“Where is she?” Grayson rumbled, pushing Jace roughly aside as he hauled AngelofuckingRicci up off the ground by the front of his shirt. “Where’s Billie?”
“I’m right here,” her achingly familiar voice cut through me like a knife. “Now if you’re all done throwing your manly weight around, can we go inside? I’m freezing and tired, and my back hurts.”
Her hazel eyes swept over all of us but didn’t meet anyone’s gaze before she turned away. Her huge, black puffer jacket turned her into a charred marshmallow, all round and squishy. But her hair shone like spun gold and her face held a healthy glow, unlike the hollow, hungry look she’d had when we met. Fuck. Angelohadbeen taking care of her after all.
A small part of me had held a sick fantasy that he’d been holding her captive, but that idea was immediately dashed as I saw howgoodshe looked.
“Billie,” Flo croaked, her eyes full of tears as she started forward. Billie didn’t evenglanceat our bassist, just stomped up the front steps of the house in her fluffy, designer snow boots and let herself inside without waiting on any of us.
I was the first to react, racing after her to find out what thefuckwas going on. Jace and Gray could kill Angelo Ricci for all I cared. I wanted to knowwhyshe was here. Withhim.
“I’m wrecked,” Billie announced as I entered the house. She was at the base of the main staircase, tugging gloves off her slim, pale fingers. “Can you tell me which bedroom is free?”
I swallowed hard, folding my arms and saying nothing. If she wanted to talk to me, she could damn well offer the decency of looking at me.
After a moment of my silence, she gave a heavy sigh. “Rhett… please.” The pain in her voice gutted me thoroughly. “I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here. Just point me to my room, and I’ll stay out of everyone’s way.”
“Whyareyou here, then?” Jace snapped, entering the house behind me. Gray was right on his tail.
Angelo pushed past both of them, blood no longer streaming from his face. “Because my family just acquired Big Noise Records, and now it’s my job to make sure you all meet your contractual obligations.”
“So you said outside,” Grayson rumbled.
“But why isshehere?” Jace reiterated his point, glancing at Billie like she was a steaming pile of shit on his shoe.
Angelo’s smile was pure venom as he smoothed his hands over Billie’s shoulders possessively. “Because it wouldn’t be appropriate to leave her alone in her condition, would it, Bella?”
He brushed a kiss over her cheek, but her smile was like broken ice. Only then did her gaze lift to mine, only to instantly flit away again, drenched in guilt.
“Here, sweetheart, let me take your coat,” Angelo offered.
Billie’s jaw clenched like she was grinding her teeth, then she unzipped her puffer coat and let Angelo slide it down her arms. When he shifted out of the way, all I could focus on was her. Her belly. Herpregnant belly.
Holy shit.
Darkness swirled in my vision, and my whole body broke out in sweat. My ears rang, my mouth went fuzzy, and then it all stopped.
Crap. I fainted.
fourteen
BILLIE
Raised voices woke me at some point the next morning. After Rhett had fainted on seeing my belly, I’d decided to take the coward’s route and scurried away to a bedroom while pleading exhaustion from the trip. No one had argued, so I had to assume they were glad to see me go.
I’d avoided eye contact with fucking everyone and all but sprinted into the spare bedroom to hide. Then I’d fallen asleep—because it was late as hell—and hadn’t even woken up when Angelo came to bed. He’d definitely slept in here with me, though, because for one thing, that side of the bed was rumpled. For another, Brenda had warned us that Big Noise had installed several surveillance devices while setting up the recording studio in the basement. No members of Bellerose knew about them, and we weren’t to let on. But it was the only way Brenda could convince the band to come here instead of the fishbowl of the content house.
So Angelo and I had to commit to the act. Which meant sharing a bed.
Bleary, I rubbed my eyes and pushed myself to sit up. The shouting was loud enough it could have been right outside the door, but after a moment, I realized it was downstairs. The walls were just that thin. Good to know.
“…seriously want us to believe that’syourbaby?” Rhett was shouting. Ah shit, it was about me.
“…don’t really give two shits…” Angelo wasn’t yelling back, but his voice was firm. “…nothing to do with…”
I slid out of bed and quickly changed into a warm, oversized knit sweater and leggings. Winter was awesome for covering up. Not so awesome for all the Christmas decorations appearing across the streetlights and in store windows. Nothing like a bit of Christmas cheer to remind you that your life is a bucket full of balls. And not the good kind.
I hurried from the room, needing to get downstairs and defend myself before shit got worse. If that was possible.
