Page 63 of Blood Revealed

“Make-up penis is always a good choice,” she says. We both snicker. “But then why don’t you look appeased?”

These women are too astute for my own good. I pick up the wooden spoon I left next to the pot on the stove to stir the oats. “Like I said, he hurt my feelings. I get my stripping embarrasses him, but I did what I had to do.”

“Girl, I get it. You know I worked phone sex to pay my way through college. Beau didn’t want me doing it once we got together, so I stopped. But that kind of shit pays well.”

“Yeah,” I agree, using the spatula to stir the brown sugar, butter, and walnut concoction.

“Smells great.” Boss walks into the kitchen, broad, muscled, tattooed chest on display. He wraps his arms around Elise from behind and bends in to kiss her cheek, clipping her mouth while he’s at it.

“Well, it’s almost done. Grab a bowl and help yourself.”

Before I eat, I reach up into the cupboard above the coffee maker to grab my favorite mug. It’s a travel mug, which means it holds more coffee than the others. The thing is huge and I fill it mostly up, leaving room for creamer.

Because there are men passed out in the common, Boss, Elise, and I lean against the counters to eat. I’m halfway through my bowl when Boss’s cell rings. He pulls it from his pocket, stares at the screen a beat, and answers it.

“Everything okay?” he asks. I don’t know who’s on the line, but it is a bit early for friendly calls. “Fuck,” he says. “We’re on the way.”

My back goes rigid. From the tone of his voice, this can’t be good.

“Beau?” Elise asks.

“Maryanne. She’s gone into early labor. They need us, darlin’.”

Oh god. She’s quite pregnant, but it’s still too early.

“Right,” Elise says as she turns to set her bowl in the sink. “Let me grab my purse. Warm up the truck.”

Maryanne is my friend, too. “Would you mind if I came with? I only have to grab my purse and phone.”

“Do it, sweetheart,” he says. I set my bowl in the sink and run to grab a jacket, my purse, and phone. Raif’s still sleeping. Before leaving, I scribble him out a note about breakfast and where I’m headed. I leave it under his phone so he won’t miss it, then run back out to meet up with Boss and Elise.

A now fully dressed Boss holds the backdoor to his truck open for me. Elise is already inside the front.Please. I say a little prayer.Let Maryanne and the baby be fine. I’m not usually much of a prayer, but I figure since it’s not for me, maybe it’ll count a little more.

The roads, at least, are clear. It’s chilly out. Seeing as we’ve just entered spring, that’s to be expected, but traversing the mountains in snow can sometimes be a son of a bitch. Being from Texas, I’m a warm weather girl anyway.

Aside from a worried Tommy, who meets us at the entrance to the emergency room holding Gun in his arms, we’re the only ones to show. “Her parents are on their way,” Tommy tells Boss. “My folks are out of town.”

“You need me to call ’em?” Boss asks as he reaches for his son’s outstretched arms. Gun grips handfuls of his daddy’s T-shirt in his pudgy, little fists, burying his face in Boss’s beard. “Got a lot on your mind right now. Point me to what you need me to do, brother.”

“Thanks, man. I’m not sure if I need to call ’em or not. Don’t wanna bring ’em home for nothin’.”

“She’s gonna be okay, Tommy,” Elise says. She lays her head on his shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist. “The baby, too.”

“That’s my family,” he says in a moment of weakness, his voice cracking, which brings tears to my eyes. Big, strong Sgt. Tommy Doyle of the Thornbriar Police Department with a voice crack? I can’t even comprehend how scared he must be. Maryanne is a good friend. And what if this happens to my sister? My stomach aches. I regret the half bowl of oatmeal now.

My phone rings. It’s a good distraction. Raif’s calling. “Yeah, babe?” I answer.

“How is she?” he asks.

“We don’t know yet. Just got here. Tommy is filling Boss in. The man’s skin is ashen, Raif. I’ve never known Tommy to have ashen skin. He’s so scared.”

“That’s his woman, his kid. I’d be out of my mind if it were you.” And just like that, I’m no longer pissed at Raif about last night.

“I love you,” I whisper.

“Tell Boss and Tommy I’m on my way, okay?”

“I will.”

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