Page 5 of Ours

“Then say it,” he encouraged, taking a step closer. “Say that you love me and tell me that you want us to be a family.”

Turning her head upwards, she caught his dark gaze. This was her life now, she realized. There was no turning back. She needed to make the most of the situation. Perhaps they could be a happy family, someday. Stranger things happened.

“I love you...and want us to raise our son together,” she confessed.

Slowly curling his lips into a triumphant smile, he reached down to brush the back of his hand along her full cheek. He was ecstatic about how quickly she had dismissed her life with Leo. From the first night he saw her, he knew they belonged together. It was as a relief that she had finally accepted their destiny.

“Good girl,” he purred, tenderly kissing her forehead. “I love you so much.”

Keeping her eyes glued on his smug face, Lexi slowly moved her still tingling hands to the curve of her numbed belly. Almost immediately, she felt her son gently roll under her open palms. His calm movement took her breath away. She had only ever felt sharp kicks and frantic punches. Her motherly instincts told her that for the first time, her son was content.

Theirson was happy.

“We love you too,” she whispered, the admission painfully squeezing her conflicted heart.

CHAPTER THREE

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Lexi adjusted the seatbelt that was cutting into the crook of her neck. Kade hadn’t said a word since buckling her into the second row of the Lincoln Navigator; nor had any of the other four rough looking men filling the SUV. There was nothing but stone-cold silence and a tension so thick, she was sure she could cut it with her Stiletto knife.

Chewing on her lower lip, she glanced out her window to watch the westbound traffic along I-278. It was very early in the morning, possibly two or three guessing by the amount of delivery trucks merging onto the freeway. She wasn’t exactly sure where she was being taken but had a sinking suspicion. There was a snowball’s chance in hell that he was taking her to some swanky high rise on the Upper East Side. Oh, no. Brooklyn was Bloodbayne’s territory.

“Are we going straight to him?” she asked, ignoring the immediate heat of his gaze.

Reaching across the seat, Kade took her left hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. He knew she was apprehensive about their upcoming meeting with his Boss. She had every right to be, he would be lying if he said he wasn’t just as nervous.

“No,” he answered, softly brushing her knuckles with the pad of his thumb. “He isn’t in the City. Our meeting isn’t until Monday. We’re headed to the Wilde until then.”

Closing her red rimmed eyes, she leaned back in her seat and sighed in relief.Good, she still had time to prepare herself. Not much time, but enough time for her to ensure that Kade would protect her and their son from that fire kissed bastard. She wouldn’t be able to do it alone.

“The Wilde? Funny. I’ve always wanted to go there,” she said.

Releasing her hand, Kade moved to caress the side of her abdomen. Humming a reply, he held in a wolfish grin. They routinely conducted business from the hotel, selling their wares to nepo babies with deep pockets. Serendipitously, Leo had mentioned in a random post how he wanted to fly Lexi back to the City and stay at the Wilde for their anniversary. It made him insanely happy that he had stolen that gift. From now on, she would only be reminded of him when she thought of the hotel.

“We’ll be there soon, Sweetheart. Are you hungry?” he asked, arching a brow.

Nodding, she placed her hand over his and moved his touch lower so he could feel the small flutters she was experiencing. Their son was ramping up his movement, it was only a matter of time before she became sick with hunger.

“I will be,” she said with a grin. “He’s definitely letting me know."

Feeling a series of tiny kicks against his hand, he couldn’t help but smile in amusement. His son already had him wrapped around his finger. It was good that the interior of the SUV wasdark. He didn’t like to show emotion when his Soldiers were around. Weakness of any kind was a liability.

“Well, it’s a good thing that I ordered some food for you two then, isn’t it?” he replied.

Turning her head to look at him, Lexi’s breath hitched as her eyes settled on his proud face. Even in the dim light, she could make out every handsome detail. Her sweet man had returned, he looked so ridiculously happy. It caused her stomach to fill with butterflies, she wished he would stay like this forever.

“Oh? And what did you order?” she asked curiously.

Giving her a tiny wink, he tenderly caressed her bump one last time before removing his hand. Turning his attention to the driver’s seat before him, he painted a blank look on his face. Within the span of a heartbeat, his aloofness returned. They were quickly coming up to their exit, now wasn’t the time to act like a fool in love. Until they were safely settled in their room, he needed to be alert and aware.

“You’ll see,” he replied curtly.

Narrowing her green eyes, she immediately bristled over his abrupt change in attitude. His hot and cold mood swings were giving her whiplash. He needed to be careful, two could play this game.

“Can’t wait,” she replied icily, folding her arms over her chest.

...

Stepping behind Kade, Lexi tried her best to ignore the three Skulls circling like hungry sharks. She didn’t care that they were there for herprotection,as Kade had claimed. They all rubbed her the wrong way. She especially didn’t appreciate the lewd sideglances from the bearded one named Maddox. She had been around sexual predators all her life and could smell one a mile away. He reeked of torture and misery and made her wish she had her blade.

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