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As they discussed the layout of the dam with Link, the enthusiastic buzz in their inflections loosened some of my nerves. It sounded like one question was getting answered. They wanted to stay here.
I’d traveled enough for ten lifetimes and was more than ready to plant my ass on the couch of complacency. The dam offered electricity, plumbing, and fortification. A haven for a pregnant woman.
Shea squeezed past the men and strode through the bathroom, turning the faucets on and off, her huge brown eyes crinkling with awe. “This is the third bathroom I’ve passed on this level alone. They all have hot water. Can you believe it? And there’s a huge storeroom stocked with food near the kitchen.”
“There’s a kitchen?”
“Looks like it’s been recently added.” She lowered her voice. “Dude, did you see the Drone’s bedroom?”
A chill crawled over my scalp. “No. Thank fuck.”
“He’d brought in all kinds of ornate furniture and artwork. The only thing missing was a gold toilet. Seriously, it looked like a museum, except every inch was smothered in spider webs.” A shiver bunched her shoulders.
“Jesus. We need to gut it. Burn everything.”
“Already on it. Paul and Eddie are hauling everything to the surface and looking for anything that might lead us to those other women.” She touched my arm. “Do you mind if Paul, Eddie, and I take that room? I mean, it’s huge and has an attached bathroom, so if you want it—”
“God, no. It’s all yours.” I’d have nightmares sleeping in the Drone’s space.
“I need to tell you something.”
Her serious tone snapped my eyes to hers. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, and a smile stretched across her pretty features. “I’m pregnant.”
My breath caught, and my muscles locked in shock. A good shock. “Holy shit, Shea. I’m so happy for you.”
Her eyes lowered down my body, and her smile fell. I followed her gaze and realized my hand was pressed against my stomach. I dropped my arm. Shit.
“Oh my God,” she whispered and covered her mouth. “Evie? How? The IUD? I saw it myself. Oh God, Evie, is it—”
I pressed my hand over hers against her lips, my eyes darting to the door.
My guardians were still immersed in conversation. It sounded like Link was updating Michio on Arkendale.
“It’s Jesse’s.” I kept my eyes on them as I spoke quietly. “I don’t know what happened to the IUD.” I looked back at her. “Jesse and Roark don’t know yet.”
Tears brimmed her dark eyes, threatening to spill over my hand. I pulled our arms down and held onto her shaking fingers.
“Don’t you fucking cry,” I said, under my breath, glancing at the door. “They’ll come in here, demanding answers.”
“You have to tell them,” she whispered, harshly, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “Shit, girl. It’s going to destroy them.”
“Shhh. I know.” I held her face in my hands, touching our foreheads together. “I’ll tell them tonight.”
She gripped my wrists, her head nodding against mine. “We have the ultrasound machine and we can get more equipment. We can find doctors and specialists, whatever we can do to prevent…” Her voice cracked, and her face crumpled.
What warmed me the most was what she didn’t suggest. When a mother's life was at risk because of pregnancy, abortion was usually the solution. It was a testament to how well she knew me to not bring it up.
I kissed her brow and leaned back. “It’s going to be okay. This is a good thing.”
She stared at me as if I were already lying on my death bed.
“What can I do?” She looked around the bathroom, eying the bucket of shampoo and soap, the three toilets, and the stack of towels on the nearby shelf. “Is there anything you need?”
A pair of comfy pajamas and fuzzy slippers? Good luck finding that. A case of cold Guinness? Oh wait, I couldn’t drink. Oh, ice cream would be good. Right. How about a long night’s sleep wrapped in three pairs of strong arms? Fingers crossed.
I glanced at the hall and back to her. “Can you find the room Elaine was in and gut it, too? Michio can tell you where it is.”
Her brows furrowed. “Elaine? The chick from the mountains?”
“Yeah. She did some really awful things,” I whispered, hardening my expression to let her know I wouldn’t elaborate. “Can you also set up a room for me as far away from that one as possible? One large enough to sleep the four of us?”
“You got it.” She wiped her face and put on her best smile, a gesture I knew she was making for my benefit. “Eddie’s cooking dinner. I’ll have food brought to your new room, okay?”
I squeezed her hand, my chest swelling at the sight of her glowing with health and pregnancy. “Thank you for coming here.”
Her lips compressed, rolling between her teeth as if holding back a cry.
