Page 163 of Broken Bonds
Can we talk?
Fuck me. Just what I do not need right now.
I walk to our bedroom and shut the door before I call him. “Dude, no disrespect intended, but this afternoon was an entire fucking day and a half, and I’m not leaving home until tomorrow morning unless something’s literally on fire or someone’s actively attacking my pack.”
“That’s okay. We can talk over the phone.”
“Thank the Goddess. What is it?”
“Well, according to Mike, congratulations are in order. And don’t worry, he said he was telling me that as your attorney, and it’s not to be spread around.”
I groan. “Please tell me he’s not spreading it around? I asked him not to.”
“Just to me. And only because he knew about the other part of that equation and wanted to pass along to me immediately that the situation’s been effectively…handled.”
“You could say that it was over-handled, but yeah, it is.”
“Excellent. May I meet you at your office tomorrow to talk? I need to bring someone with me to introduce them to you in person and to walk them through the on-site preparations.”
“Do I get a name?”
“Not over the phone, but no, they aren’t a vampire. And your father told me to pass along that he vouches for them. You are, of course, welcome to call him and confirm for yourself.”
I relax. “Okay. I take it you know where the office is?”
“Yes, and that it’s outside the guardhouse. Which is another discussion we need to have tomorrow, to make arrangements with your security so friendlies can pass without incident.”
“Do you have a time in mind? Because all I want to do is collapse with Shawn and snuggle and sleep late.”
He laughs. “How about ten?”
I relax. “You have a deal. The other person doesn’t know about Shawn or Mal, correct?”
“Correct. They know I am working with you in tying up a loose logistical end, so to speak, but they don’t know regarding what or who it involves.”
“Good. See you then.”
I return to the kitchen, and now Shawn has something cooking in the microwave, too. I kiss the back of his neck. “Mind if I grab another shower?”
He smiles. “Go ahead. You’ve got about twenty minutes.”
“Thanks.” I stand under the water hot as I can stand it with my head resting against the cool tile, eyes closed, and try to breathe.
This isn’t the best time for a baby.
I should be shouting this news from the rooftops, but…I can’t.
Because it makes me, and the pack by default, weaker under these circumstances. A pressure point the wrong person could try to use against me. The safety team was, as per usual, sworn to secrecy—another of the reasons they’re the ones we use, because they’re trusted—so I’m not worried about that.
Not to mention I feel guilty as hell for not feeling…happy. Right now, I should be over-the-moon, screaming it from the rooftops that we’re having a baby.
But all I can think about are the storm shutters now blacking out the interior of the rec hall.
And how I could have easily ripped out my best friend’s throat had any one person made a misstep today in the safety procedures.
So, unfortunately, I’m finding it difficult to feel anything but disgust at myself as I wonder if maybe I should talk to Pops about handing the reins of the pack back to him, at least for the duration.
No, not really, but…
