Page 19 of Ready or Not

“So, you’re married to the woman who’s carrying my baby.” Garza shakes his head. “And she has every reason in the world to hate me.”

“I believe she was more hurt and confused than anything. You showing up here tonight convinced her that we found a way to guide her here so I could use her to claim my inheritance.” I clear my throat. “I believe we’re all quite lucky Bishop has a bond with her. Otherwise, it would have been a much steeper battle to regain her trust.”

“Maybe for you,” he says a little like he’s in a daze. “I missed out on the last eight or nine months of her pregnancy.”

“You could’ve missed out on eight years,” I say very seriously. “On eighteen years. On ever knowing about Aurora.”

Garza rears back. “This is a fucking nightmare. What if she tries to keep my daughter from me out of spite?”

I dig my thumb into his brachial plexus, applying pressure until he groans. “Be thankful I didn’t go for the jugular notch. If I were you, I would be very careful of the words I chose to put out into the universe. Speak to her with respect when you do.” I release him as he slaps my hand away. “You’re just coming to terms with things she’s had to worry about for the last nine months.” I stand, shaking my head. “Get some rest. Your room should be untouched.”

I stride off toward the gym to check on Bishop.

This entire night might just be my least favorite in all of existence. We got married today. It’s supposed to be a jovial time for us, and Garza’s arrival, along with everything Ranger suggested…

I’m very fucking unsettled. I need to punch something prior to crawling into the nest to cuddle the fuck out of my wife.

Chapter Seven

Vale

I’m completely confused and very unhappy when I wake up. I need the restroom, but the next thought that crosses my mind is Cooper.

Cooper Garza.

It’s unbelievable.

My emotions are all over the place as I disengage from Holt to crawl out of the nest. There’s a small hallway that connects this room to the bathroom, but I’ve never used it.

I pat around for the light before giving up and fully exiting the room the nest is in to go out to the bathroom through the hallway. Once I’m done with that, I wash my hands, but everything seems to hit me all at once.

My hands wrap around the cool sink as I try to keep myself upright.

Cooper is here.

And he knows my guys.

I’m so torn.

The bond was filled with Bishop’s shock and fury.

Holt has always been blunt about not sugarcoating anything. It’s a crazy coincidence that I’m still having trouble accepting.

I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be able to fall back to sleep.

I leave the bathroom and head into the bedroom.

My entire body jolts when I catch Cooper’s electric scent.

Flashes of the way he used to smile when he caught sight of me at The Kitty Cat Lounge file through my mind. Those smiles made my insides melty and apparently melted all rational intelligence from my mind.

I’m so furious and confused.

More than that, I’m terrified that I’m going to have to share Aurora now. Being a single parent felt devastatingly stressful, but with the guys, it seemed manageable. Now, I’m going to have to let him have a say in things, and as selfish as it makes me feel, I don’t know if I want that.

“Holy fuck,” Cooper says, pushing himself off the floor. I take a tentative step back, like I’m preparing to bolt. I wanted answers, but now I think I changed my mind. “No, please don’t run. Talk to me.”

My chest rises and falls rapidly as I study his swollen face. His cheek is red and, despite the low light, I think I can make out the beginnings of a black eye. He clutches his chest, making me frown.