“Are you okay, babe?” I ask quietly, and he sighs, my heart sparking in worry.
“I’m awesome,” he replies dazedly, and I practically deflate with relief. Pulling out of him, I undo the restraints and leave him floating as I go in search of a cloth to clean up both us and the floor.
My phone rings just as I’m digging around in the bathroom. Hurrying back to my pile of clothes, I bend over and grab it out of my shorts, seeing Declan’s name on the screen.
”Hey, man, what's up?” I ask him, standing back up. Oli’s naked body presses against mine, and he winds his arms around my waist, leaning his head on my shoulder.
“Where are you two?” he asks, and I smile at my bossy big brother as Oli’s hands run over my body.
“We’re at the count’s place, though we’re going to have to start calling it something else,” I muse, and Oli lifts his head.
“Our place.” My smile spreads even wider. Yeah, I like that—our place.
“Well, drop whatever you’re doing and get back into the city. We’re still at the hotel, and Kai and Thomas need us. We’re getting drunk.”
I stiffen up, all the languidness from fucking Oli into submission disappearing in a instant.
“What’s going on? Why?” I ask, but he’s already hung up. I frown at the phone, and when I turn around, Oli is already back in his boxer briefs and looking for his shirt. When he finds it, he scrunches up his face.
“Can we just pop home and grab a change of clothes and a shower? I’m all sweaty and dusty and gross.”
“Yeah, but we need to be quick. Declan sounded pissed off,” I tell him as I pull my clothes on. “We’ll come back and finish this tomorrow.”
Oliver, who has put on his jeans and found his shoes and socks, hurries over to the elevator and calls it while I finish dressing.
The two of us can’t help talking about it as we climb into the elevator. “I wonder what the problem is. And why the fuck is Thomas still here? I thought he was going with Harlow, Jax, and Jazzy.” Oliver can’t hide the concern in his voice, and a prick of worry nags at my mind.
“Shit, I don't know, but it must be big if he voluntarily stayed behind.” When the elevator gets to the bottom, we step out, and Oli slides the painting of the lady back in front of the doors, concealing it. In a matter of minutes, we’re in the car, rushing back to the house, and it’s not long before we’re off to meet our brothers and find out what the fuck is going on.
We know we’ve found them when we get to the cocktail lounge, where a sign on the door saysClosed for Private Function.The two of us exchange a look, and I push open one of the doors. The room looks to be empty, but I can hear murmuring coming from a secluded booth in one of the corners.
Oli and I wind our ways through the other tables. Although smoking is no longer allowed inside bars and restaurants, there’s still that scent of stale smoke and beer permeating the room. I wrinkle my nose. “Someone needs to tell Jax that this bar needs an overhaul. Replacing the carpets and curtains should help with the smell.”
“Not going to stop people from spilling drinks though,” Oli points out as we arrive at the booth filled with three of my brothers.
“About damn time,” Declan grumbles, and Oli flips him off.
“My car is fast, but I still wanted to avoid a ticket, thank you very much,” he replies testily as he throws himself into the booth, leaving me hovering.
“Grab yourselves a drink before you sit down,” Kai suggests, waving his empty glass around. I can tell by the number of glasses on the table that I might need to grab us two or three to catch up.
“Just bring the bottle. No, make it two,” Thomas says morosely, staring down into his empty glass.
I look at Declan, who nods subtly. “Grab them, then we’ll fill you both in on what’s happening.”
Kai salutes me with his empty glass. “Don't take too long.” He’s already on his way to being drunk, which doesn't happen all that often. He likes to say his body is a temple, so he doesn't like to poison it.
Raising my eyebrows, I hurry back to the empty bar. They must have given the staff the day off. I fill an ice bucket with ice and grab two more glasses and two bottles of whiskey, then, with my arms full, I make my way back to the table.
ChapterSeven
Kai
When Holden gets back to the table, I grab the bottle of whiskey from his hand and pour myself another generous glass, not bothering with ice. I listen on morosely, sipping my drink, while Declan and Thomas explain what occurred with Veronica to Oli and Den.
Learning that you’re expecting a child should be a joyous occasion; instead, I’m miserable. I had dared to dream that it would one day be Harlow with my baby inside her, but I’m locked in this nightmare where Harlow is replaced by Veronica. Not to mention she insists the baby is my brother’s, not mine. As much as I don’t want to be having a baby with Veronica, it’s a kick in the guts that she won't accept the baby as mine. I’m not good enough for her… just like my father wasn't good enough for my mother.
“What a fucking bitch,” Oli bursts out when Declan and Thomas finish, then he turns to me. “I'm sorry this is happening to you. We just need to think of her as an incubator and hope the baby looks like you so we don’t have any reminders of her.”
