28. Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Seven
Kayleigh
T he last three months have been a whirlwind. I had to stay on bedrest for four weeks instead of the two or three that the doctor originally said. I feel like the doctor said that more to make Erik happy.
I have been still taking my courses, but thankfully it is now in person. Erik tried to have me take them online, but I wasn’t budging. I was not having him lock me up like some delicate princess. If I gave in now, it would only set how mine and our child’s future would go, and that’s so not fucking happening.
I did have to promise to never take off the beautiful emerald clover necklace that Erik gave me. He had it rigged up like a life alert, but instead of the alert going to an emergency operator, it goes to Erik and my security detail. It gives him peace of mind and, honestly, me too. I can hit a button on the side and it will send an alert and my location. Erik is overbearing, but wearing this security device has made me feel safer. He said he was going to have one made for our baby too.
Anyway, I’m excited as I bounce on my feet waiting for Mama and Daid to get to the private airport. They are coming to visit for a week. Yes, I talk to them every day, but it is not the same.
“Relax, they will be here soon,” Erik says. His hand is wrapped around my back and side. I can feel his thumb stroking the side of my stomach. I now have a small bump, and we both love rubbing it and talking to our baby.
I hear their plane and watch as it slowly descends. I wait for them to exit before I rush over, and Erik doesn’t bother to hold me back.
“Mama, Daid.”
“Oh, my stór beag,” Dad coos as he pulls me into his arms. I hold on so tight, just breathing in the familiar cologne. After a moment he pulls back and scans me from head to toe.
“Look at that, Gracie. She has a small bump,” he says as he lifts his hand toward it, but then he pauses. I grab his hand and lay it over my belly, and the baby starts to move.
“Mama, do you want to feel too?”
“I would love to if you’re comfortable with it.” I grab her hand and lay it next to Daid’s I watch as they both smile feeling the baby move.
“The baby sure is very active, aren’t they?”
“Yes, but also stubborn, and we haven’t been able to tell what the gender is. Maybe I will get lucky when I go again in a couple days.”
“And how are both of you? Healthy?” Mama asks. She and Daid move their hands when the baby decides it has done enough moving for their grandparents.
“We are both happy, but they are keeping a close eye on us.” I feel Erik wrap his arm around my waist and kiss my hair.
“Erik,” Daid states while extending his hand.
“Peter, Grace. How was your flight?” he asks while shaking their hands.
“It was uneventful,” Dad answers. Erik leads us to the SUVs, and within a few minutes we are all walking inside Erik’s home.
“You have a lovely home,” Mama says.
“Thank you, Grace. I will have one of the maids show you to your room so you can relax before we have dinner.”
“Thank you, Erik,” Mama says. She gives me a hug and Daid escorts her as they follow the maid.
“And you need to lay down. You already had classes this morning and then there’s the excitement of your parents’ arrival.”
“I know but…”
“But nothing.”
I open my mouth again, but he ignores me and gently pushes me down on my back on the bed. I decide against fighting him. My parents don’t need to see how Erik carries me everywhere when I don’t agree with him. Not that I don’t love it, and I know he does too. Who wouldn’t want a sexy as fuck Scottish man who has a bedroom voice that could melt the panties off you to carry them to the bedroom and do unspeakable things that make you forget your name and the ability to walk?
Erik
After leaving Kayleigh to take a nap, I decide to go work in my office. These days I work mostly from home unless I absolutely need to go into the office. If I have to go in, I either buff up Kayleigh’s security at home or bring her with me and buff up her security anyway. She always thinks I’m over-the-top protective, and I might be. But there is no way I’m risking her.
I look at my numbers for my hotels and they seem off. I start going through them, and it takes me a few hours, but I find that one of my more successful hotels is skimming money from me.
I found the receipts from the alcohol orders and saw that each order, an additional few hundred dollars was being added to the receipts. Now who is taking it? The vender or one of my employees? I message Grant and have him look to see where my money is going.
Knock. Knock.
“Come in.”
Peter walks through the door and sits down in front of my desk. I put my papers aside and gave him my attention.
“What can I do for you, Peter?”
“I want to know how she really is.”
I sigh. “Health wise, she is okay. I’m trying to keep her as stress free as possible but the chance of her not being able to go full term has her stressed. She wants this baby; we both do.”
“How big of a risk is she to deliver early?”
“Unfortunately, we won’t know until she gets closer to her due date.”
“Okay. Is there anything we can do to help?”
“Just to help keep her as stress free as possible. I do have a request though.”
“Okay…”
“I need to know about any enemies you have that could possibly come after her. She is worried that even after the baby is born, it will have a target on its head from not only my enemies but yours as well.”
He nods. “I can give you all that and have Cillian keep you updated as things change.”
“Thank you. I need to be able to keep her safe, and I can’t do that if I don’t have all the information.”
“But there is another reason I came in and talked to you. Cillian got a phone call from the Blakewells.”
I groan. “What do they want now?”
“Kayleigh.”
“Excuse me? And they want what with her?” I ask, gripping onto the edge of my desk.
“They approached him about an arranged marriage.”
“No.”
“I know she is carrying your baby.”
“No one is marrying her but me.”
“And if she doesn’t want to?”
“Then I will keep asking her until I wear her down.”
“You are a stubborn bastard, but I won’t let anyone force her into a marriage. I don’t regret marrying Grace, but I don’t want her marriage to be like how mine was in the beginning.”
“I won’t force her, but she is mine, and it will be over my dead body that she marries anyone else. Let’s settle this now.”
I pick up my phone and call Archibald Blakewell.
Archibald: Hello, Erik.
Erik: I’m letting you know your offer to marry Kayleigh O’Sullivan is never going to happen.
Archibald: She wouldn’t be marrying me; it would be to my younger brother Lawrence.
Erik: The answer is still no.
Archibald: And why are you telling me this and not her brother or father?
Erik: She is mine.
Archibald: She is not wearing a ring and doesn’t have your last name.
Erik: Doesn’t matter, all you need to know is that she is mine.
Archibald: If she isn’t married soon, she will be up for grabs, and I have no issue taking what I want.
Erik: Come after her, and I promise I will kill you and your entire family.
Archibald: You have heard my warning.
He hangs up, and I slam my phone on my desk. “Mac màthar a' ghalla,”
“Guessing he wouldn’t see reason?” Peter asks.
“Does he ever?”
“No. What did he say?”
“If she isn’t married soon, he will come take her,” I growl.
Peter shakes his head. “I will kill him if he tries.”
I nod, she has been through enough.
“How do I tell her this without stressing her out?”
“Be honest with her and give her the option.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to coerce her.”
“Unfortunately, we might not have another choice. Between you and Lawrence, at least I know with you, she will be treated exactly as she should be and I won’t have to worry about you abusing her.”
“Fuck no,” I bark at him. Just the thought of someone hurting her makes me violent.
“And that is why I’m not taking her back to Ireland with me.”
“You wouldn’t make it one step out the door,” I snarl.
He chuckles as he stands. “I will see you at dinner. I’m going to check on Grace.”
“Is she okay? She seemed a bit off.”
“She will be.”
I nod but am not convinced by his tone. I will let it go for now, but if there is something I can do for them, I will.