Chapter 25
Two months later
W hile the timing could do with some work, the news that Helen’s pregnant was far from a bad thing.
Sure, becoming parents in our twenties wasn’t on our agendas, but the feelings between us aren’t going anywhere, so why the hell should it matter if we have kids now or in a few years?
And the way she took the news about the Four Points just cemented my belief that she couldn’t be any more perfect.
Keeping the fact that I have a pregnant girlfriend on the down low has been close to impossible.
If not for Seamus and Donna, I doubt we’d have pulled this off for so long.
Keeping her and our child a secret grates on me.
All I want to do is be able to shout it from the rooftops, but at the same time, the last thing I want to do is open up Helen and our unborn child to an attack.
It’s a huge part of why moving her out of that rundown flat and into my penthouse was one of the first things I did.
No one and nothing gets in or out of here without my express permission and knowledge.
Now, as she creeps past the four-month mark, she’s starting to show in a way that drives me crazy with both want and fear.
The time for keeping this to ourselves is fast disappearing, and soon, the choice will be out of our hands.
But for now, I focus on getting her ready and out the door before we’re late.
“Do I look fat in this?” She’s tugging at a purple maxi dress and frowning as it clings to her newly rounded middle.
“Sweetheart, you look as radiant as always. Now, please, we need to get going, or we’ll be late.
” I come up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her neck.
Her hitched breath and bitten of whimper are enough to have me smirking as I make her a deal.
“If you’re a good girl and come with me now, I’ll forgive you for insulting yourself.
That means we can skip the punishment and get right to the fun part later. ”
“Mmm, what if I want a little punishment?” she teases, pressing her ass back into the cradle of my hips.
With a groan, I detach myself from her with a swat to her ass before leading her out of the bedroom and into the lift before she has a chance to delay us any further.
Crowding her against the back wall of the lift, I silence her protests with a kiss, and soon, she’s melting like butter in my hands.
Good. I’ve big plans for after this appointment, which means we don’t have time for any more delays.
We make the drive in comfortable silence but, as we get closer to the clinic, she grows tense, frowning to herself as she looks out the windows.
“What’s put that frown on your pretty face?” I ask, reaching over to lay my hand on her knee.
“Hmm? Oh, nothing. It just hit me. This isn’t just any baby—it’s your heir.
What if it’s a girl?” She worries her bottom lip.
Her words give me pause. My natural instinct is to reassure her, but the truth is, I don’t know what will happen if our child is a girl.
There’s never been a woman at the head of the Points before, but at the same time, I know my men. I know their hearts.
“It’ll be okay, Helen. While it hasn’t happened yet, there’s no rule saying a female can’t be in charge.
Plus, that’s years away from being a worry.
We have time to figure it all out. Together.
” I squeeze her knee in reassurance as we pull into the clinic.
Making my way around to help her out of the car is second nature, and as I guide her inside, I can’t help but note how right it is.
She belongs in my arms, by my side, and in my life.
I can’t believe I ever thought otherwise.
I’d be lost without her sarcasm keeping me on my toes.
As we’re led into the examination room by a friendly nurse, I keep my hand steady on her back before helping her up onto the exam table.
Once she’s settled with a death grip on my hand, the doctor comes in with a warm greeting and gets to work checking over the baby before turning to us with a smile on her face.
“Would Mum and Dad like to know what they’re having? ”
“Absolutely. Please, I can’t handle one more moment not knowing.” Helen laughs, clutching my hand as the doctor takes note of a few things on the screen before pointing out something to us.
“See that? That’s the head, the torso, and that…is a clear indication it’s a little girl.”
A girl. We’re having a little girl. A daughter.
As I stare at the blur on the screen, I already feel her wrapping me around her tiny, invisible finger.
Helen looks equally awed, clutching the printouts in her hand.
She lets me help her into the car, still lost in thought, and we’re already halfway to Southend before she glances up with a curious frown.
“I thought we were headed home.”
