Chapter Thirty-Six
Parker
She walks out of the doctor’s office, Damon behind her, as she wipes away a few tears.
It’s the second time we’ve been here. The first time was alone, and she just got her labs done.
This time, Damon met us here to go over everything with Sabrina with her doctor.
Before reaching me, Damon stops her with a hand on her shoulder.
Ever the gentleman, he helps her into her coat before getting into his.
The words they exchange are low, so I can't hear them. But then she smiles at me while she reaches to hug him. The kind of hug that’s more fatherly than friend, and ends with Damon awkwardly and robotically patting her on the back.
They walk toward me again and Damon dips his chin. “Parker.”
“Damon,” I mimic.
“I’ll see you both later.” He raises his brows in Sabrina’s direction. “Magnesium, please. It’ll help with the cramps.”
Sabrina barely gets a nod in before Damon is turning away and exiting the building, where we follow after I get my coat back on. He’s gone by the time we make our exit. I help Bri get into the SUV and put her seatbelt on her, dropping a swift kiss to her lips.
It’s quiet for a bit, but I have to break the silence. “Do you want to tell me what all that was about?”
“I have to sort myself.”
“Come again?”
She sighs deeply and stares out of the window as we pass by all the little shops and twiddles her thumbs, rotating them backwards then forwards. “I thought I was pregnant.”
I step on the brake so fast the tires squeal. The cars behind me honk, but I look right at her, unbothered. “What?”
“When we were in Wales, I thought I was pregnant.” She explains all of the symptoms she was experiencing.
“Damon believed my symptoms to be psychosomatic. He made an appointment for me last week to get my labs done, which also concluded I was indeed not pregnant. While I was here, I got my implant removed. But, as luck would turn out, he was right. My cortisol levels are very high. I’m to come back in two weeks and get more lab work done because high stress levels could also cause hormone disruption and even worse—infertility in women,” she says with a soft sob, then shakes her head with a bitter laugh.
“I don’t understand how women get the shit end of every stick and all men get are useless nipples and the audacity tucked behind their prostate! Or their balls, I’m still unsure.”
I roll my lips inward, trying really hard not to laugh. “Useless nipples, huh?”
“Ugh!” She sniffles. “Completely and utterly useless. Pun intended.” She crosses her arms over her chest and huffs out a laugh, groaning with a shake of her head.
“I’ve always wanted a family. Maybe that isn’t feminist, or it sets me back a few decades, but I had my career.
Though finding a new one. Money, I have.
I have two partners—albeit cockwombles at times—but incredible nonetheless.
Why can’t I be a mum, too?” She sniffles again, tears streaming down her face.
“I would be a great mum,” she whispers barely loud enough for me to hear.
“I would love my children with all that I am. Bake them cookies and cupcakes for school functions and…” Another sniffle…
“And I’m a twat because my best friend is pregnant, and as happy as I am for her, I can’t look at her.
I can’t look at her because despite everything she went through, it almost feels like her life is so easy compared to mine.
And that is soooo fucked up! I hear the words leave my mouth and I hear how fucked up it is.
It is asinine to compare us, but God, even her wedding was beautiful and simple.
Mine was extravagant—to the fucking nines, but behind the veil it was a nightmare.
” She sighs again. “I know how hard she had to work to get to where she is now. I’m not daft nor blind.
I suppose I just… I suppose I just thought that maybe this one time something might go right for me.
” She fiddles with the hem of her coat again.
“Bri—”
“Which is why I have to sort myself out, because she is still blessing me by making me an auntie. She still loves me despite it all. Despite having given up on her when she never once gave up on me. Charlie will never make me an aunt, and even if Alice were not my sister but Charlie’s, it feels like Kane took that possibility away from me, too, and so I have to sort myself out.
Because two truths can live in the same breath.
I am allowed to be happy for my best friend, and I am allowed to wish it upon myself and be a little jealous, right? ”
When we cruise around Central Park, I find an open space and park there, leaving the engine on so it stays warm.
I look over at the love of my life, looking for something to wipe her nose with.
I reach into her giant purse and grab the little pack of tissues she carries at all times but forgets about.
“I think everything you’re feeling is valid. ”
“Thank you,” she pouts, then blows her nose.
“Christ, baby, how have you not imploded?”
Sabrina chuckles, but it’s hollow. “I am so angry all the time, Parker. All the time. And I will die before I ever allow myself to become a bitter, manipulative, overlording twat like my grandmother. Erhm… Charlie’s grandmother. But she was a hag just the same. May she rest in peace.”
