Chapter 9
Becky scraped her half-eaten plate into the trash.
Okay, that was a lie. She had maybe taken three bites before she had to stop.
Sloan had made her scrambled eggs and toast, which she thought she could eat, but nerves and nausea had other plans.
Not wanting to start throwing up everywhere again, she’d stopped eating, apologizing to Sloan, who looked more worried than pissed.
He had been reaching for her plate when someone knocked on the door.
Fear overwhelmed her so fast she had to grip the edge of the counter. Soon she would know the truth.
“Hey,” Katrina said as she walked into the kitchen.
Becky looked up and knew instantly something had happened. “Have you been crying?”
“That obvious?” Katrina rolled her eyes. “I never could hide it when I cried. My face turns into one big blotchy mess, and my eyes swell up like I’ve got the worst allergies in the Ohio Valley.”
“What happened?” Becky set the plate in the sink and headed toward her. “Are you hurt?”
“No, and I’m fine.” Katrina handed her the bag. “And I’m not answering any questions until you answer mine. Why do you need a pregnancy test, Becky?”
Becky shushed her as her eyes shot to the doorway. Taking the bag, she sat it in the chair and moved toward the door. “Wait a minute.” She walked out of the room and found Sloan and Blaze talking near the fireplace. Both men looked her way. “Hi, Blaze.”
“Hello, Becky.” Blaze smiled at her. “Katrina said you haven’t been feeling well.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine in a few days,” Becky managed to say. “We’re going upstairs. I’ve got some clothes for Katrina to try on before I send them to Goodwill.”
Sloan watched her closely. Too closely. But she kept her attention on Blaze.
“Do you have time for us to do that?” Becky asked, making a mental note to actually send Katrina home with clothes.
“Sure,” Blaze said with a nod.
“Don’t wear yourself out,” Sloan warned softly.
“I won’t.” She smiled, feeling like total shit for lying to him.
To both of them. Since they’d come home yesterday, Sloan hadn’t let her out of his sight.
Once home, she’d showered with his help, then went straight to bed where he held her all night.
He’d gotten up sometime early that morning, and it wasn’t until after noon that she woke and came downstairs to find him working in his office.
Turning, she headed back into the kitchen, grabbed Katrina’s hand and the bag, then headed to their bedroom, shutting the door behind them.
“What’s going on, Becky?” Katrina frowned, her eyes searching Becky’s. “You know you can trust me.”
“I know.” Becky sighed, then sat heavily on the bed, holding the bag against her stomach. “Something happened to me, Katrina. I can feel it.”
“Feel what?” Katrina looked as confused as Becky felt.
There weren’t many people Becky felt she could trust, but next to Sloan, Katrina was one of them.
Well, her son also, but some things you just didn’t discuss with your child, and this was definitely one of them.
She proceeded to tell Katrina everything, from the first time she saw the new doctor up until this very moment.
“And you think you’re pregnant? But how, Becky?” Katrina asked, trying to follow along. Suddenly, she gasped, her hand going to her mouth. “Do you think you were raped while you were under anesthesia?”
The thought had entered Becky’s mind and was still there, but she honestly didn’t believe that was what happened. She felt that she would know if she had been violated in that way...or would she? She was just so confused trying to piece together everything.
“I thought that at first, but I started doing some research on my phone so Sloan wouldn’t see it. God, I hate keeping things from him.” Becky rubbed her tired eyes trying not to cry.
“Why are you?” Katrina frowned, tilting her head.
Becky looked down at the plastic bag that could hold her future and felt tears burn the back of her eyes.
“Sloan can’t get me pregnant.” Her eyes lifted, looking directly at Katrina.
“It’s only natural for him to wonder if I cheated on him, and I can’t bear for him to even think that. I need to know first.”
She had gone through that very thing when she got pregnant with Frankie with her ex.
He had accused her of cheating, and when Frankie was born, he demanded to have a paternity test to prove he was his.
She had been so humiliated and pissed. She wasn’t a cheater, though she couldn’t say the same thing about her ex.
Katrina was silent for a long moment before walking over and sitting beside Becky.
“I get that.” She wrapped an arm around her and gave her a hug.
“But I don’t think Sloan would ever think you cheated on him, Becky.
And neither would anyone else for that matter.
But how else could you be pregnant unless that doctor did the unthinkable. ”
Becky honestly didn’t think Sloan would accuse her of cheating, but wonder.
How could he not? Old fears from a shitty past lingered making her question everything.
And ‘the how’ was something Becky had given a lot of thought to.
There were only two explanations that made any sense, and both terrified her.
One she could live with, even though they were both a shattering violation of her body.
“I had my eggs frozen when Frankie turned five,” Becky said, then shrugged.
“I knew one day I would want another child, hopefully a little girl, but I didn’t want another man after dealing with my ex-husband.
Freezing my eggs was one way I could still have that someday without a man attached.
I never imagined meeting someone like Sloan. ”
“Do you think this doctor used your eggs? But why? How?” Katrina asked, the shock evident on her face.
“I don’t know?” Becky looked down at the bag, then back up to Katrina. “And it’s driving me insane not knowing.”
“You need to tell him, Becky. Give Sloan some credit. No matter what, he loves you.” Katrina hugged her again.
“I will, but I want to know for sure first and—” Becky’s words died off as a memory swarmed through her mind.
“And what?” Katrina’s voice softened as she stared at Becky.
“He doesn’t want kids,” Becky whispered, remembering last Thanksgiving when she’d brought it up and his reaction.
