Page 53 of War

Lore goes to follow behind me, but War grabs his arm.

“She ismine,” I hear him bark. “Iwill fix this, notyou.”

“Yes, she’s yours,” Lore replies, his tone more lethal than I’ve ever experienced. “But if you can’t handle her with care, I’d be more than happy to step in and treat her right.”

War laughs without humor, almost maniacal. “You couldn’t stay faithful to a woman if your life depended on it.”

Their voices trail away as I head upstairs, locking the door behind me. I don’t know if the nausea is back or it’s because I feel so sick over what I’ve just learned, but I end up sitting on the floor next to the toilet, my back against the wall and my head in my hands.

I’m overwhelmed.

I’m hurt.

Betrayed.

And the jealousy I feel burns my throat.

Why is it always some damn thing with him?

“Ora?” I hear Lu calling me through the door, so I let her and Xanthe in.

“What happened?” she asks, locking the door behind them. “We heard yelling, and War told us to check on you.”

“What was he doing?” I ask.

“He and Lore got into a fight, and War punched him in the face,” Xanthe says, gently touching my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“War is legally married to that blonde woman, and henevertold me. Henevereven mentioned her or being married.”

Lu’s eyes widen, and Xanthe gasps.

“Thatmotherfucker.” Lu’s fists clench like she wants to go and punch his lights out herself.

“What’s the plan?” Xanthe asks, the normally quiet and sweet woman sounding angry on my behalf.

“I think I’m pregnant,” I whisper, and they go silent.

Lu glances down at my stomach, her blonde curls falling over her forehead. “He didn’t wrap his fucking willy?”

I wince, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’m on the pill.”

“Does he know?” Xanthe asks, wringing her hands.

“No. I don’t even know for sure yet. But I’ve been feeling nauseous, and I haven’t got my period since I’ve met him.”

I head to the bathroom to wash my face, and the girls follow behind me. When I’m done, I grip the edge of the countertop and hang my head. “What do I do? We’re in a lockdown, but I don’t want to be here right now.”

It’s too much.

“How would we even get out of here?” Lu whisper-yells before she starts to rub my back. “We can’t even open the damn gates without one of the men doing it for us. And they’re not going to let us out.”

“We could try one of the prospects,” Xanthe suggests, gently playing with my hair. “They’re the weakest links.”

“We need to get you a pregnancy test.”

A knock on the door has all our heads snapping up.

“Ora, let me in.”

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