Now we would know who the father was, and right on cue, the baby decided to make its presence known…
With a sharp pain in my stomach.
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
ISLA
“Kitty…”
Within seconds, Kraven had me in his arms, carrying me down the stairs while Julius was on the phone with 911.
“Ahhh…” I cried out, holding my stomach.
“Shhh… shhh… Kitty,” Kraven hushed in a gentle tone, remaining calm. Gripping the sides of my face, he made me look him in the eyes once he had me sitting on the couch. “Isla…” he soothed, getting between my knees with his face in front of me. “I need you to be my brave girl.” Bringing his lips close to mine, he rasped, “Can you do that for me?”
I think I nodded before I shut my eyes, trying to find my happy place. I held on to Kraven’s voice as Julius talked to the operator about what to do.
Unsure of how long I sat there, it could’ve been hours, but it was probably minutes as Kraven continued to express the sweetest things.
“You’re so fucking strong, Isla,” he praised, close to my lips. Close enough to where I felt his breath on my mouth. “You’re forever my strong girl.”
I smiled against his mouth. The pain subsided. “I’m okay…”
“You’re fine, our baby is fine… okay?” he murmured against my lips. “I need you to believe that. Do you understand me?”
I nodded, unable to form words.
“Tell me,” he coaxed in a desperate tone. “I need to hear you say it.”
I opened my eyes to stare into his. “I understand.”
For a short moment, I saw his love staring back at me.
“I love you, Isla… I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone.” He kissed all over my face. “Do you hear me? Do you understand? You’re my family… You won’t lose me, even if you don’t choose me…”
It was only then that I realized Julius was no longer on the phone. He stood in the corner of the living room, just staring at us. He was frozen solid with a tormented expression on his face I’d remember for the rest of my life.
I didn’t understand the sudden change in his demeanor, filling the room as if he was seeing something in Kraven and me for the first time. I swear it echoed off the walls, resonating deep into my soul. It felt like it was a shot to my heart, and I whimpered upon the impact.
Gripping the edge of the couch, I prayed I could hold myself up when all I wanted was to crumple to the floor and beg for more time with them.
“Are you okay?” Julius questioned.
My body trembled as I bowed my head, feeling the shame of what I was feeling, of what I was wanting. “I’m okay…” I replied, glancing up.
Julius backed away from me. Maybe my love was having that effect on him, or maybe it was his brother’s love for me.
Either way, it hurt like hell in this inferno we found ourselves in.
My tears slid down my face as Julius placed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. Almost like he was surrendering, like his white flag was up and the war was over for now.
All of a sudden, they were a foot apart from one another. The two men I loved the most couldn’t have hated each other more than they did at that moment. The intensity scorching off them was too much to bear.
I wanted to run to them. To promise it would be okay, and I wouldn’t leave them, that I chose them. I did none of those things. Instead, I sat there while my life played out in front of me.
All their smiles.
