Page 431 of The Tempted

I felt it deep down with every fiber of my being. It wasn’t like Riggs to ignore my calls. The last few month’s things had been great. We weren’t officially anything more than who we were, just Kitten and Tiger, Pea’s parents, and dare I say…two people who were making it work. Making it work sounds like it was an obligation but it wasn’t, we were making it work because we wanted to and not because we needed to.

Something was wrong.

I placed my hands over my belly and relished in the flutters Pea was making inside of me when there was a knock on my door. I smiled instantly as I rushed to the door.

Daddy’s home, Pea.

I pulled open the door as my brother turned around to face me. The smile fell as quickly as it was born as I stared at the torn expression on Anthony’s face.

No.

“What’re you doing here?” I asked, hoarsely

“Can I come in?” he said, as he shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, looking anywhere but at me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and robotically stepped aside to let him in. I slowly closed the door, gripping the doorknob, hanging onto it as if it was my salvation and touched my forehead to the door.

How does someone prepare themselves for the words I was about to hear? A million thoughts ran through my mind as I feared the worst.

Please don’t let him be hurt.

Slowly, I turned around and lifted my eyes to Anthony’s.

“Is he okay?” I whispered.

“He’s fine,” he confirmed.

I let out a sigh of relief as I closed my eyes briefly.

“Thank God,” I said.

“Lauren—”

I held up my hand to stop him from saying whatever it was he was about to say.

“No, don’t,” I ordered. “I don’t want to know,” I explained. “Something happened, he left with Jack but he said he’d come home. He told me he’d come back home.”

“Something did happen, and that’s why I’m here. Pack a bag, you will be staying with me until whatever this shit is…until it dies down,” he grunted.

“What? No!” I shook my head. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you don’t have a goddamn choice,” he growled, swiping his hand across his face. “Lauren don’t make this harder than it has to be. They have something going down with the club. I don’t know the details but after what happened with Reina and Blackie I’m not taking any fucking chances with you. You’re coming home with me,” he demanded.

I don’t know who he thought he was talking to. I might be his little sister but I wasn’t a child. Sure, I’ve run to him in the past, asking for his help with whatever mess I got myself into but I wasn’t that girl anymore. I was a woman finding her place. I was a mother. I wasn’t a little girl who needed protecting. I was the one doing the protecting, taking care of myself and my child.

“I’m not going anywhere, Anthony. This is where I live, this is where I belong,” I declared. “If there was some kind of threat then Riggs would be the one who took care of me.”

“Riggs can’t take care of you, Lauren, he can barely take care of himself,” he seethed.

“Don’t do that. Don’t talk about him like he’s not in your category, like he’s some incompetent asshole,” I yelled.

“Pack a bag,” he ordered.

“I don’t take orders from you, Anthony!”

“I’m telling you something goddamn it! Grow the fuck up and listen. You want to put your life at risk? Your kid’s life at risk because you’re stubborn?”

“Get out,” I screeched. “Get out of my house!”

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