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I can’t help the laugh escaping my mouth. “We need to tell them first.”
Sawyer groans deep in his throat. “About that, Hayley.”
“Don’t even, Sawyer. Give her some time to enjoy this moment.” Knox cuts off Sawyer and turns to me with a smile. “We will shout it to the world soon enough, my beautiful vixen.”
Sawyer’s face softens. “You’re absolutely right. I’m sorry. I’m just...never mind. I’m so happy. Look at that cute little monster. I think it looks like you, Knox. Hopefully it turns out to be Hayley’s mini-me.”
Knox play-growls and reaches over, flicking Sawyer. “Better me than your giant ass. I’m sure Hayley would prefer not to deliver a twenty-pound baby.”
My eyes widen at the thought.
“Shut the fuck up. You’re going to scare our girl.” Monroe materializes behind Knox and shakes him by the shoulders.
“Yeah, I was only tenish.” Sawyer crinkles his nose, his admission not helping.
Cooper quietly slides his fingers through mine and squeezes my hand. “You’re strong enough to take on anything, no matter what. Look at that amazing image. I never knew that I could love someone I’ve never met. Everything’s going to be fine. I’m here for you when they get too rowdy.”
I open my arms and hug Cooper, inhaling a deep breath of his scent and capturing his tranquility. “It might be me who needs the taming. I feel more out of control than ever.”
“Come on, little bird. I love the hell out of your feral side. It’s hot. The way you manhandled that fucker and put him in his place...you accomplished more than we could’ve. You alone had the fuckers squealing. They gave us a location within the city. We’re going to head out there soon.” Monroe rubs his hands together. “Do you want to come?”
I smooth my hand over my face, pushing my hair away. The thought of leaving the hotel both excites and scares me. It’s been a while. I’m used to being inside, but the last time I got to go out...I wish I could just walk freely.
“We’re heading out during first light. That way, we don’t have so many Strip dwellers to deal with. Not that they will be a problem. I’ll just sic my beautiful beast of a woman on them.” Monroe grins wider, clicking out his fangs.
“Always encouraging her.” Sawyer punches forward and flexes his hands, cording the muscles in his arms. “You know I don’t want her to get within a foot of some bastard. That’s our job.”
“You’re being overprotective. You saw that crazy ass smile on her face when she punished the renegade donor. I thought she might’ve turned into a vampire completely except she had no fangs. I am a bit sad that you fell through and didn’t let me lick the blood off you, though.” Monroe snaps his teeth at me. “Next time.”
“I don’t know if there will be a next time. I know that you have fun with that shit, but I’m starting to realize that it’s definitely better to let you handle it. I felt as if I would lose complete control, and it scared me. I was afraid that I would hurt you. I was afraid that you realized what a predator I am”
“A predator? Not to me. You could jump on me, bite my neck, and drain me dry, and I’d be a happy man. Especially because you enjoy the hell out of it. Grinding on me. Getting all horny and shit. Damn. Come here, little bird. I need about an hour.” Monroe tries to snatch me from the bed, but Knox blocks him and Cooper scoops me up instead.
He plays keep away, cradling me in his arms while he removes the band from my stomach and cuts off the projection. I laugh and bury my face in his neck, kissing his skin and just enjoying his closeness. With our playfulness, things don’t seem so heavy. It feels as if we can take on anything.
“Don’t let him get started. You saw the message. We need to figure out what we’re going to do.” Sawyer gets between Monroe and Knox, the two of them ready to break out into a fight to see who can get me from Cooper first.
I furrow my brows and frown. “What message?” I wonder if it’s about the notification Knox received on his com device.
The four of them sober up, their excitement diminishing with my question. My heart raps in my chest, and my nerves bunch my stomach. They don’t even have to say anything for me to know that something is wrong. They’re trying to prolong this moment so they didn’t have to tell me or deal with it, but now that I bring it up, I know it’s something that I might not like.
“Was it from Alexander? Is everything okay?” Dozens of thoughts whirl through my mind as I think of all the bad things that could be in a simple message.
“Aris wouldn’t dare. If he even tries to get within a foot of you, I’m taking his fucking head. He is going to pay for what he did to you, and we plan to handle that damn vampire health keeper from Esor.” Sawyer straightens his back, giving me his attention. “We received a message from the leadership, inviting us to a meeting. They realize just how screwed they are, and I’m nearly certain they’re going to try to negotiate a deal to get everyone to calm down.”
Negotiate a deal? That’s not happening. I can already see it on their faces.
“Which means they know they are about to lose power over everyone. This was what we’ve been waiting for.” Monroe cracks his knuckles, his face lighting up with his excitement and need for distraction. But his kind of distraction will lead to rebuilding things. He breaks them to help create them into something far better than what they were.
“He’s right. The leadership is sweating. It won’t be long.” Cooper kisses the side of my throat, snuggling his face into my skin.
“And we’re going to take advantage of it. This is it for the leaders. Their reign is over. Ours is about to begin.”
I believe him. I believe all of them without a doubt.
They will make it happen.
They have to. With the confirmation of my pregnancy, we don’t have a choice. We have to do it for our baby. For our family.
