Page 10 of The Alpha's Sin
“Easy—take it easy, kitten.” Logan puts a hand on my arm, he looks concerned and a little stunned but he’s not angry. At least not so far. He looks at the Doctor. “Excuse me but I’d like a little time with my, er, wife—alone.”
“Sure. I’ll be back in a while, and we can discuss treatment options.”
The Doctor nods and draws the curtain, giving us semi-privacy, which is the best you can get at the ER.
“Poppy?” Logan looks at me with a frown on his face. “Did you know about this?”
I feel tears stinging my eyes, but I try to push them back.
“I…I had an idea,” I say, hoping he won’t get mad. “Dirk, he…he flushed my birth control pills right after we got married. He said he wanted to…to start a family right away.”
His face twists.
“Shit! That fucker!”
I’m frightened at once.
“I’m sorry!” I exclaim and my hands go instinctively to my belly, which actually, is still pretty flat. Or as flat as it ever gets for me, since I’m a curvy girl. “I should have said something, but I was so afraid you wouldn’t let me stay with you. And…I was afraid to know the truth,” I end, my voice sinking to a whisper.
He takes a deep breath and rakes a hand through his hair.
“Of course you were afraid,” he says at last. “I just can’t believe my brother. Getting you pregnant on purpose and then abandoning you!”
“Are you going to kick me out?” I ask, and my voice is tight with fear. “I know I should have said something, but I was hoping it wasn’t…wasn’t true.”
“Kick you out?” He looks both surprised and horrified. “Of course not, sweetheart! Why would you think that?”
“Because you might think I’ll be a burden,” I blurt. “But I won’t be—I swear! I can pull my own weight. I can?—”
“You’re not going to do anything unless the doctor says you can,” he says firmly. “And you’re not leaving my house, either. You’re going to stay with me no matter what. You’re under my protection. Nothing can change that.”
I feel a rush of relief—it’s almost too good to be true.
“Really?”
“Really, kitten. So don’t cry.” He reaches for some tissues from a box by the bed and passes them to me. “You’re not going anywhere,” he tells me. “You’re staying with me.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. “I just…I don’t know what to do. Should I keep it or…or get rid…get rid…” Somehow I can’t make myself finish the sentence.
“Look at your hands,” he says quietly.
I look down and see I’m still rubbing my belly protectively. Like I’m trying to keep the little spark of life that’s taken hold inside of me safe.
A burst of realization hits me. Oh God, I want this baby—I really do. I know it sounds crazy after my husband left me with absolutely no money to take care of it. I ought to hate it for being part of him but somehow I don’t.
This baby didn’t ask to be conceived—he or she is innocent and helpless and vulnerable. Which is kind of how I feel myself.
“You want to keep it, don’t you?” Logan asks softly.
Mutely, I nod.
“Then you’ll keep it.” He puts one big, warm hand on mine protectively. “I’ll help you through this, Poppy. I’ll take care of you both.”
This time I can’t stop the tears from falling.
“Why…why…” I can barely get my words out. “Why are you so nice to me?” I ask at last. “You barely even know me! And this baby isn’t yours.”
“It is now,” he says firmly. “I don’t want you to worry about a thing, kitten. I’m going to keep you safe. Both of you.”
