Page 57 of The Hitman's Omega Priest
“We still aren’t certain who sent them, and finding out hasn’t been a priority.”
Kensley grumped. “Great. So, I’m still a target. Our family is a target. How can we put a baby in the middle of this kind of life?”
Hurt etched all over Bishop’s face. “You don’t want to have a child with me?”
“I’m not saying never, but now isn’t exactly an ideal time.”
“I doubt there’s ever an ideal time to become a parent.”
Kensley wanted to argue, but he was up against a brick wall. Bishop was visibly thrilled at the baby news, and nothing Kensley said would dull that shine. The only thing that would was if a pregnancy test came back negative—if they found out Marta had lied. That would hurt immensely, but it wouldn’tbe the end of the world. He and Bishop could figure out the dangerous shit-show that was their life before bringing an innocent child into the fray.
Maybe.
All he could right now was hug Bishop and hope for the best—because their best was absolutely yet to come.
FIFTEEN
Kensley was sorelieved and excited when Bishop got a text that Malori was sleeping peacefully and would make a full recovery from his gunshot, that he lost his mind a little and gave Bishop a blow job. He’d missed being sexual with his charus, his protector, his love, and he put everything he had into sucking Bishop into a powerful orgasm. Bishop kissed him for a long time, but Kensley couldn’t get hard. He was still too stressed out from the day and from waiting to find out if he was pregnant or not.
As anxious as he was about that, Kensley still made sure the other freed victims were seen by Dr. Melish, before Kensley acquiesced to his own exam in the modified office. Since Kensley hadn’t been violated, an anal exam felt a little overly cautious, but he endured the embarrassing procedure. His vital signs were all normal for what he remembered from his last physical.
When the basic exams were over, Kensley asked Bishop to come into the room. He held Bishop’s hand tight and asked, “Do you have a pregnancy test I can take?”
Dr. Melish blinked at him through large, wire-rimmed glasses. “I do. I didn’t think you were sexually active, Elder Thorne, and you said no one touched you while imprisoned.” Hecut his eyes at Bishop. “I take it this development includes Mr. Burton there.”
For a split second, Kensley was confused. Bishop’s last name was Anders, not—oh. Bishop had said that only he and King knew Bishop’s true identity. To the rest of the world, he was still Drew Burton.
“It does,” Kensley replied. “The woman who sold me to Decker told me I was pregnant, but she didn’t show me proof. And I honestly can’t say if I feel any different or not, because this past week has been incredibly stressful, so I don’t know if my upset stomach is anxiety or early morning sickness.”
“Could be both.” Dr. Melish reached into one of several leather satchels and produced a small box. “This is the best I can do without a lab to run proper blood tests. Instructions are simple. Take the cap off the white end, pee on it, and cap it back up. Bring it to me.”
“Does it give one stripe or two?”
“Tests for omegas are slightly different. I have to add a solution to the stick for a positive or negative result.”
“Gotcha. Um.”
Dr. Melish smiled, and he reminded Kensley a bit of an old schoolteacher of his, a long time ago. “Bathroom is the first door to the left. If you don’t have to go, it can wait.”
“The hell it can.”
Kensley hadn’t drank much liquid all day, but he’d squeeze out what he could to get his answer. He was sick of waiting and wondering. He took the box to the single-person bathroom that was probably for lodge staff, peed on the stick, and brought it back to Dr. Melish within three minutes. The good doc took it to a small table and pulled another container out of a different bag. Kensley pressed his face into Bishop’s chest, heart galloping away, even as his tension calmed a bit under Bishop’s warm, protective touch.
No one spoke. Kensley wasn’t sure he was breathing. Seconds ticked by loudly on a clock somewhere in the room. He couldn’t move to look. Bishop’s fingers traced small circles on his back. Time seemed to stand still.
“I’ll need an official blood test and ultrasound to confirm,” Dr. Melish finally said, “but it does appear that you’re pregnant, Elder Thorne.”
Static buzzed in Kensley’s ears, and then his entire world became Bishop’s crushing hug. Bishop’s joyous laughter and babbling promises to love and protect them both, no matter what. Kensley held tight, his brain a storm of thoughts, his entire being a cacophony of battling emotions. He wanted to be ecstatic at their good fortune, but reality kept dousing that joy with fear. Fear of his current circumstances as a pawn in a game between King and some unknown player. Fear at the idea of being pregnant at all—a future he’d never imagined for himself after joining the Order. Fear of failing this innocent child growing inside him, of being a horrible parent, of not protecting them—and a thousand other things.
Bishop gently eased out of their embrace, his face painted with confusion. “You aren’t excited about this.”
“I’m scared, for so many reasons.”
“You don’t think I can protect you?”
“Of course, I do.” He clutched both of Bishop’s hands over his own heart. “I love you, and I already love this baby. But we are deep in the middle of a violent world, and as much as I want to celebrate this news, it worries me. If the wrong people find out, it’s something else to potentially hold over King’s head.”
“Forget about King and that world for a little while, sweetheart.” Bishop sat in the desk chair and drew Kensley onto his lap. Looped both arms around his waist in a comforting hold. “Just for tonight, let’s pretend none of that exists. Let’s go backupstairs to our room and pretend we’re on vacation again. Just you and me.”
