Page 35 of Pride
“No,” Wyatt said. “I’m not leaving the city or Misha alone with the baby.”
Parker’s eyes fluttered closed in frustration. There was no point trying to sway Wyatt, or to convince him that Nightingale Security had been hired for this very reason—to protect their mates when the Lazarus family couldn’t. Wyatt would only point out that Misha had already been kidnapped once. He wasn’t comfortable with anyone but himself protecting her and his baby.
Parker’s incredulous look shifted to Griffin, who’d also put up his hand.
“I won’t leave the city either,” Griffin announced. “Lilo’s pregnant. If the Syndicate found out, she will be in the same position Misha was a few months ago.”
The family jumped on Griffin with their congratulations. Mary hugged her son, despite his stiff reaction. Liza and Sloan whooped. Wyatt grinned and slapped Griffin hard on the back. A growl slipped out of Parker.
They all looked at him.
“This isn’t a time for you all to start popping out children,” he barked, losing his temper. “For Christ’s sake, this is serious. We’re at war. Daisy is missing, possibly dead, and you’re all procreating like bunnies.”
“Alice playing hard to get?” Liza teased with a waggle of her brows.
“This has nothing to do with Alice.”
Sloan tossed something at Parker. Probably a crumb from her sweater. “Chill, bras. It’s not all of us having babies. Just two.”
Tony snorted, a little drop of fear in his eyes. “Bailey and I are traveling first. Lots of traveling.”
Griffin’s eyes flashed and every metal object within reaching distance shuddered, a sign of his hold on his powers slipping with his temper. “We didn’t plan this, Parker. And for your information, Lilo fell pregnant three months ago. Before Daisy even stepped foot into our house again. We just kept it to ourselves until we knew the pregnancy was safe.” He stood. “Wyatt and I will hold the fort while everyone else is gone.”
Without another word, Griffin left the room. Wyatt tossed a dark look at Parker from over his shoulder before exiting too.
Evan placed some plastic wrap over Parker’s new tattoo. “Maybe Max can go in Griffin’s stead? Or Joe?”
Parker scrubbed his face. Could they bring two civilians into this? Even if one was ex-military, and the other FBI? Compared to the Deadly Seven, everyone was a civilian.
“I’ll go tell Max,” Sloan said as she closed her laptop.
“I don’t think Joe should come,” Liza said. “If he and I are both absent from work at the same time, it will be noticed. Plus… you know he’d rather handle things from the right side of the law.”
When his sisters and brothers left, Parker rubbed his temple, feeling a headache come on.
“We still need one more,” he pointed out to the only person who’d stayed.
“Then ask Alice,” Mary said.
The sounds of Flint tinkering in the workshop silenced, as if he too held his breath, waiting for Parker’s answer.
“She’s the enemy,” Parker reminded his mother, his voice softer than he’d intended. “You know what they’re capable of.”
“This is exactly why I’m telling you to trust her.” Mary gave his new tattoo a pointed look. The ink was still perfectly balanced, an after effect of Alice’s touch. It wouldn’t remain so for long. “Flint trusted me, and look where we are.”
“But it’s Daisy,” he said, his brows raised in the middle. Out of anyone in this family, Mary was the only one who knew the true tragedy of Daisy’s downfall. They remembered the happy, caring girl she’d once been. They knew the price of failure.
“I know,mijo,” Mary murmured as she cupped Parker’s face, her tiny hand barely making an impression against his large jaw. “And it is for Daisy that you must swallow your pride. You must accept assistance in any shape or form. Daisy has sacrificed enough.”
“I don’t need Alice.” Again, the words sounded hollow. Something his mouth was doing to convince his heart.
As if reading his thoughts, Mary gave him a small smile. “We all need someone, Parker.”
“You saw what’s happening. Wyatt and now Griffin are operating at restricted capacities because of their partnerships. I can’t afford a distraction. Having Alice around is exactly that.”
Mary flinched. “Do you really think loving someone is a distraction, or do you think you’re not worthy of that love?”
He jolted. “Where did that come from?”
