Page 126 of King of Ashes
“I want to be as good as you.” My youngest takes off, following his brother’s lead. He adores his older brother. I hope it’s just a phase because my oldest looks at him like he’s a pesky little thing, yet he still shows patience as he instructs him.
My husband wraps his arms around me and places his chin on my shoulder. “Wife.”
“Husband,” I sigh dreamily, feeling a serenity beyond this world. I don’t want to leave this magical place.
I try to hold on to the dream, but it slips away as sunrays poke at my eyelids, forcing me to open them to face the brutal truth. It’s morning.. How long have I slept? Disoriented, I look around, noticing my IV is gone.
Conrad and the doctor walk inside, wearing somber expressions, causing instant unease.
Stretching out my arm, I raise my palm in a sign to stop. I don’t care about anything except saying goodbye to my husband.
Everything else is irrelevant, and afterward I’ll go back to sleep, chasing that dream. Reality always demanded something from me, but I am empty now.
The doctor clears his throat. “You’re pregnant.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “I can’t be. It’s a mistake. Leave.”
“Ma’am, please be reasonable.”
“Get out before I show you how unreasonable I can get.”
I am not pregnant. I can’t be. This was never supposed to happen.
It was not supposed to... Not like this.
Rolling out of bed, I collapse on my knees and sob between my palms. “You fucking did it, you asshole.”
29
VIAN
It’s been two days. What is taking her so long? I’ve been holed up in my damn penthouse, and with every hour, it gets harder to keep pretending.
A prolonged absence will encourage some members to think they can take my place. Only my trusted men know I am perfectly fine, but rumors have already started circulating.
The fresh wounds ache and pulse, sweat gathering at my temples as I pace my living room. I shouldn’t be up. I should lie in bed and recover, but with every minute she’s not coming, I am slowly losing my mind.
What the fuck could have happened?I was sure she would turn the jet around to confirm I am dead.
I wipe a hand down my face, about to go to her myself and drag her back, more or less willingly. In my weakened state, her men might kill me this time, but I couldn’t care less.
My phone rings, and when I see it’s from one guard downstairs, I pick up.
“She’s here, Boss.”
“Do your job,” I command, then end the call.
Everything in me rewires, propelling me into action. With little time to spare, I set the lockdown in place.
The moment she steps inside, we’ll be shut in, and I mentally go through the checklist one more time. We have ample supplies, ensuring two weeks of comfortable living.
I locked up my weapons, not wanting to incentivize her.
Nothing and no one will hinder me in my quest to win my wife back. I don’t have a Plan B in motion, running on pure will and unwavering determination.
Rushing to my bedroom, I hide behind the door, hearing her high heels clack down the hall. Just knowing she is close revs everything inside me.
The woman tried to kill you.My inner voice urges me to proceed with caution, but I have no idea what that is. With her, I’ve always been all in.
