Page 20 of Vengeful Pawn

“Get on with it, Hendrix, or I’m going to lose my fucking patience.”

Snorting, I shake my head. He doesn’t realize how little he intimidates me.

“Mia has had someone sending her images of herself in private settings. Places they shouldn’t be.” I raise a hand when he’s about to interrupt. “She only told me recently, and I’ve just come back from handling it.”

“By handling it, I hope to fuck you mean killing the motherfucker.” He’s on his feet again.

“It was her ex, Jeff Gold, and no, I didn’t kill him; however, he received a very clear message about what happens if he so much as thinks about her again.”

Castle rounds his desk, a lion looking for a fight. “Why the fuck is he still breathing? You care so fucking little about my sister and your baby?”

“It’s because I care that I didn’t cut his head off and mount it to my fucking wall. There were witnesses, and I wasn’t risking getting locked up because some pussy thought he could target her. It’s handled.”

“Fuck.” Castle drops his head back, closes his eyes, and breathes deeply for a few minutes before glancing at me again. “What about the two of you? What’s going on there because, pretty soon, she won’t be able to keep driving down to you.”

“I’m aware, and I’m working on it. Whatever she wants is what will be done.”

His eyes work me over. “You going to marry her?”

“If she’ll say yes.”

“Don’t give her a choice,” he smirks.

Not sure how we went from hostile to making his sister mine forever, but I’ll take it.

CHAPTER 14

MiaBella

“How are you feeling, dear?” Talia offers me a smile, and the care in her eyes continues to amaze me. It’s been too many years since I’ve felt any type of motherly affection. I love my brother and his club brothers, but spending my teenage years being raised by gruff men wasn’t conducive to many tenderhearted talks or physical touch in the way a young woman needs.

“Good. He or she is moving around a lot and playing kickball with my ribs.” I’ve been filled with nervous energy today; not quite sure why, but it’s causing the baby more stress than I would like.

“Oh boy, do I remember those days.” She gets a faraway look in her eyes. “Hendrix was always giving me heartburn and beating on my ribs and bladder. I cursed that boy at least twice a day.”

“And Hadley?” Spending lunch with her was enjoyable before she had to get back to her husband’s club. Hadley had the fun idea of opening a recreational facility for children, withswimming pools, hockey rinks, indoor soccer fields, and so much more. All they need to do now is work out the logistics.

“She was a wiggle worm. Moved around more than her brother but took it easy on my ribs.”

Taking a sip of my drink, I hesitate to ask the question.

“Spit it out, Mia. No sense in holding anything back.”

Letting out a sigh, I hope Hendrix doesn’t get angry with me. “Do you know what happened to him overseas? Has he spoken to you or Cas about it?”

“Nothing specific. We hardly know any details, but he’s said that he did something too shameful to share with us. It’s been eating him up for so long.” Her tears pull at my heartstrings.

“He’s getting help now,” I reassure her, and she lights up. “He says it’s helping. He feels like there’s a future in his life now.”

She reaches across the table for my hands. “That’s because of you.”

Taking the credit doesn’t feel right. “It’s him. The baby motivates him, but he wouldn’t follow through if he didn’t want to begin the healing journey.”

Talia nods in agreement, and we get back to looking at the baby furniture. She and Castiel have graciously offered to buy us an entire baby suite. Crib, dresser, chair, change table, and bookshelf. All I need to do is decide where we’re going to set it up.

“It’s you, too, Mia. There’s a lightness, a happiness to him when he speaks about you. That doesn’t happen if he doesn’t care.”

Hopefully, she’s right. We’ve expressed a desire to be together, but there’s been no profound declarations, just what-ifs and maybes. And for now, that’s okay. We have so much time to get to know one another. Even with the baby coming, we can co-parent apart while figuring out how or if we’re together.

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