She pushed out a heavy breath. “I’m sorry I’m coming at you with guns blazing. Why don’t you take Layla up to my house in Maine for a couple of days? Clear your mind. Talk. Plan. Relax.”
“I can’t just pick up and leave, Jo. I have a job. Roman’s on the loose. Then we have the shifters. Ben. Pops. And Layla. Hell, the Aberdeens.” Rianne could have been on her way to Massachusetts with that bastard, Noah.
She wrapped her slim fingers around my wrist. Jo stood about five-ten, so she didn’t have to crane her neck that much to look me in the eye. “You cannot put anything else in front of that baby. That is your priority. Do I have to remind you what happened to us when Edmund Rain found out we existed? You and I don’t want to put anyone through that.”
All the shit that happened to us. I shuddered but understood why she was jumpy.
“Layla needs round-the-clock protection,” Jo said.
I couldn’t stop the laugh from coming out of my mouth. “Have you met Layla?” She was stubborn and would fight tooth and nail if I tried to suffocate her. But her safety was my priority. “She’s not about to let anyone babysit her.” Frustration laced my words.
“Then you better find a way to protect her and the baby,” Jo said matter-of-factly. “I’ll let George know you two are coming.” She rose up on her toes and kissed me on the cheek. “We have a lot to do.”
“Whoa! Wait one minute. I never agreed to go to Maine.”
She stuck her hands on her hips. “You look like shit. You haven’t slept, and what better way to get Layla’s undivided attention? Besides, I’m sure Webb and Tripp will inform you if they find a lead on Roman.”
I could use some relaxation with Layla’s naked body wrapped around mine for hours on end.Heaven. Pure unadulterated heaven.I gritted my teeth before my cock took on a mind of its own. “Fine.”
“Are you ready to give Dad the great news?” She tugged on my hand.
“Hey, sis. One thing. I can’t do this without you.”
Her eyes glossed over. “I’m not going anywhere, and I would never let you do this alone. I’m over the moon that you’re going to be a father, a great one. I’ll be honest, though. I’m somewhat jealous that I can’t have kids, but that would never get in the way of my happiness for you and Layla.”
I hugged and squeezed her and didn’t want to let her go. “Promise me, Jo. If anything happens to me, you'll take care of my kid and Layla.”
She eased back as her hands slid up to my biceps. “Nothing will happen to you.”
Man, if it hadn’t been for the perfect storm the other night—as in pouring rain, Layla, and Conrad—I wouldn’t have been standing there. I wasn’t a sentimental guy, nor was I naive enough to believe I couldn’t die. But all the talk about the next nine months and our enemies was giving me a bad fucking feeling and the headache of the century. I kissed her on the top of her head. “Just promise me.”
She tapped her heart twice, a signal we started when we were kids that meant she had my back and loved me. “I promise I’ll protect them with my life.”
I returned the gesture. “Time to tell Pops.”
A minute later, I grinned when I sauntered into my father’s room. He was sitting up. His green eyes were bright. The color had returned to his cheeks, and he beamed when he saw me. As far as I knew, he didn’t know about Layla’s pregnancy, but he sure was acting as though he did. Then again, being so close to death usually had a profound effect on a person.
I ponied up to his bed across from Webb. “Did I hear Roman?” Maybe I wouldn’t be going to Maine.
Webb stood with his feet shoulder width apart, his hands cupped in front of him. His brown hair was pulled into a low ponytail, and he was wearing his all-black uniform. He had weapons strapped to his legs and around his belt, and his dull blue eyes and dark circles were evidence he was as tired as I felt.
“We lost Roman’s trail,” he said. “Sawyer’s working around the clock, tracking the airlines, flight plans, and passenger lists. I have a team on the ground in Boston and one in Chicago. He’ll turn up.”
Roman was too arrogant not to show himself. “Has Sawyer had a chance to check on Camden Industries?” I knew the answer, but I had to ask. Roman was our priority, not a man who wanted to buy a horse.
“Not yet. Roman first,” Webb said.
“It’s probably nothing, anyway, but I just want to be sure,” I said. “Also, any luck in contacting Jack?”
Webb’s jaw tightened. “He hasn’t returned my call.”
“Webb, leave Jack Aberdeen to me. He might respond better if I call him,” my dad said.
I was curious whether Jack had been involved in the scheme to burn me alive, or if Noah and Rianne acted alone. Considering Jack hadn’t been there when I was dangling over the fire, I suspected he didn’t know what his son had been up to.
Jo sidled up to Webb and hooked her arm in his. “Honey, we should have lunch with Abbey. Dad, I’ll bring her in later. We’ll give you and Sam some time to catch up.”
“Steven, I’ll keep you posted,” Webb said. “Glad you made it through. You had all of us worried.” Then Webb gave me a funky grin, a new look for the hardcore Navy SEAL. Nevertheless, I knew it was about Layla.
