Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
JACE
Here comes the darkness. The closing of the trunk. The fury that frees the beast.
In Vivian’s hands are a phone and a pregnancy test. In her eyes are rageful tears. In her face, I see my future. Her body, mine, no matter what she’s about to tell me. And her heart? I’m about to kill for it, I know.
“He did this.”
Her hand shakes, lifting the scumbro’s phone. Punk-ass had a custom phone case made with his face on it.
But she’s showing me the screen, an image that raises the hairs on my neck, a growl crawling out of my soul, freeing the demons. They charge through my bloodstream, depravity and destruction, claiming my mind. Kill. Kill. Kill.
It’s that fucker with his hands on my woman. It’s that pathetic piece of shit lying on a bed with her, taking their picture. She’s an angel in a white sundress, clearly passed out cold, and he’s a joke in a pink golf polo and lime-green pants with bananas on them.
He’s holding her.
He’s burying his scraggily porno mustache in her neck.
His lips on her skin.
My skin.
My woman.
When it comes to her, I don’t need logic. It’s pure love that’ll make me slice, smash, and slay anything that touches her.
Anything that makes her cry like this.
“Leave us!” I bark at the others. Lacing my hand through Vivian’s hair, I pull her head to my chest, holding her there while I growl at my brothers, catching Axel’s eye. “I want every king downstairs waiting. Now!”
He nods.
Quickly, Mom ushers them and Sasha out of her office. Glancing back, she looks at me holding Vivian. Noting the phone. The pregnancy test. The tears Vivian’s silently soaking into my shirt.
Mom lifts her chin. “Sometimes you don’t forgive, Jasha; you avenge.”
Quietly, she closes the door behind her.
And I fall to my knees before Vivian. Holding her hips. Kissing her belly. Cherishing something so small, it’s my entire world now. “This is mine; do you understand?”
I gaze up at her, and she nods, tears streaming down her cheeks, leaving little wet drops on her soft white T-shirt dress.
“Say it, baby.” I squeeze her hips, her power, her promise. “Say, no matter what, you’re mine. Both of you.”
“Yes.” Her fingers slide through my hair, grabbing, holding on, never letting go. “Yes, I’m yours.”
Softly, I nuzzle my forehead into a bump that’s not there yet. A dream I’ve dared to wish with her. A baby that’s mine. I’m the man who’ll show this child how to love because I love this woman more than my life.
She’s my family. My future. My light.
“But Jace.” She gasps, fighting sobs. “What if it—”
“There’s no if with you and me, Viv.” I grip her harder, not hurting—vowing.
“We can say we were friends. We can say we were waiting. We can say we went slow or fast, but we’re lying to ourselves because it was always us.
Always. My soul is you, like the sun is light.
I’m not me without you. Do you understand? ”
“Yes.” She nods, her chin trembling. “Yes, because I talk to myself like you’re there. Like you’re always with me because you are. In my head. In my heart. In my soul. I can’t picture myself without you.”
“We’re doing this. Together.” I rest my cheek on her womb.
“This is our light, our love, our baby. I’m the father.
” I pull back, anchoring to her baby-blue eyes.
Baby blue. My past, present, and future are colliding like a supernova in my chest. Bursting.
“I’m the man who’ll love you, who’ll never leave you, who’ll always protect you and my baby. I’m—”
“My king,” she whispers, cupping my jaw.
“My queen.” I rise.
Cradling her wet cheeks, a war rages inside me.
Never abandon her; kill him now.
I am the devil’s son when it comes to another man hurting my woman. I’m every evil thing I escaped. Every act I abhor. Every ounce of abuse. Every punch of brutality and violence.
I’m a soulless beast who’ll protect my soulmate.
That scumbro is dead.
After I torture him.
Vivian reads it in my eyes. She’s always seen straight through me; she always will.
“Jace, listen to me.” She fists my shirt.
“I don’t remember much. Just flashes. Just what Luna said she heard.
She was there that night. She said he drugged me; his phone proves it.
And that picture he took makes me assume what he did.
But I don’t feel it. I didn’t feel it in my body the next day, and I don’t feel it in my heart now.
And if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s to trust my instincts. ”
“I trust them too.” Gently, I swipe a tear off her soft cheek. “I also trust torture, and that’s what I’ll do to him for touching you.”
I won’t let go of Vivian’s hand, her right hand, wearing my Russian wedding ring.
I hold it as she holds our tiny future when we greet the imposing line of kings waiting for us downstairs.
Their hands clasped. Brows lowered. Lips curled. Fuck, they’re a menacing sight, causing scared-shitless eyes, I know.
Axel. Nash. Sire. Grant. Nick. Loch.
The Queen steps in front of them while Sasha flanks Loch. Only a fool would underestimate our sister.
“We’re here for you.” Mom’s deep gaze searches mine, then Vivian’s, then warmly glances down at the pregnancy test clasped in Vivian’s other hand.
“All of you. And I know what you want to do.” Mom addresses me before focusing on Vivian.
“But you’re the queen, the lioness, and we’re your pride. Say the word, and we’ll fulfill it.”
Mom’s right.
I’m ready to blaze a warpath for Vivian, to defend my mate, cub, and territory.
But this is Vivian’s fight.
She leads the charge; she has to drop the match before I leave her past in ashes.
Lifting her chin, Vivian suddenly mirrors my mom; damn, don’t fuck with one. My queen will be a beast for our child, I can tell.
“I want answers first,” Vivian demands. “I want the truth. I don’t want him dead, that’s too easy. I want him to live, never forgetting that I won.”
Axel nods. “As you command.”
Nick’s massive chest heaves. “Anything for my queen.” He’s bloodthirsty.
Behind him, Luna respectfully recedes. She must’ve told them enough so Vivian wouldn’t have to repeat it.
Sire pops his neck. “Do you want him to live live, or just barely live?”
Grant raises his hand. “And if we’re about to unleash Jace on that little fucker—holy shit—who’s cleaning up the mess?”