“And how do you propose keeping the baby a secret when she starts showing? I’m not locking Layla up for nine months. So don’t even think about that.” My old man’s way of keeping us under his thumb was lockdown. Jo and I hadn’t even been able to leave the naval base when we’d become vampires.
“We at least have to keep her from the Aberdeens when she starts showing,” he said.
“She’s not going anywhere near them again,” I bit out.
Dad rubbed his other shoulder, appearing tired all of a sudden as he scrutinized me.
“You love her, don’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone to Montana.”
“That’s not true,” I said easily. “We protect humans, and with Roman on the loose… Layla could be his target.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
I shrugged. “I’ve never been in love. But she’s beautiful, feisty, and stubborn, and I can’t seem to get her out of my head.”
He chuckled. “Sounds to me like you’re on your way.” Then he scratched his jaw. “Sam, there are a few things you should know—”
The door swung open, and a fireball with black hair, blue eyes, and a look that screamed she was excited to see my dad flew in and jumped on the bed. “Grandpa!”
Abbey’s excitement put me at ease.
Dad gave her a hug. “I’m okay, sweet pea.”
“I know.” She cozied up to my father, kicking out her legs. “Layla is awake, too, and she’s having a baby. I can’t wait. I’ll have a cousin.”
Dad and I laughed.
I wished I had her enthusiasm, but if my gut was right, gloom and doom were headed our way.
22
LAYLA
I’d been sitting on the floor in the bathroom attached to my hospital room for two hours. After Jordyn had left to call Carly, Dr. Vieira’s lab tech, Giselle, had brought me a handful of over-the-counter pregnancy tests.
I hugged my knees tighter to my chest, tears flowing like water from a faucet. The atmosphere was cold and sterile, and the air had an alcohol scent to it that was making me sick to my stomach. Oh, wait. That wasn’t it. The pregnancy tests were the reason.
I’m pregnant by a vampire. A fucking vampire.
I rocked back and forth. I wanted my mom so badly. I was willing to dig her up just to yell at her for not telling me about the bloodsuckers on her side then ask for her advice.Oh fuck. I was losing it.
I stared at the blinding-white tile, crying like a damn baby. I hadn’t bawled my eyes out since my dad’s funeral. I tried to make sense of how my life had changed with one stupid decision. If I could rewind back to the day my sisters and I had agreed to the job, I would walk away. I would’ve told Wyman no then joined the police academy.Ha, the police academy.That was a pipe dream.
Knuckles rapped on the door, severing my pity party. “Layla.” Sam’s husky voice made my heart flutter.
What the hell?The man was irritatingly sexy.How can I go from self-pity to butterflies and giddiness over a vampire?“Go away.” My voice was barely a whisper.
“Baby doll, please?” He sounded as desperate and messed up as I was. “You know I can open this door easily.”
I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see me. “Then open it.” I wasn’t ready to stand on wobbly legs or have the room turn like a washing machine on the spin cycle. My brain was rather fuzzy, whether from the impossible pregnancy, my head injury, or Rianne.Argh!I wanted to scream, run, and disappear. I wanted to strangle my dead father, shoot my uncle Jack, kill Noah, knock some sense into Rianne, and disappear again.
The knob turned once. The lock was flimsy, so anyone could open it, even Jordyn. Tears spilled again. I really didn’t want her to leave me, but I couldn’t stand in her way. Hell, if Rianne was happy in her mission to join the family business, I wouldn’t stop her, either. I would, however, cut her off at the knees if she hunted Sam and me.
I was getting ahead of myself. Maybe Rianne regretted what she’d done to Sam and that was why she’d taken off.Or she’s scared.
Meanwhile, I was stuck with a vampire.
Stop whining and rise up like the woman your parents raised you to be—tough, confident, determined. Take no prisoners. You can handle anything.Famous words from my mom to her daughters.
