With a swallow, he nods.
“When I say that,” Malakai continues, “It means, it doesn’t matter if you leak footage that you still have, Iwillkill you.”
And he would and I know, me be damned, he would end everything Richard stands for. It doesn’t anger me even if a touch of fear makes my heart pound a little harder.
“I understand,” Richard says, reaching beneath the table. He hands the bag over to Dean, “I am giving you this as a show of good faith, Malakai. I want you to know whatever Christian is doing has nothing to do with us.”
Dean opens the case and closes it again, tucking it close to his body.
“Very well,” Malakai tips the rest of his drink down his throat, “If that is all, you’re free to go.”
I continue to watch him closely, noticing how his whole body relaxes at my friend’s dismissal.
“Remember, Richard,” Malakai continues as the older man stands, “You can’t hide from me. I see everything, always, and no matter where you go, I will find you.”
The man’s throat works on a swallow. “I understand.”
We sit in silence as we watch the men leave.
“Small fish in a very big fucking pond,” Killian grunts.
“Do you believe him?” Dean asks.
Malakai’s eyes flick to me, “If he has any sense of self-preservation, he didn’t lie. But I’ll know.”
“How?” I ask.
“I just will.” Malakai answers with a finality that can’t be argued. I’m used to giving him my blind faith but, in this instance, I question it.
And it has a lot to do with that damn future that fate appears to be dangling in front of my face.
Chapter Thirty-seven
“Bast!” I complain as I stand in front of the windows as he crouches to try and get the perfect picture, whatever that fucking means.
He’s done this every week without fail since our twelve-week scan eight weeks ago.
The bump has grown and now it’s obvious I’m pregnant. The swell in my stomach is visible, stretching all my clothes to make it fit and I know I’ll have to really go shopping for maternity clothes soon. I’m getting away with my leggings at the moment, and some dresses but none of my pants or jeans. I’m quietly thankful it’s getting warmer so I can continue to wear my dresses and can get away with a light sweater or cardigan over the top.
“Just one more,” Sebastian tells me and then grins, “Got it.”
I roll my eyes.
“Bean is the size of a banana,” He tells me proudly, “Which, if you ask me, is a weird way to compare their size to.”
I chuckle, “It’s the length,” I explain, “from head to toe.”
His eyes drop to my stomach and then to the fruit bowl before he promptly strides toward it and plucks a banana out, holding it out in front of him.
“You’re telling me,” His eyes keep flicking between me and the piece of fruit, “That this is in your belly?”
Everything within me softens as I walk toward him and pluck the banana out of his hand, “It’s more than just this inside of me, Bast.”
“I know that!”
“Are you ready?” I ask, putting the fruit back in the bowl.
“Are you still sure you don’t want to know yet?” He takes my hand after I pluck up my bag. We find out the sex of the baby today and Olivia and me are planning a small gender reveal for our friendship group in a couple weeks. She’ll be the only one who knows what we are having until then.
