Page 80 of The Predator
Closing the book, I gave her my full attention as my stomach sank like a ship in rough seas.
She crossed one leg over the other and impaled me with a stern look that shackled me to my chair. “You will be the number one target from here on out if anyone outside our circle finds out you’re pregnant with a Mason baby. You cannot think for one second that you can handle things on your own or live by yourself. You must have a guard around you at all times. I don’t know if Sam told you that or what you two decided on, but he’s not the only one you’re dealing with now. I will go to the ends of the Earth to make sure nothing happens to you and the baby. But I need you to tell me you understand. I need you to be 100 percent sure this is what you want.”
Jo Mason was beautiful and well put together, inside and out. Manicured nails. Perfect makeup. Thick, shiny black hair with streaks of purple. Those casual clothes I was sure she’d bought at a high-end clothing store. Silver eyes that shone like diamonds—and when they transformed to vampire mode, the violet color reminded me of a rare amethyst. Inside, she was intelligent with a heart of gold, from what I’d seen so far in how she handled Abbey and Sam. But the curtness in her tone, her sharp glare, and her pursed lips told me she was more lethal than Sam could ever be.
Unease sliced across my skin as I raised my chin. “With all due respect, because I have a ton of it for you, I will not be held prisoner because I’m pregnant with Sam’s baby. I understand the danger. I understand that my child could be hunted. I will do everything I can to make sure he or she is safe. Is this what I want? Honestly, I’m not ready for a baby. But I’ve never run from anything. Well, maybe your brother.” Nervous laughter rumbled free.
She smiled warmly. “You’re not running fromhimbut from your ownfeelingsfor him. He loves you.”
A flush rushed to my cheeks. “He told me this morning.”
She sucked in air. “Oh, my word.” She held a hand to her heart. “I mean,Iknew it, and not because I’ve been in his head. As twins, we have this connection, and it’s stronger now that we’re vampires. But to know he’s said it to you, that it came out of his mouth, is epic. And how do you feel?”
“Frankly, things are moving at the speed of light. I haven’t had time to process. But to be honest, he’s everything I want in a man. He’s caring. He knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. He’s hot. Powerful. Determined. Can be an ass, but so can I. And he’s a hell of a protector when it comes to those he loves. The latter quality reminds me of my dad.”
She lit up as though she'd won a prize. “Webb reminds me of my dad in some ways too.”
I lowered my gaze to the book. “I need you, Jo. I need Dr. Vieira too. I’m swimming against the current here. I would like to think I know what I’m doing, but I don’t. A natural-born vampire baby? I’m scared to death.”
She moved quickly, and when I blinked, she was kneeling before me. Her silver eyes flashed to violet and brimmed with tears. “You’re not alone. I’m in this with you. I will help you every step of the way.” She clutched my knees. “You have the best doctor in the world at your disposal.”
I grabbed her hands and let out a huge breath. “Thank you. It’s great to know I can count on you. But Dr. Vieira hasn’t dealt with a pregnancy where the fetus requires blood as a food source.”
She pushed to her feet. “True, but he’s working hard to find out why.”
“You don’t think I’ll give birth to a baby vampire with fangs, do you?” The moment I said that, it sounded stupid. “Maybe that’s the reason why the fetus needs blood.”
She stared at me as though I was right.
“Oh my God. I’m right, aren’t I?”
She tilted her head slightly. “We speculate but aren’t sure. No one during our existence has had a vampire baby.”
The air jetted from my lungs “I think I’m about to be sick.” I held my stomach, needing to escape, puke, run, hide—or all of the above.
Then something Dr. Vieira said hit me like a hard wind on a stormy day.“In our world, Layla, you’ll learn that some things don’t have an explanation, especially when magic is involved. And you’ll hear me say this many times: nothing is normal when it comes to Sam or Jo.”
I stood on shaky legs as nausea sloshed in my stomach. “I need to use the bathroom.”
She pointed to her left, seemingly alarmed that she’d told me the things she had. “Down the hall. When you’re done, meet me in the kitchen. I’ll fix us some tea.”
I rushed out as acid shot into my throat.
30
LAYLA
Ibarely made it into the spacious bathroom and over to the toilet before I puked. Holy hell. I was pregnant with a vampire—not just a natural-born vampire, but a true vampire, who would be born with fangs, who would have powers, and who would require blood in a bottle rather than formula or breast milk.
I hung my head in the toilet, waiting for another round of puke to burst free. I couldn’t have the baby. A waterfall of tears poured out as a cluster of emotions flooded my senses, making it hard to breathe. I waited a beat before I sat on my haunches then pulled out my phone to call Jordyn.
She answered on the first ring. “Hey, sis. I was just about to call you.”
I bawled my eyes out. “I can’t do this, Jordyn. I can’t have this baby. Things are happening way too fast. And Rianne is supposedly in Boston. Not sure why. The SEAL team is looking for her, but they’re not having any luck. Sam told me he loved me. I couldn’t say it back. Hell, I’m losing it.”
“Layla.” The pity in her voice was more heartbreaking than anything. “I need you to breathe. Breathe.”
I shuddered and sniffled, crawling beside the toilet to rest my back against the peach-colored wall. “Sam loves me. I don’t know what to do with that. I’ve killed his kind, yet he loves me, and now, my baby will be born with fangs.” I cried harder. “I’m a fucking mess.”
