Chapter 30
I hatedthat I had to go to work today but we had a big meeting with Killian, Xavier, Kaleb and Nate. Titus was meant to be in on it, but he bailed last minute, said he had some appointment that he couldn”t miss but kept very vague.
He was in and out like a bat out of hell, so it was a quick hello and goodbye. I shoot a message over to Arizona, hating that she is there by herself when I should be there holding her hand at least and keeping her calm. She probably isn”t nervous. She used to work in the field, it”s not unfamiliar to her.
I mean, she didn”t want to be an OBYGN, she wanted to be on trauma, God knows why. I”ve watched enough ER programs to be put off for life, but hey, that”s just me.
Kaleb and Killian are talking amongst themselves, Xavier chatting to Nate, so I slide my phone from my pocket and text her.
Me
Hey baby, this meeting is a snore fest. All okay? X
I mean, it wasn”t a lie. I was bored shitless and I have no idea what they”re even talking about. Honestly, I am getting a little sick of hearing the name Wolfe.
Wife
Hey, all okay. Just had bloods to check my hormone levels, then will be ultrasound time xx
Blood test? Fear pricks at my skin and I feel my stomach knot.
Me
Does that mean something is wrong? Your dad has just left, he got out of it. Lucky bastard. Xx
Why am I panicking? Do I have anything to worry about? No, it”s normal right? Fuck, at times like this I would turn to Titus, but I can”t because then he will know that I have in fact got his twenty-one-year-old daughter pregnant. Hopefully. I mean, I can”t just assume that the baby is mine, can I? I can pray, wish and hope. But that’s about it.
Wife
No, they sometimes do it to work out how far along you are. Stop worrying, everything will be okay. Now, go, enjoy your meeting and I”ll call you when I am out xx
She knows me too well. I was worrying, still am. No point lying.
Me: okay wife, love you xo. (scrap that)
Me
okay wife, xo.
Placing my phone screen down, I feel eyes burning into me.
“Back with us?” Kaleb furrows his brows and I’m not going to lie, it fucked me off.
“You finished putting people to sleep?” I crack my fingers and lean back. Not even sure why I am here. I”m just the accountant.
I hear Xavier chuckle, his hands in his lap, fingers locked together.
I liked Xavier. My kind of guy. Sure, he is only tolerating this bullshit because of Titus.
“As I was saying, Wolfe was in Vegas a couple of weekends ago.”
That has my ears pricking and me sitting up tall in my seat.
“What?”
“You heard me; now, we have no idea why he was in Vegas, just know he was. We have no idea what his game is, we know he wants blood and for some reason he is infatuated with Amora.”
What the fuck was that weasel cunt doing in Vegas?
“He is up to something; he is a clever man. I am hoping to have a meeting with his brother Hunter soon from prison. Was hoping he wouldn”t take the fall but...” Xavier pauses and licks his lips, “as long as Amora, Royal and the rest of the girls have eyes on them at all times then they”ll be okay. There is something about Wolfe Knight that doesn”t sit right with me, and the fact that we know that he has been in New York and now Vegas... well, seems a little coincidental don”t you think?”
I don”t know why but it freaks me out. What if he turns his attention to Ari? What if he wants to get back at Titus and he would by not only taking down Amora, but Ari too?
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“What?” I see Nate turn his head to face me, Kaleb”s eyes burning into mine.
“What if Wolfe is trying to get to Arizona?” saying it out loud makes me feel like it”s a stupid idea, but it”s not. I know it”s not.
“Sorry?” Nate shakes his head as if he didn”t hear me, not quite sure if it was a ”sorry, fuck how didn”t I think of that’, ”sorry, I didn”t hear you’, or it could have been a ”sorry, you”re out of your mind’. Either way, I find myself explaining.
“What if he is blindsiding us? Thinking he is going for Amora... she”s the easy target...” I pause when I hear Xavier suck in a breath. “Sorry man, just stating the facts,” he gives a tight shrug of his shoulders before I continue, “but Arizona is as much of a target as Amora is. Ari is connected to Titus and Amora in Wolfe’s eyes. He knows if he gets to Ari...”
“He gets to Amora, Titus, me...“ Xavier pales for just a second, his hand stroking over his beard.
“Bingo,” I slam my hands down on the table making Nate jump though didn”t mean too. Just always wanted to do it I suppose.
“Well fuck,” Killian whistles.
“Where is Ari now?” Kaleb asks.
“Home,” I lie, I do need to tell him though. It”s eating away at me.
“Go home, don”t leave her side. Titus is with Amora; I’ll get to Connie and Killian to Reese.”
“Shall I just keep down the fort then?” Nate says and I don”t miss the sarcasm that drips from his tongue.
“Yeah, better do that buddy,” I stand, patting him on the back. “I”m just going to finish up this month’s books and then I’ll head home,” I talk to the room before swiping my phone from the table and walking into my office, slamming the door as I do. Oops.
I blast through what I needed to do in about half an hour, a little longer than what I wanted but isn”t that always the way with accounts. Pushing up, I lock my computer. Opening my phone, my brows pinch when I see that she hasn”t text me. I open the cam app and search her name, it”s not there. She deleted it. What?
