Chapter 23
Things went back to normal.
Until it happened a week later.
I’d been sitting on the couch with Ramsay and Colton, both of them showering my still-not-showing belly with attention and arguing over the gender of the baby.
“It’s gonna be a girl, dude,” Ramsay said.
“How do you know?” Colton asked. “I think it’s gonna be a boy.”
Ramsay scoffed. “No way. I know it in my heart.”
I grinned in amusement, letting them have their fun. Noro sat on a chair by the coffee table, smiling as he listened in. Since he didn’t want to return to his pride, he’d been staying here since leaving the island, which was fine by us.
“Well, I think we should start thinking of names early,” Ramsay said. He leaned in, gently pressing his cheek to my belly. “When she’s born, she’s gonna need one.”
Colton frowned and rubbed above where Ramsay lay. “No, he’s gonna need one.”
“Guys,” I said with a laugh. “There’s plenty of time to decide. About eight months, remember?”
“Yeah,” Ramsay mumbled. “But it’s fun to think about it now. Besides, when she’s born, we’re all gonna be busy taking care of a newborn and probably won’t have enough brain cells to do anything.”
“I didn’t know having a baby turned you stupid,” I teased him.
He shrugged. “That’s just the vibe I got. You get so busy looking after the baby that you forget everything else, right?”
“Well, seeing as how there’s four of us, I’m sure we’ll manage,” I said.
“Good,” Colton said. “That means I’ll have time to nap…”
Ramsay rolled his eyes and I laughed.
Suddenly Eric, who had been standing outside and talking to Crystal, ran inside. His eyes were wide with fear. The mood instantly changed. Darkened.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Get upstairs,” Eric said. “Now!”
Fear coursed through my blood. “Why?”
“Do it!” Eric snarled before running back out.
“What the hell’s going on?” Ramsay asked. He leapt up, ushering me to my feet, and Colton flanked my other side.
“I’ll go check,” Noro said, bolting out of the house.
Panic gripped me. I ran with two of my mates surrounding me, but with no idea of the circumstances. Ramsay slammed the door shut, putting his weight against it. Colton held me tightly in the center of the room. I felt his heart hammering against his ribs.
I was so afraid I couldn’t speak. Fear made it difficult to breathe properly. I desperately hoped Eric was playing some kind of prank on me--but I knew he wouldn’t do that. Whatever the danger was, it was real.
I whimpered against Colton.
Ramsay growled, backing away from the door. “The fuck’s going on? I wish Eric told us before running off!”
He stormed to the window, peering out of it. We heard raised voices outside, and I recognized them--Eric, Crystal and Noro. But there was a fourth I knew, too.
I ripped myself out of Colton’s grip and ran to the window, shouldering Ramsay.
