Page 55 of Dirty Legacy

The bathroom door is open and the sound of someone retching makes me leap from the covers.

I’m wide awake and rushing to her side.

I find Angie perched in front of the toilet throwing up. “Baby? What’s going on?”

“Shit,” she gasps, eyes flicking to me, face slick with sweat. “I’m okay. I didn’t—“ She pukes again, groaning. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“What’s happening? What can I do?” I am a man who moves mountains, murders his foes, dominates anyone who gets in my way, and yet I’m brought to a state of pathetic panic at the sight of my wife vomiting.

“Morning sickness.” She slumps back and sits against the wall. “It’ll pass soon.”

The baby. Shit.

“I’ll get you some water.”

She mumbles something but I’m already on the move. I throw on clothes and storm down the hall and into the main house. I find one of my staff members dusting down in the main welcome atrium. “You down there, I need water, and crackers, and some tea, and coffee as well, and yogurt. My wife isn’t feeling well and I need it right now.”

The young female staffer looks around wide-eyed. “Uh, yes, sir, right away.” She rushes off.

I pace at the top of the steps impatiently. I should’ve gone myself, damn it. I’m about to charge to the kitchen when the staffer returns. I rush to meet her and take the tray myself. “I’ll handle it from here.”

I run back to the room, spilling some of the drinks in the process, and find Angie already dressed and brushing her teeth. She looks at me in the mirror, surprised at the state of me, and I check myself.

Messy hair, expression wild and borderline feral, clutching a massive tray covered in drinks and bowls.

“Holy shit, Connor, you look worse than me.”

I open my mouth to snarl at her⁠—

But burst out laughing instead.

She smiles back, spits some toothpaste in the sink, and rinses.

My wife’s funny. I like that about her.

“I brought you some things.” I place the tray gently down at the end of the bed. “I didn’t know what would help.”

“Honestly, I’m fine. It comes and goes and it’s worst in the morning. Guess they got the name right.” She plucks the tea and sips, smiling as she watches me. “You really didn’t have to do this.”

“Tell me the next time you aren’t feeling well. I’ll make sure we have what you need here for the moment you’re done.”

“Connor, honestly⁠—“

“I will meet my wife’s needs.” I say it through my teeth, thinking back to the night before, to my soldier’s head crumpling in a spray of bloody mist as he was blown to pieces. I failed him, and I will fail more in the future, but not with her.

I’ll do this right or I’ll kill myself trying.

“You’re ridiculous,” she says, smiling. “But this tea is good.”

“Then you’ll have some here every single morning. What else?”

“Crackers. Water. Diet Coke⁠—“

My brows arch. “Really?”

“I know, it’s weird, but I’ve been craving it. Especially straight from McDonald’s? You know how much better it is?”

“I wasn’t aware.”