Page 79 of Fireball
“You’re mine. The baby inside you is mine.”
Baby.
I’m having a baby.
I’m having a baby with a crime lord.
Chaos. My head is a jumbled mess. Although I understand enough to know I’m married and I’m pregnant and I’m too perplexed to be horrified by his manipulations.
Titan looks happy. Irrational but happy with his hint of a smile. His thumb caresses over the jewelry. “We’re permanent Fireball. You, me, and our child. Know that.”
Permanent.
A word I never imagined possible has suddenly been guaranteed for me.
“We’re a family.”
The more he says the more I start to freak out. The machines monitoring me go berserk again.
All I’ve ever wanted is happening right now, in this same moment, and I can barely absorb the sensations overwhelming me. I close my eyes needing to shut out everything lest I lose these gifts.
Huge arms lift me from the mattress and wrap around me, folding me into his chest. He strokes my hair and kisses my temple, rocking me until I drift off again despite my own alarm bells shrieking in terror.
Titan
The last swallow of milk glides down her willowy neck, and she slams the paper cup onto her tray like she just chugged a beer.
“Okay, let’s go. I’m ready.”
My Fireball—as determined as ever. Which I fucking love, yet she must adhere to my rules as always.
That was the deal. If she lets the doctor examine her and eats a solid meal, then she gets to see Chelsea. She kept up her side of the bargain, proven with an empty plate of Mrs. Z’s meatloaf in front of her.
Addie even scraped up the trails of gravy with her spoon. She’s not fucking around, unwilling to let anything keep her from seeing my sister.
“All right, angel. Don’t lose your shit. I’m taking you.”
I push away the tray and help her shove off the covers. Resolute yet still weak, she gingerly twists to let her legs hang over the side of the bed. I give her a second to catch her breath since she’s still a little dizzy. “Ready?”
“Yes, please.”
The catch in her voice surprises me. Not usually one to show emotion, she guts me with her fear. Unwilling to wait any longer, I scoop her up and hold her close letting her take deep breaths as she curls into me. I kiss the top of her head. “I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.”
“I know.”
Thank fuck. She feels so fragile in my arms, reminding me how easily I could’ve lost her. Lostthem.
No way I would’ve survived that.
A nurse in the hall glances our way and then quickly averts her eyes. No one questions me. Well not anymore once they learned what would happen when they did. I carry Addie next door and prepare myself for her freaking out once she sees Chels.
Maxim hops up from the seat by my sister’s bed, and I carefully set Addie down. With shaking hands, she grabs for Chelsea, almost tumbling out of her chair. So much smaller than Maxim she can barely reach the mattress. I push her closer and keep my hand on her shoulder.
Maxim looks like hell.
Good.
I think. I’m exhausted and feel like shit myself.