“Yeah, well, a lot of guys say that and then turn around wanting a whole football team. And in Sloan’s case, it would be a whole Warrior clan.” Katrina gave her a sad smile. “Why don’t we first see if we’re worrying for a reason?”
“He’s also a proud man who may not want to raise another man’s child.” Becky shrugged, then wiped a tear from her eye. “And there will be talk. People wondering whose child it is. What happened? Did she cheat, or worse? I can’t put him through that, Katrina. I won’t put him through that.”
“Stop it!” Katrina’s angry voice actually startled Becky. “It’s an innocent, no matter how it happened or by whom, and you know it. That’s what these Warriors do, Becky. They protect the innocent. And I’ll send a thousand fire ants down someone’s pants if they even look at you weird.”
Becky chuckled, even if that was the last thing she wanted to do, then gave Katrina a sideways glance. “You can control ants now?”
“I’m sure if I focus hard enough, I can.” Katrina stood, helping Becky to her feet. “Go take the test, Becky. It’s the only way you are going to know.”
Nodding, Becky started toward the bathroom, then stopped. “What if I am, Katrina? What if I was...what if that doctor...” Becky couldn’t even bring herself to say the words. “How will Sloan look at me? What will he do?”
“He’ll look at you the same way,” Katrina said, but stayed where she was, and Becky was glad for that. If Katrina hugged her again, Becky might not let her go. “And as for what he’ll do? He’ll find that son of a bitch and kill him in ways that would probably scare us. Plain and simple.”
Becky squeezed her eyes shut and nodded, but a sob still escaped. She walked into the en suite bathroom, closed the door behind her, then doubled over, still clutching the bag against her stomach as she silently sobbed.
She really didn’t need the test.
Deep in her soul, Becky already knew she was carrying a child, and it broke her because she knew it couldn’t be Sloan’s.
Sloan watched Becky head upstairs and continued staring after her. The fear in her eyes, the fear she tried so hard to hide from him was fucking destroying him, and he didn’t know how to deal with it. For the first time in his life, he didn’t know what in the fuck to do.
“You good, boss?” Blaze’s voice pulled him back to the present.
“Yeah.” Sloan turned his focus back to Blaze. “What did Katrina mean when she said you’d fill me in?”
“She was at Riverside Pharmacy picking something up for Becky,” Blaze said, his eyes darkening. “Her brother approached her after being warned not to. Fucker obviously likes living dangerously.”
Sloan frowned, but not because of Katrina’s brother. He’d asked Becky earlier if she needed anything, and she’d told him no. Turning his attention back to Blaze, he continued listening in silence while making a mental note to ask Becky about it.
“He told her the Iron Drakes are trying to form again,” Blaze continued not realizing that he had just informed Sloan of something he’d already heard.
“That’s not news.” Sloan glanced toward the stairs. “We’ve been hearing talk on the streets for a while, but nothing has come of it...yet.”
“Yeah, well, from the fear I saw in Katrina’s eyes, this is more than street talk.
She knows this world more than we ever will.
” Blaze said with a curse, running a hand through his hair.
“He told her that if it hasn’t happened already, there will be a price on both their heads.
They’re next in line to take over the Iron Drakes because they’re Samuel Drake’s blood.
Doesn’t matter that the bastard is dead. ”
“Is that all he said?” Sloan asked, watching Blaze closely. He knew all his Warriors almost as well as he knew himself and Blaze on the edge. Yeah, welcome to the fucking club, Sloan snorted to himself. He had been on the edge for months.
“He said he was there to warn her,” Blaze said, his eyes still narrowed in anger.
“You going to kill him for that?” Sloan cocked an eyebrow, watching Blaze closely.
Blaze didn’t answer right away, as if seriously considering it.
“He didn’t hurt her, so maybe he will live.
But he approached her after I warned him not to.
That definitely deserves a brutal ass kicking.
It really fucked with her.” His jaw tightened.
“He also told her he’s joining the Kentucky Dark Guardians. Did you know anything about that?”
“No, but talk to Charger. He knows more than I do with the dealing of the Guardians. He can get the information and let them know what kind of asshole they took on.” Sloan ran a hand over his face.
Jesus, could they not catch a fucking break?
“I’ll have Duncan do some recon and find out who’s trying to bring the Iron Drakes back. ”
“Appreciate that,” Blaze nodded.
“I’m sure you already planned on it, but make sure Katrina isn’t left alone.
If you need time off, let me know. I’ll get your shifts covered.
” Sloan knew they were spread thin as it was, but he now understood what it meant to have a mate.
If they were in danger, then everything else was on hold. “How’s she taking all this?”
“Not good.” Blaze frowned, shaking his head. “Her past really fucks with her.”
“She definitely didn’t have the life someone like her deserves.” Sloan released a tired sigh. “If they’re trying to rebuild, we’ll put a stop to it.”
“Yes, I will,” Blaze replied, his gaze shifting toward the stairs.
Sloan followed his stare. “I have a feeling they’re going to be a while.” He headed toward the kitchen. “Come on. I could use a beer, and I’m sure you could too.”
“Definitely.” Blaze followed him and took the beer Sloan pulled from the refrigerator.
Both men drank in silence, their thoughts on the women who owned their worlds. Blaze knew where his danger was coming from.
Sloan didn’t.
All he had was the fear Becky couldn’t hide and the certainty that someone had put it there. Whoever it was had already made their first and most likely their last mistake by involving his mate.