Page 98 of Broken Promise
“I do happen to be kind of a love expert.”
“No shit. I’ve never even seen you with a woman. Are you sure you’re batting for my team?”
“What’s the matter, Rafe?” Oskar winked at me. “You worried I’ve got a crush on you? That I see Diana as competition?”
I shrugged. “I’m cool with it. I know I’ve got a nice ass. Look all you want. I’ve been told it’s a thing of beauty.”
Oskar’s bark of laughter reverberated off the walls. “Cocky bastard.”
Okay yeah, it was better all around if the German never laughed or smiled around Diana. “With an ass like this, who wouldn’t be?” I deliberately wiggled my ass back and forth.
Oskar nearly choked on his apple. “If this whole thing doesn’t work out, I’ve got just the strip club for you. I’m sure you’ll clean house.” The German shook his head and added, “But the thing with your girl, something’s eating you. You probably need to talk to her. You two have done the thing where you don’t really talk about stuff, but you just bone. And while that’s fun, and there are certain relationships where that’s all you’ve got, you love her. And it’s clear that, for some insane reason, she’s all about you. Despite my dropping all my best charms on her.”
“I told you,stay the fuck away from her.”
The German smirked. “See, that’s how I know you love her. So if you love her, stop standing around with your dick in your hand, lamenting the minuscule size, and go ask her what’s wrong. Or you can fuck it out. Either way works. Talking, fucking. That’s what Noah does at least.” Oskar rolled his eyes.
I glanced back over to Lucia and Diana. Maybe the guy had a point. Diana looked up at that moment, and our gazes locked. I took a step toward her, and she gave me a brilliant smile before heading toward me.
But then something went wrong. She frowned and put a hand on her stomach. Then her eyes went wild, and I saw it, panic and fear. A moment later, she sagged to the ground.
Fuck me.
I had never been so terrified. Okay, there was that time at the motel. Oh wait. Also, when I’d woken up to find she’d left me. Damn this woman was trying to give me a heart attack. I ran to her, Oskar right on my heels. Matthias beat us all to her side.
Matthias checked for vitals. I tried shoving him away. “Mine. I’ll check her.”
Matthias merely kept on about his business. “Everyone in this house has had a refresher on CPR, because of the baby and all. So fuck off, and we’ll make sure she’s okay.”
I had never see Matthias like this…protective. That was new. But still, she wasmywoman. I didn’t like anyone touching her. At that point, though, all I could do was order Oskar to call the doctor.
The guy was gone in a flash. In the meantime, Diana started to come out of it. My name was the first thing on her lips. “Rafe—”
“I’m here, baby. Just relax. I think you fainted. We’re calling the doctor to come and check you out.”
“No. Don’t do that. This is all too much fuss. I’m fine.”
Matthias shook his head. “She’s not fine. Her pulse is low. She probably has low blood pressure right now.”
I stared at her. “The doctor’s coming. Deal with it. I love you, so I get to make these calls.”
Breckner was at the penthouse in less than thirty minutes. By then we’d moved Diana to the medical bay, and I paced anxiously outside the room while the doctor checked her out. Why couldn’t we just have any normal time together? Time when I wasn’t terrified something was going to happen to her?
Was this what love felt like all the time? It was awful. The constant worry. The constant fear. I didn’t like that one bit.Yeah, you do. Because it’s better than leaving her alone in the world.
That was true. I wouldn’t trade off for peace of mind no matter what. I wanted her to be safe. But watching her fall like that, I’d never felt so humbled. I could protect her against armed gunmen, but if she was sick? I was completely helpless.
The door opened and the doctor came out. I was on him like a fly on shit. “Is she okay? What’s wrong with her? Can I go in to see her?”
The doctor patted my arm. “Yes, yes. She’s fine. She’s doing well. She just needs rest, and I’d like to get more nutrients in her. But I doubt the fall hurt the baby.”
I stared at him. “Excuse me? What do you meanbaby?”
The doc paused. “You didn’t know? She’s pregnant. We won’t know exactly how far along until we do an ultrasound.”
I stared at him. I ran my hands through my hair. “How the hell did that happen?”
Oskar chuckled. “Oh man, this is going to take a while. So a long time ago there were some birds and some bees–”
