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Looking at my husband’s desperate face, I answer, “He’ll call you back in a few, Chase.” Disconnecting the call, I sit beside my husband, my gaze locked on his dark eyes. “It’s Esteban, isn’t it?”
Maceo releases a shuddering breath. “Yes.”
I close my eyes. “Tell me.”
Holding each other’s hands, he confesses everything. How Esteban was at our wedding and how it made Maceo feel powerless over the situation. My heart breaks when he expresses his fear of losing family all over again because of a sadistic tyrant hell-bent on playing with his emotions. Vulnerability is not an emotion my husband wears well. The fact he’s telling me any of this is astounding when you know he’s an alpha with an overprotection complex. To admit he’s the one who needs protecting is a profound declaration.
Maceo stares at the floor, his shoulders slumped. “I wanted to tell you so badly, but I was worried.”
“Why would you be worried about telling me? Do you think I’d judge you for being vulnerable with me? Maceo, it’s what I’m here for. We’re each other’s support. You can always come to me.”
He shakes his head. “That’s not it at all. I know I can be honest with you about my feelings, and vice versa. After everything you went through with Jacob and Lorenzo, I didn’t want to tell you and add stress to your pregnancy. The fucker already stole one family from me. I won’t let him steal another. You mean everything to me, Josephine. I wouldn’t survive losing you.
“I know you think you may be pregnant too. I’ve seen the prenatal vitamins in the bathroom. You haven’t touched a drop of alcohol since the toast at our wedding. You’ve been ill in the mornings. And your boobs are bigger—like a fucking cup size—and they’re so damn tender I can’t even lick them without you wincing. All of this made me want to hold off ‘till we were back home near your doctor. I’m not fucking around about stress playing a factor in pregnancy. I was trying to keep all this shit from you and not worry you, and all I accomplished was creating more stress for you.”
“The not knowing was the worst,” I admit. “I understand why you withheld this from me, but I hope you realize it wasn’t right. Look at me. I’m fine. More relieved that you're finally sharing with me. Esteban is a huge concern. I’m not downplaying the severity of the situation, but please keep this in mind moving forward. It’s better to not keep me in the dark. We’re stronger together, Maceo.”
He bobs his head. “Agreed. We’re in this together.”
I squeeze his hand. “I’m not sold on the twin theory, but the pee-stick on the counter will confirm if I am pregnant.”
Maceo freezes, his dark eyebrows jumping. “You finally took a test?”
“Yep,” I say with a smile.
My husband gulps and wrings my shoulders, not painfully, but enough to show me he can barely contain his excitement. “What did it say?”
“I don’t know because I heard your cell buzz and went into battle mode. I never read the results.”
Maceo gnaws his bottom lip, his body vibrating with anticipation. “Can I go check?”
I pat his thigh playfully. “Knock yourself out.”
Unbridled, Maceo races to the bathroom. He returns seconds later with the test in his hands and the biggest fucking smile plastered to his handsome face. “Baby, we’re having babies!”
Pregnant!My heart somersaults. “Stop getting your hopes up for twins. There’s no guarantee there’s over one bun in the oven.”
“We’re having twins,” he boasts confidently. Maceo cups my face and bends to claim my lips with his. It’s heaven every time he does it—I’ll never grow tired of his love and affection. He breaks the kiss, gives me a megawatt smile, and laughs. “We’re going to be parents.”
“We sure are. You made certain of that,” I tease.
His dark eyes roam all over my body hungrily. “You’re going to look sexy, all big and round with my children. Mm-mm-mm! Hot damn.”
My face drops. “Yeah, you’re not scoring yourself any points, hubby. Women don’t like being told they’ll be sexy when they swell like balloons.”
Maceo’s hand slides to the nape of my neck. He leans in and gives another domineering kiss. Things are getting hot and heavy, but before we move on to a very pleasurable activity, I need to make sure there isn’t anything else on his chest you need to get off.
With a regretful sigh, I pull my lips away from his. “Not that I want to stop this foreplay, but if there’s anything else you need to unload, this is the time to do it.”
Maceo groans. “Rain check?”
My hand swats his chest. “No. Get it out now.”
Resigned, he dishes the rest of his knowledge. He tells me about Opal running into her abuser, Chase and Simone’s hookup—which I confessed she told me—and Lucky Luca swimming with the fishes after he revealed Esteban has a safe house in Colorado.
Jesus!How was Maceo able to function keeping all of this to himself?
Concerned for Opal, I cry for a solid ten minutes. She doesn’t deserve this. Maceo said the crew is searching for him, but in the meantime, Opal is living in fear. That shit messes with your head.
