Page 7 of Beautiful Lies
Roisin beams, squeezing my hand. "Good. Now, let's get some food in you. Can't have my niece or nephew going hungry."
As she bustles around the kitchen, chattering about pregnancy-safe foods and prenatal vitamins, I feel a weight lift from my shoulders. For the first time since seeing those two pink lines, I allow myself to feel a glimmer of hope that maybe I can do this, after all.
Chapter Four
NIKO
“What’s crawled up your ass and died?” Darian asks as we torch all the evidence of yet another dead end.
I glare at my brother, not in the mood for his usual sarcasm. "Nothing. Just focus on the task at hand."
Darian raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Come on, Niko. I know you better than that. You've been in a foul mood for days now. What's going on?"
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. The smell of burning flesh and gasoline fills the air, reminding me of the mess we're in. "It's Emylyah," I admit finally. "She's pregnant."
Darian's eyes widen in surprise. "Shit. I thought you'd be happy about that. Isn't an heir what you've always wanted? I thought that’s why you took a wife.”
I turn away, unable to meet his gaze. "It is. Or it was. But now, with everything that's happening..." I gesture to the burning spectacle around us. "How can I bring a child into this world? Our world?"
My brother is silent for a moment, processing. “So, what did you tell her?"
"That it can't happen," I say, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "That our life has no place for a kid."
Darian lets out a low whistle. "Damn, Niko. That's cold, even for you."
I clench my jaw, irritation flaring. "What was I supposed to say? That I'm thrilled at the prospect of painting a target on my own child's back?"
"Maybe start by breaking it to her a little more gently?” Darian suggests dryly. "Look, I get it. Our world is fucked up. But pushing Lyah or your child away isn't going to make things safer."
I turn to face him, anger and frustration bubbling up. "You know why, Darian. Or have you forgotten our sister?”
The bitter look he gives me shows my comment hits its mark, but something else in his eyes still makes me feel like I need to elucidate. “Every day, we're fighting longer and harder to keep our territory, to stay alive. How can I protect a child when we can barely protect ourselves? Or have you forgotten how many men we’ve lost recently?"
Darian's expression softens slightly. "That's what family is for, brother. We protect each other. Your kid would have an entire network looking out for them."
I shake my head, unconvinced. "It's not enough. Not with the storm I can feel coming."
"So, what's your plan? Force Lyah to get rid of it? What the fuck do you think that will do for your relationship? Lyah’s always been desperate for affection. She’s like a sponge absorbing whatever tiny crumb you decide to throw her way. You’ll destroy her if you do that."
The thought makes my stomach churn, but I play devil’s advocate. "I think having her cherished, defenseless child abducted, tortured, sent to her piece by piece while they’re held to ransom would be a whole lot worse. That would destroy her. Destroy both of us.”
“Quit being so melodramatic,” Darian growls. “You sound like a girl.”
If it was anyone else, I would have filleted them by now, and the glare I send his way tells Darian that. He lifts his palms in supplication. “I’m just saying, you can’t foresee anything that might happen in the future, and with enough security, both Lyah and your child will be perfectly safe. Hell, you can send them away for a while if we end up going to war.”
I rub my hands over my face, at war with myself right now, if no one else.
“Think on it at least, before you do anything rash. Where’s Lyah now?”
“She’s staying with Roisin for a few days,” I admit, feeling tired for reasons other than lack of sleep.
Darian nods, sagely. “So, you’ve pissed her off already. As quiet as Lyah usually is, she always gets on her soap box when she feels it necessary. Remember how she reamed out Ciaran Maguire’s ass when Roisin needed a doctor? Mark my words, Niko. She won’t play by the rules if you box her into a corner.”
I grunt, acknowledging the truth in Darian's words. Emylyah may seem meek and compliant most of the time, but she has an inner fire that flares up when pushed too far. I actually admire that about her.
The memory of her standing up to one of the most dangerous men in the city flashes through my mind… followed by the spanking she earned as a result.
And the primal sex, which had her screaming my name as she pulsed around my cock afterwards.