I close the app and reopen it again, but she isn”t there. The fuck? It”s not like I can ask her about it, she would go mad if she knew that I knew about her cam job. It”s bad enough I know she works in Prestige.
Skimming my hand down the side of my hair, I sigh when I see Kaleb walk through the door.
“What”s eating you?” he asks.
“Not a lot, just about to head out,” and I watch as he slowly closes the door.
“Is everything okay? I know you”ve got a lot going on, but we haven”t spoken properly in what feels like forever.”
I drop my head and a pang of guilt bolts through me.
“Why don”t you and Connie come for dinner tomorrow? I”m sure Arizona would like that. She has been feeling a little down I think.” I mean, I don”t think she has but I know she would be happy to see Connie, so maybe me throwing that in there might help.
“Okay, sounds good.” Kaleb steps back, placing his hand on the handle and pushing it gently but not opening the door. “Everything is alright though yeah?” he checks again, and I give him a heavy nod.
“Everything is perfect,” I force a smile as I pick my briefcase up off the floor and walk towards him. He gives me a pat on the back and a squeeze on the shoulder before opening my office door and following me out towards the elevator. “Let me know when you”re home with Connie, same goes for you, Killian. Let me know when you”re home and know the girls are okay.”
They all mutter something in the way of a ”yeah we will” and then I turn to look at Nate. “You okay?”
“Yup,” he doesn”t bring his eyes to meet mine, just focuses on the computer.
“You sulking?”
He snaps his head up. “Go home.”
I let out a soft chuckle and step into the elevator. Time to get home.
Walking through the door a little cautiously, I find the house is quiet. Too quiet. Placing my briefcase onto the floor beneath me.
“Baby?” I call out and I see her at the top of the stairs, her eyes on mine and I cannot hide the relief that swarms me when I see that she is here and safe. I”m sure worry is etched all over my face. She runs to me, my arms enveloping her and folding her against my chest. I needed her close. I wanted her to hear the sound of my heart racing beneath my skin as her head rests on me. “Are you okay? I never heard from you after your appointment.” It”s not a complete lie, I was more concerned about this Wolfe thing and annoyingly the whole drive home I was doubting myself.
“I”m so sorry,” she whispered as she tightened her grip around my body.
“Is everything okay Ari?” I ask her, she doesn”t seem okay. Her head lifts from my chest and her eyes find mine, blinking for a moment as she just looks at me.
She nods slowly, and I don”t miss the tears pricking in her beautiful blue eyes. That breaks my heart. And then worry floods me once more that something may have happened that she is keeping from me. Maybe she had bad news and didn”t want to tell me over the phone, and suddenly, everything that I was worrying about before is replaced with fear.
“Let me show you,” she whispers, but her voice is so quiet. She pulls away from me and I instantly miss her. She steps back, reaching for her bag off the side table and pulls out a black and white square bit of photo paper. Her fingers find mine, linking our fingers and entwining them together. She leads me towards the living room and she ushers me to sit down. Shit, this must be bad. Maybe she knows that the baby isn”t mine? Doesn”t matter if it”s not. There is no way in hell I am letting her out of my grasp. She stays standing, fingers pinching the edge of the paper and I look at her confused, brows furrowed, and I allow my eyes to settle on hers, bouncing back and forth with anticipation as I wait.
She hands me the ultrasound and my hand reaches out, my fingers gently taking the corner of the picture and I let my eyes cast down and I study it. It takes me a minute or two to realize what I am looking out. My once creased brow line is now smoothed out, eyes widening when I look up at her. My wife.
“Twins?” I blink at her as if in disbelief and her eyes are streaming, nose running as tears roll down her pretty pink cheeks. She nods her head yes, hands clasped together and pressed to her full lips as if she is sending a prayer up to the heavens. I stand slowly, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around her waist, lifting her feet off the floor, and I bury my face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent and I feel my emotions consume me as I shudder against her.
I”m crying. There is no doubt in my mind that these are tears of sadness, I am overjoyed and so excited for the next chapter in our lives.
“Baby this is...” I whisper, placing her down gently and pressing my forehead against hers.
“Scary,” she murmurs, and I can see she is scared. Can feel it too.
“It”s amazing,” I correct her, my lips pressing against hers and I feel my heart race in my chest, skipping beats as it does.
“They”re identical,” she tells me, and I ignore the way I feel a searing pain through me, knowing full well that these won”t be genetic and another indication that this does not help whether I am the father or not. I stiffen against her, but only slightly so I know she would have missed it, and a smile graces my face as I focus on her and only her.
“Ari,” my tone is thick, and I feel like I am explaining something that doesn”t need to be explained, “these babies are mine, blood or not. You”re mine, this, us... we”re a thing. It”s real. You”re my wife and I am your husband. I know you probably think I won”t love these babies if they aren”t mine but that”s where you”re wrong. I will love them with all I have, I love you with all I have...” her mouth pops open ever so quickly before she closes it and I realize why.
It”s because I have finally said those three words, those eight letters out loud instead of thinking them in my head.
“I do Ari, I love you.”