“Soon. I wanted to take a walk along the beach with my girls first.”
God, that feels so right to say. Of course, it’s a girl. It could hardly be anything else. I hope she looks just like her mum—or maybe not. I’ll have my work cut out for me, warding off unworthy boys.
With a sharp inhale, she reaches across to thread her fingers through mine on the gearstick as we make our way to the beachfront.
“I hope this isn’t your form of punishment,” she teases as we make our way toward the walkway.
“Of course not. I know your preferred methods of torture. This is just a trip to get some fresh air,” I reassure her. We walk in comfortable silence for a while, until I spy an older couple on a bench. I squeeze her elbow gently to get her to stop before I head over to them.
“Excuse me, sir. You wouldn’t do me a favour and take a picture of us, would you?” I ask.
“Young love. How sweet, Bob. Take the photo for the young man,” the lady prompts, and with a hearty laugh, Bob gets up, following me back to Helen’s side and taking a few pictures before heading back over to his wife and leaving us to look out at the sea.
“I wanted something to commemorate today with.”
“Hmm, yeah? And what makes today so special?” she teases me, leaning up on her tiptoes to place a chaste kiss against my lips. Pulling her in close, I wrap a fist in her hair, tilting her head back as I take her in. She’s been glowing lately—our baby is doing amazing things to her.
As she looks at me, love shining in her eyes, I know then that my Da was right. The love of the right woman is worth the risk, and Helen Montgomery is that woman for me. From the moment I laid eyes on her, this was inevitable.
“Because today we found out we’re having a little girl and.
..” I trail off as I thumb the box in my pocket and take a step back, getting ready to drop to one knee when screams ring out behind us.
The sweet older couple I approached before are being held at knifepoint by two men, and an SUV with blacked out windows pulls up.
“Jonathan, we should leave,” she hisses, tugging at my sleeve. A quick scan of the area tells me the time for making a run for it has vanished, so with a curse, I push her behind me, trying to shield her from sight.
“Just trust me. Stay behind me, okay? And if anything happens to me, run,” I snarl just as the door opens, and out strolls none other than Angus. I’m getting sick and fucking tired of him showing up on my turf uninvited.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing here?” I spit as he strolls towards me like he doesn’t have a worry in the world, like it’s his right to be here. I don’t bloody well think so.
“Awk, well, I asked for your help, and you denied me. So, here I am, taking matters into my own hands. Really, this is all your fault, Johnny boy.” That damn accent makes me want to drive my fist through his skull.
Slowly, so as not to draw his attention, I reach behind me to put one hand on my gun, ready for action.
“Remind me again: what is it you’re looking for?” I try and distract him as I search for an out. He has men stationed all around us. Without risking Helen, there’s no easy way out of this. Fuck.
“Now, don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you. I had a little runaway problem, you’ll remember,” he drawls, daring to get into my personal space. Something to the right of me catches his eye, and he freezes and zeros in on it before a sick smirk takes over his face.
“Well, what do we have here? Come forward, girl. No need to hide.” Fucking hell. No way is he getting anywhere near her. Over my dead fucking body.
“Leave her out of this. She’s just a random civilian.
Now, how about you get in your car, clear your men, and I’ll join you when we can talk some more?
” I try to placate him, and it seems to work.
With a sharp whistle at his men, they scatter.
Once they are all out of sight, he heads back to the car.
Looking back at me, he cocks a dark brow in question.
“I’m coming. Just let me get rid of this girl. We don’t want witnesses, do we?” As he ducks into the car, I turn to face a nearly hyperventilating Helen.
“Sweetheart, listen to me. Ring Donna. Tell her it’s a code red and then get the fuck out of here.
Take the keys and just drive. Don’t stop until Seamus finds you.
I love you, so fucking much. Remember that.
” Without waiting for a response and not daring to hold her the way I want to in fear of who’s watching us, I leave her, saying a prayer I can manage to distract Angus long enough for her to get out of here and out of his line of sight.