Page 27 of Grim's Gem

“The baby could have been hurt,” He whispers.

“I would never let that happen. I really didn't throw one single bomb… But how about we take some of those cupcakeshome? Grab some whipped cream from the kitchen and have ourselves our own party,” I say, smirking as his eyes heat. He doesn't say a word, just grabs my hand and drags me back to the compound.

Chapter Twenty-One

Grim

“Woman, are you almost ready to go?” I ask jade, impatiently bouncing my leg up and down while she finishes putting on her makeup in the bathroom.

“Jeez, I’m almost done! What is the rush?” She asks, but I refuse to tell her about this surprise.

Our house is finally done. We could move into it today if we wanted. I already bought most of the furniture, but I will change anything about the house she doesn't love. I wish she would have come into my life a little sooner, and we could have designed everything ourselves, but I was ready to make a home and put down roots. I didn't realize my soul mate was just out of my reach.

“The quicker you get done, the quicker I can show you!” I say, just as she walks out of the bathroom. I stand and hold out my hand for her. When she takes it, I drag her out of the room and to the back of the compound. Halle and Loki are about to walk in as we are pulling out. Jade's belly has grown so much. I love seeing the proof that she is mine. I love it even more thatevery fucker with a dick can see it now. I give them both a nod, trying to pull Jade past, but the women must stop to talk.

“How are you doing, sweet peas?” Halle says baby talking to Jade's stomach while rubbing her hands over Jade's bump.

“Oh my god. Did you feel that? She just kicked my Hand,” Halle squeals.

“WHAT?!?!” I yell before placing my hand on Jade's belly. Jade is trying to hold in her laughter, but she isn't fooling anyone. “I was supposed to be the first to feel her kick.” Yes, I might be pouting just a bit, but this is my fucking princess. I’m supposed to be her favorite.

“I’m the first?” Halle asks, and I see awe when I look at her face. I know Halle and Loki's struggles in the baby department, and my eyes soften. I take Halle's hand and place it back on Jade's belly. When my baby girl makes her presence known, we both have a hand there. She kicks again… hard.

“Oh my gosh, she’s so strong already!” I whisper.

“She’s going to be kicking so much ass!” Halle whispers beside me.

“Can we not be talking her into getting into trouble before she’s even born, please?” Jade grumps, but I see the smile playing on her face.

We sit there for a few more minutes until she stops kicking. Then I’m back to my original mission. That is until Loki puts his hand on my shoulder. We back away from the women as they marvel over Jade's belly. I can't help the smile that crosses my face. Halle is close to all the women. Hell, they are all partners in crime. Always getting into some kind of trouble, butI’ve seen a change in Halle lately. I notice her staring at Jade's belly more often with a far-off look. I know about her struggles in the past, and the fact that there is nothing my brothers or I can do for her or Loki at the moment pisses me right the fuck off.

How can there be a problem that we can't fix? We want to fix it so badly for Halle. When she had her miscarriage almost a year ago, it nearly broke us all. We had never seen strong, independent, crazy Halle so… broken. It didn't take her long to return to us, but it wasn't the same. She was lost in a way none of us could fix. I have noticed her and Jade getting closer the last few months, and I am happy it was Halle who was here when our baby girl made herself known. Maybe it will give her a little hope.

“Thank you,” Loki says, crossing his arms and staring at Halle with such a look of love. I swear before she came to the club, I didn't think it was possible for him to be soft in any way, but the minute Halle came into his life, around her only, he was mush. Throw in Rae and Rome, and yeah, it blows all our fucking minds.

“For what?” I ask, looking at him in confusion.

“Other men might have gotten pissy, seeing as it was Halle who was the first to feel the baby kick—especially seeing as you were right there. You grabbed her hand, though. You made her feel connected at that moment. I can't tell you how much that meant to her. When she lost…”

He stops and looks away. He never really let on how big of a toll it took on him to lose the baby, either. He was strong for Halle through the whole thing. He didn't bring it up; he didn't change his attitude. He just became stronger, more stoic for his woman.

“It was hard on her. On both of us. I haven't seen that light in her eyes since. Not until today. So thank you. Thank you for giving her that moment. Thank you for sharing it and not making it a big deal. Thank you for giving her that,” He says, clearing his throat and turning my way.

He just showed me a very rare, vulnerable side to Loki I’ve never seen. I'm not sure what to do or say to that, so I just give him a chin lift. Luckily, he saves me by immediately returning to the old Loki.

“Plus, if you would have made her cry, I would have had to cut your guts out through your asshole. I’m glad I don't have to do that shit now,” He says, smiling over at me.

“What is your obsession with asses? Kicking them, stabbing them, sticking things in them, pulling things out of them…” I stop at the way that sounded. Meanwhile, Loki is laughing his ass off.

“Believe me, the only thing I threaten sticking up the ass is with Halle, and she has no complaints on that end,” He smirks.

“Ahhh, dude. Too much information. Seriously, do you not have any boundaries?” I ask, shaking my head.

“Really, as often as you’ve caught me fucking Halle throughout this whole compound… You are going to ask me that stupid as fuck question?” He lifts his eyebrows at me.

“Fair enough. What are yall's plans for the day?” I ask, looking back at the women. Halle is whispering something to Jade's belly. If she were smiling crazily, I would think she was plotting something with my innocent baby girl, but the softness on her face has me thinking it's something more.

“We are taking Rome and Rae to the skating rink for our monthly family outing. Halle is feeling guilty. Ever since the incident,” That is what he is calling her miscarriage, “She has felt guilty toward Rome and Rae. She worries they think because she got so upset, they seem less like our kids. Or that maybe they don't feel like they are good enough. I told her it was bullshit. Both those kids know we are their mother and father, no matter what. Even if blood doesn't connect us, our hearts connect us deeper than it ever could, but she won't listen. She feels guilty and worries she’s being selfish. Like Rae and Rome aren't enough. I’m explaining this all wrong,” He sighs, running his hand over the top of his head in frustration.