Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
I’ll do this right or I’ll kill myself trying.
“You’re ridiculous,” she says, smiling. “But this tea is good.”
“Then you’ll have some here every single morning. What else?”
“Crackers. Water. Diet Coke—“
My brows arch. “Really?”
“I know, it’s weird, but I’ve been craving it. Especially straight from McDonald’s? You know how much better it is?”
“I wasn’t aware.”
“I guess this is a pregnancy thing, huh?”
“I have no idea.”
“Right, we’re in this for the first time together.” She sits on the couch near the fireplace, eyes fixed on the mantle. “You know what I wish I could do?”
“Tell me.”
“I wish I could Google what the hell is going on with me.”
My shoulders tense. “I got you a phone.”
“You got me a dumb phone that can barely text. Please, I want my own.”
I take the coffee from the tray and move toward her. My stomach flutters with worry. What if she does something stupid? What if she tries to get help?
But I know better than that. I’m being selfish and controlling. I can make sure her phone isn’t capable of doing anything I don’t know about, and besides, half the NYPD is on my payroll.
She took care of me last night.
Now I can do the same.
“Alright, angel. I’ll get you your phone.” I hold up a hand before she gets too excited. “But I will monitor everything you do on it.”
Her expression falls. “That’s psychotic.”
“I don’t care. It’s for your own good, at least until we trust each other.”
Her hands grip the mug tightly. “Fine. Whatever. Spy on me all you want. Gonna steal all my old nudes too?”
“You already sent me those, remember?”
She blushes, her eyes dropping to the floor. “I want one more thing.”
“Name it. I’m feeling generous. Whatever my pregnant wife wants, she can have. More clothes? Movies? Books?”
“My mother.”
I take a step back. “I told you—“
“Today, Connor. I want you to bring her here today. No more delaying. You showed up last night covered in blood, which means this war thing is real. It’s really happening, and I don’t want my mom to become another victim. Bring her here.”
I turn my back on her. I hate it, but she’s right. I’ve been using the promise of her mother’s safety as a cudgel to keep her in line, but that can’t last forever.
“I have guards watching her right now. I’ll make them bring her in.”
“Thank you. But wait—you’ve been watching her?”
“I’m a monster, angel. I’m not a fool.” I turn to face her again. “Now here’s what I want.”
“I didn’t realize we were negotiating.”
“We’re not.” I step closer and fall to my knees beside her. I take her hand tightly and hold it close against my chest. She blinks rapidly in surprise. “You will take care of yourself. I’ll arrange for a doctor to make a house call. You will do everything the doctor says. Vitamins, bedrest—“
“Pregnant women don’t need to stay in bed all day.”
“Some do. You will if that’s what’s needed. You will not make trouble. You will not harass Colm. You and your mother will stay in this part of the house until I say it’s safe.”
“So we’re still prisoners, then?”
“If that makes it easier for you, yes.”
She tries to pull away, but I don’t let her. “Some marriage we have.”
“You can hate me, angel. I’m prepared for that. But you will survive this war and you will have my child.”
Her gaze is cool. “Fine. Are you done?”
“For now.” I let her go. She shifts so her back’s to me. I stand and step away, frustrated with myself.
There was a moment. A brief one, but last night, in bed, I felt it. The animosity was gone. The hate faded. We were people, man and wife even, and it felt good. I felt normal with her. I want to hold on to that feeling, but it’s already slipping away in the cold light of reality.
She’s my wife, but not because she wants to be.
“Send my mother in to see me when she arrives. I’ll be here.” She looks back over her shoulder. “In my cage.”
I let her have the last word. Some battles aren’t worth fighting.
16
ANGIE
I’m pacing around the room when Lisa brings me lunch.
“Caesar salad and grilled chicken, exactly as requested.” She takes the lid off the plate with a flourish. “Huh? Huh? Pretty nice, right?”
I have to admit the food looks delicious. “Have you heard about my mom yet?”
“I swear, I’ll tell you the second I do.” She gets me set up near the couch. “Now come on. Pregnant ladies need to eat, right? You’re growing a human inside of you.”
“That sounds so weird.”
“But it’s like the most common thing in the world, right? Humans have been having babies forever.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“You think I’m not going to have kids?”
I wave that away. “You’re young.”
“Angie, you realize we’re the same age, right?”