Page 93 of The Broken Keys

Thoughts of what Livianna went through when she lost our kid slam into my mind. This is gonna destroy her. The pain of it all hits me with brutal force.

Jaxon turns to me. His eyes are wild, searching my face for answers I don’t wanna give him.

“You knew, Cash.” It’s not a question. It’s an accusation. “That’s what you meant by saying she was in a condition.”

“She said something at the accident site.” My throat istight. I can barely get the words out. “She said, ‘The baby’ before she lost consciousness. I didn’t know if she was delirious or?—”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?” His voice rises, drawing the attention of others in the waiting room. “You knew she was pregnant, and you said nothing?”

“I didn’t know for sure, Jaxon. And I sure as hell didn’t know it was yours until about five minutes ago when you rushed in here like your world was ending.”

“You should’ve said something to me.”

I step closer, my own anger rising to meet his. “How was I supposed to know you were herking? How was I supposed to know you’d been with her for over two years when she was sleeping in my bed?”

That stops him. His expression switches from anger to complete fury.

“Meaning what? What did you do with her, Cash?”

“We’ve been reconnecting and spending time together. She stayed at my place a few nights while you were away on business.” I know I’m making it sound like more happened, but I’m too devastated to care. “So excuse me for not connecting the dots that the man who helped save my life was also the man fucking the woman I love.”

A small group of people sitting off to us quit their discussion and dial in on our argument.

The nurse cuts through our escalating confrontation. “Can we please keep this civilized? This is a hospital.”

Jaxon and I glare at each other for another beat before he turns back to the nurse. “Can I see her?”

“Soon. The doctor wants to finish the evaluation and monitor her closely. She has a severe concussion, and we’re watching for any signs of complications. I’ll come get you when she’s ready for visitors.”

The nurse disappears through the double doors, leaving us standing in the wreckage of everything we thought we knew.

Jaxon sinks into one of the chairs, his head in his hands. “She was pregnant. She was carrying my child, and she was on her way to tell me.”

The agony in his voice cuts through my anger. Regardless of everything else, regardless of who she wants or who she loves more, he just lost something he didn’t even know he had. I’ve been there before and don’t wish it upon him.

“I’m sorry.” The words feel inadequate, but they’re all I have. “I’m sorry you found out this way.”

He doesn’t respond. He just sits there with his future crumbling around him.

I remain standing, my own grief mixing with his in the sterile air of the emergency room. Even though it wasn’t my baby, even though I have no claim to that loss, I’m mourning all over again.

I’m mourning the life that was stolen from me all those years ago, the child that will never exist. And I’m mourning Livianna, the woman who’s gonna wake up and realize everything she thought was real is gone.

“The panic attack this morning.” Jaxon’s voice breaks the silence. “That’s when she found out, wasn’t it?”

I think back to her collapsing on the floor, the terror in her voice, and the way she begged me to help her.

“That’s my guess. The timing fits.”

“And she was coming to tell me.” He raises his head, his eyes red-rimmed. “She was driving to Malibu to tell me about the baby. It has to be the case because if she knew, she would’ve told me when we spoke in my office yesterday.”

“When was she in your office?”

“Right after you left.” He stands and paces before me.

“She said she had a meeting she had forgotten about.” My chest and stomach tighten. “You were the one she had the meeting with. I knew it, but ignored my gut. I let my mate talk me out of it because it was easier that way.”

Jaxon stops and faces me. “Enough about that. I need to know about the accident. What happened?”