“Have you told Maksim you got your implant removed?”
“Have you told Maksim you have an appointment to get your balls working again?”
“Touché… but I’ve had this appointment for a while. He knows I went for a consultation before everything happened but doesn’t know about… the appointment.”
“Seems we’re all sorting ourselves, then.”
I grunt before asking, “How is he?”
She shakes her head. “He won’t back down from the fight on New Year’s, and Niko isn’t speaking to him. Spends all his free time in Boston.”
“Rumor is he’s in love.”
Sabrina’s brows shoot up. “Really?”
I make a noncommittal hum.
“Incredible. Another gangster has fallen in love.”
I grin at her smirk.
“I hope she gives him hell… but I also hope she knows he’s worth whatever they’re about to go through. Believe it or not, I quite like Niko. I thought he would’ve made a great addition to Raven’s little cube. Don’t ever let the boys know I said that, though. They’ll ground me or… something.”
I take her hand in mine and bring it to my lips. “I keep all your secrets safe, baby.”
She lets her head rest against the seat and she peeks over at me, green eyes lime in the rays of the sun. “I adore every breath you take, Parker Savage Hayes. You have held me captive in a cruel cage for a lengthy while… until I realized it was your sternum.”
“How do you like your cage now, babydoll?”
“Seems I made perch and made it my home.”
I grin over at her and rub my thumb over the smooth skin of her hand. “Good. ‘Cause I’m never letting you out.”
She hums happily and pulls my hand to her lips to kiss, setting it back on the center console. Her eyes go wide and then she gasps, sitting up in her seat. “Can we get burgers? Oh! And those big crunchy steak fries?”
The grin I had on my face returns, and I let out a soft laugh, happy as fuck she has an appetite today. “Abso-fucking-lutely, baby. Let’s go.” I put the SUV in Reverse and make sure I get my girl safely to her favorite burger spot.
“UGH! FUCK!”
“No, wife, you have a little more. We both know you can do it; you’re our gorgeous little slut after all. There. Relax your throat…”
“Holy Jesus fuckin’ Mary and Joseph, Sabrina.
” I gasp as Maksim has her take me to the lowest barbell on my dick, nose touching my abs.
The smile on Maksim’s face is sinister, almost cruel, as he pounds into her from behind, both of her hands tied behind her back.
If she had mascara on, her face would be covered in black streaks from how many tears are sliding out of her eyes and down her face.
“Maks, take it easy, man, fuck.”
I take hold of Sabrina's hair and let her breathe. She comes up gasping, but Maksim doesn’t relent in his abusing thrusts.
“Do it, Parker,” she commands me with an abused rasp, green eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“Sabrina—”
“More.” There’s a determination in her eyes I haven't seen since Halloween night. Ugh, fuck, they’re gonna be the death of me, I just know it. “I can take what he gives me,” she whispers brokenly. “Please.” And suddenly I don’t think the tears are from gagging on my dick.
I lose my erection instantaneously and step away.
“Maksim.” I call out his name, but his eyes are glazed over, and he’s unresponsive, just pounding away at Sabrina, sweat dripping like he’s just going through the motions.
“Hey!” When he doesn’t respond a second time, I sure as shit wind my arm back and throw a punch straight to his throat.
“Parker, don’t!”
With a gag, he lets go of Sabrina’s hips and steps back, clutching at his neck. “What the fuck?” he gasps, charging toward me and I hold up my hand.
“If you think I’m afraid to wrestle a man naked, you’re dead wrong, motherfucker. I’m a marine. I’ve done way worse for a lot less. Now, I don’t know what the fuck you’re trying to prove, but you’re fucking hurting her.”
His brows knit together in confusion, eyes bouncing between me and Sabrina on the floor, visibly shaking. “What?”
“Parker, don’t. You don’t understand.”
“Oh trust me, babydoll, I understand plenty. Now this was all good and fun ‘til I looked this motherfucker in the face. He’s zoned out, and you got tears in your eyes that ain’t from deep-throating me.
” I bend at the waist, squat down, hook my arm under Sabrina’s legs and one between her back and her arms. I pick her up bridal-style.
“I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with you right now, Maks, but you need to make an appointment with Damon. Get your motherfucking head checked.”
Maks doesn’t say anything or try to grab at Sabrina.
“Parker! Put me down!”