Page 27 of Jordan

“My sister is mated and knocked up,” Bradi said with an odd note of pride for as crass as he was. “In case you missed it, she’s off the market, buddy.”

“Bradi,” Marisa scolded. “Be nice. You know as well as the rest of us that Pheebes didn’t stop hunting for them either. He’s the one who found that chick and her buddy hiding in the compound. He’s the one who got it out of them that they’d sabotaged the shuttle, and he hasn’t slept a wink since then. He cares about her.”

“And caring is as far as it will ever go,” Bradi added.

“What he said,” Jordan replied, puffing his chest out.

With a roll of her eyes, Nina gave Pheebes another quick hug and took his hand, placing his palm upon her lower abdomen, knowing he’d sense the child within her.

Pheebes’s smiled. “You are happy? He treats you well?”

“He keeps me in line nicely,” she said. “And I’m more than happy.”

“Do you love him?”

She put her hand over her long-time friend’s and nodded. “With all my heart.”

“Then I am happy for you both, and you and your child will always have my sword at the ready to defend and protect you.”

“Thank you, Pheebes.”

He grunted. “I will even defend your gormless husband.”

She burst into laughter and Jordan balked.

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