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By two different fathers.
I was already doing the calculations in my head, already resurrecting the three months before, when it had just been Colt…and a lot of London. My breath caught, and the room tilted. A whole lot of London. Twelve weeks ago, it was us…all the time.
“London,” I whispered.
“I’m the father,” he murmured, sounding a bit dazed.
THIRTY-FOUR
London
The tiny thrumming heartbeat filled the speakers. I felt that flutter…all the way to the center of my chest. “I’m the father.”
“You’re the father,” Vivienne whispered, her eyes wide.
My knees trembled. I clutched hold of the side of the bed, staring at the tiny black and white image moving on the screen. I wanted to be happy…I was desperate to be happy. I was, for a fleeting second, until Vivienne turned her head and looked away.
“What is it?” She just shook her head, but I saw the tremble of her chin. “Hey.” I reached around and brushed my finger along her jaw, gently turning her back toward me.
There was a shake of her head, but there were tears in her eyes, shimmering against the brown. I tried to stop from sounding desperate as I urged. “Talk to me.”
“What if it…” she started, then swallowed once, twice. That thick huskiness made my chest hurt. “What if it’s a girl? What if they’re both girls? How can we bring our daughter into this world when there’s…when there’s…”
When there are men like Haelstrom Hale.
That’s what she meant.
Soft curls, a button nose. The same splattering of freckles as her mom. But dark, intense eyes…ones that looked exactly like mine. That’s all I could see. Jesus fucking Christ. Our daughter.
I tilted her shimmering gaze to mine, swallowing my rage until my chest was a wall of damn fire. “That’s for me to worry about, pet. I promise you, on my goddamn life I will never let anything or anyone hurt you or our children, son or daughter. Your safety and well-being are my only purpose now and forever.”
There was that swallow again.
I pulled her into my arms, pressing her head against my chest.
It was pure self-preservation.
Because I couldn’t let her see the savagery I felt inside.
My body quaked with the need for blood.
Because her fears were real. Very fucking real. Hale was out there. I knew that with every fiber of my soul. He was plotting, scheming, watching my every goddamn move. My gaze shifted to the monitor and the still image of the two little blips on the screen.
He was just waiting for an opportunity, and right now I was looking at two.
Two babies.
Two of our babies.
Haunted eyes, gaunt cheeks. A belly that was far too big for her frame. The image of Ryth blazed in my mind. She was worn down by all the running, a shell of herself. I couldn’t let Vivienne end up like Ryth. I refused to allow that. Always in fear. Always waiting for the hand around your mouth and the needle in your neck. Always waiting for men like Hale to take your entire world from you. Always vulnerable.
The sons and I wouldn’t let that happen.
We’d find Hale.
We’d find them all.
And tear the world apart to do it if necessary.
