of them to his house where his family had prepared a huge lunch. Even though Delilah was anxious, she couldn’t help getting caught up in the laughter and conversation of Littlefoot’s family. They were caught off guard when Noah called for them to come back. The three women hurried to his office.

  Delilah’s heart pounded when Noah stepped in with three envelopes in his hands.

  “Moment of truth,” Eve murmured.

  “I have the results of your blood tests in these envelopes.” He held them up for the women to see. “I also have three exam rooms set aside for you to ask me any questions you may have.”

  Eve shook her head. “Unless Meg and Delilah object, give them here. I’m used to hearing the word negative. Tell us what they say.”

  Noah looked at Meg and Delilah. They both nodded. “Go ahead,” Meg said to him.

  “Well, usually I would refuse to do that. But not this time.” He held the envelopes out to them. “They are all positive. I’ll be sending each of you home with bottles of prenatal vitamins and get appointments scheduled for all of you. Congratulations, ladies.”

  Meg and Delilah tore into their envelopes. Eve stared at hers. Delilah touched her arm. “Are you all right? This is good news, isn’t it?”

  Eve nodded as a tear slipped down her cheek. “It is. It’s unbelievable. I was told I could never have children. I’m pregnant.”

  “Wait until you tell Micah.”

  Eve’s glistening eyes grew wide. “I’m not. You two can’t, either. It tore him apart that we couldn’t get pregnant. He’ll be devastated if I lose this baby. Give it a few weeks. When I feel safe, I’ll tell him.”

  Meg smiled. “Don’t wait until you start showing. He’ll figure it out.”

  Eve laughed. “Well, no shit.”

  The women rose and thanked Noah with hugs. As Delilah reached the door, Noah spoke. “Delilah, could I talk to you?”

  She stared at him confused. “Sure.” She closed the door and then leaned on it.

  Noah took a deep breath and continued. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but my uncle has told me of your situation. It helps that I’m also the guys’ medic when they fight. Do you know who the father of your child is?”

  Delilah shrugged. “No. I was with them both on the same day.”

  “I want to do an amniotic fluid test in a few weeks, so I know if I’m dealing with a normal infant or, you know, a Hallow. Would that be all right?”

  “Of course.”

  “Thanks. And congratulations.”

  Delilah beamed. “Thank you.” She hurried from his office. She didn’t stop until she reached the parking lot. She found Henry leaning against the SUV.

  She looked around confused. “Where is everyone?”

  Henry glanced down the road. “Littlefoot took off with Eve and Meg to take them back. I said I would wait for you. So, what did your test results say?”

  Delilah bit her lower lip. “It’s nothing.”

  “It must be something. Tell me.”

  “Can we wait until we get back and talk to Sam?”

  Henry frowned. “You never hold things back from me. Look, I’m sorry about what I said last night. I know you’re not easy. See?” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box. “I bought these bands a week ago. This is what I want. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.”

  He opened it up and turned it to her. Inside, nestled in dark blue velvet were two gold men’s bands. In between them was a beautiful diamond ring and a smaller gold band. He continued. “I want you as my wife. I want him as my husband. I don’t know how to make it work, but I need you both forever.”

  Delilah knew she had to look like a fish with her mouth wide open. She slammed it shut. “They’re beautiful. Wow.”

  He shut the box and slipped it in his pocket. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Dee, I love you. You have no idea how long I’ve loved you. When you told me back in college that you loved me? I loved you too. I bought the diamond then. I wanted to ask you to marry me then. I was confused about how I felt about men. I didn’t want to hurt you. So I avoided you while I tried to figure it out. Then I lost you to archeology. You were traveling the world, and my love for you grew stronger.” He laid his forehead against hers. “I was so, so stupid. I’m sorry. I love you. I need you forever. Please be Delilah Cavanaugh-Hakimi-Hallow.”

  “That’s kind of a mouthful, don’t you think?” She kissed him. “I like Delilah Hakimi-Hallow myself. I love you, Henry. I always have. I can’t wait to be your wife.”

  She wasn’t sure how long they kissed. She was light-headed and breathless when their lips finally parted.

  “The doctor?” Henry asked again.

  Delilah licked her swollen lips. “Sweetheart, wait for Sam. Please.”

  He cocked his head. “You had a blood test, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Huh.”

  “What?”

  He grinned at her. “Nothing. It’s just the fact that you all had the same blood test. And that bottle in your purse doesn’t look like a prescription. It’s vitamins, right?”

  “Henry, please.”

  He kissed her tenderly. Then he nuzzled his nose against hers. This wasn’t the Henry she knew before. The terrified, paranoid one was gone. This one was gentle, protective, caring. And she was certain his chest swelled a little. Shit. He knew.

  He took her hand in his. “Let’s go home to our fiancé, bella.”

  “Great idea.”

  The ride back to the Hallows’ camp was quiet. While they were still on the road, Delilah watched Henry out of the corner of her eye. He wasn’t pale anymore. He had a wistful smile as he held her hand tightly in his. She swallowed hard and finally spoke. “You know, the Hallows are only fertile during the full moon. And well, I’ve seen Sam transform from a werewolf back to a man. An insanely sexy man.”

  His grin grew a little bigger. “I’m aware.”

  “I thought you should know. You know, for when we talk with Sam.”

  He sighed and squeezed her hand. “Beautiful, this thing you won’t tell me about? It doesn’t matter how it got here. I will love it, and you, and its other.” He laughed and winked. �
�Well, you know. You all three are my breath, my soul, my reason to live.”

  “Oh.” Her heart fluttered. She turned into the forest. She couldn’t see Henry’s reaction any longer, but she could still feel his touch. She hoped Samuel was as pleased with her news.

  Henry took her hand in his as they crossed the camp to the cabin. Several of the brothers were outside, each stopping to say hello and to introduce themselves. She didn’t know how long she would have to wait before Samuel was finished training. The fight was two weeks away. He was in the gym from sunrise to sunset. He had to be ready.

  She was stunned to find him sitting on the couch when she and Henry stepped inside.

  “Where have you two been?” he asked with a huff. “You missed the fireworks. Josiah is mated now to a cute leggy blonde teacher. Never expected a teacher for him, but whatever.”

  Henry looked at her and grinned. “Well?”

  She nudged him toward the sofa. “Go sit next to him.”

  Henry shrugged and sat beside Samuel. Samuel frowned. “What’s with the cheesy smile?”

  Henry reached over and cupped Samuel’s head with his hand. He pulled Sam into the deepest, sweetest kiss she had ever seen them share. Henry pecked one more kiss on Samuel’s lips. “I know.”

  “She told you.”

  “No. I guessed. She, Meg, and Eve took the same test. And she has a bottle of vitamins in her purse.”

  Samuel’s brow creased. “Is she?”

  Henry’s grin grew the biggest she’d ever seen. He planted one more triumphant kiss on Sam’s lips. “I think so. Daddy.”

  Delilah stomped her foot. “For the love of fuck.”

  Both men looked at her. “So?” Samuel asked. There was a tinge of excitement in his voice.

  Delilah sighed. “Yes. I’m pregnant. I don’t know which one of you is…”

  Samuel waved his hand to quiet her and then stood. He wrapped her in his arms. “Beautiful, we’re both the father. It doesn’t matter to me which one of our guys did the job. You, Mama, are our world. I’m stunned. And so excited. I’m going to be a father.”