Marriage of Convenience (The Raven Brothers 1)

My father was right. He might not have always been the most attentive father, but he loved us and I had no doubt that he’d have our backs. He certainly had mine when he sent his golf buddies, the police commissioner and Mayor, to the police station. And my brother had my back showing up to protect and support her until I could get there.

Seeing her awake in the bed, I felt such relief. And then to have her tell me she thought I was done with her and that she wasn’t good for me, broke my heart even more. I vowed right then to live the rest of my life making sure she knew I loved and cherished her.

“What did they mean by arrested,” she asked, looking up at me with her beautiful blue eyes.

“I tried to kill Glen.”

“Kill?”

“I started beating on him and probably still would be if the cops hadn’t pulled me off.” I wanted to pull her into my arms, but was afraid to cause her pain from all the injuries she seemed to have. Instead, I held her hand over my heart. “To see you like that in that room… I died inside, Sara.” I kissed her hand.

“You saved me.” She looked down. “But I couldn’t save our baby.” Her tears fell again, and mine joined them. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gone out—”

“Stop. Sara, this isn’t your fault. It’s Glen’s. He did this. I know you tried to do whatever you could to protect the baby.”

“I couldn’t stop him.” She started to weep.

“He was a monster.” I pulled her close, hoping against hope I wasn’t causing her more pain. “I’m so sorry.” I wish I knew what to say. I was a billionaire but money couldn’t fix this. “We’ll get through this together, okay?”

I held her as we cried over our child, and eventually she fell asleep. I wasn’t going to leave her so I made myself comfortable in a chair.

A little while later, my father and brothers returned, bringing some food for me.

“How is she?” my father asked.

I looked up at them. I started to talk, but all of a sudden the emotions welled, and I choked up. I waited for Kade to make some asshole comment about me blubbering, but fortunately, he seemed to grasp the situation.

“Oh hi,” Sara’s weak voice greeted them. “All my heroes.”

“How are you feeling, Sara,” my father asked.

She pressed her lips together as she looked at me. By then I was by her side. “They don’t know,” I told her.

“You tell them. I can’t.”

I kissed her forehead and then turned to my family. “While Sara and I were at the island, we learned that she was pregnant.”

Initially, Ash started to smile, but then he seemed to sense the sad ending to this news. Hunter, who already knew she’d been pregnant, probably already guessed. Kade’s expression turned dark.

“But… ah…” Jesus I couldn’t get the words out.

“Ah fuck, man. Sara. I’m so sorry,” Kade came forward, giving me a hug while squeezing Sara’s hand. I was glad I didn’t have to say the words.

“I should have let you kill him,” Hunter said.

“What can we do for you?” Ash asked.

“Yes, we’re here. Whatever you need,” my father said.

“I don’t know,” I said honestly.

I was glad none of them said Sara and I could try again and all that bullshit that would have meant to make us feel better, but wouldn’t have worked. Trying again wasn’t going to bring back the child we’d already started loving.

Sara was released from the hospital two days later. I spent the next week at home, not even thinking about work. I’d arranged for a counselor to come by, mostly to help Sara but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t helping me too. The thing that struck me the most was discovering just how harsh and loveless Sara’s upbringing had been. I’d sensed it from her before, and certainly after meeting her parents, but to hear her talk about it with the counselor made me ache for the child she’d been. It also reaffirmed my vow to make sure she felt loved every day.

The following week, I stayed home, but would check in with the company every morning from my home office. My father, who’d been planning to retire, picked up the slack for me, and told me not to worry about coming in anytime soon.

By week three, Sara was getting tired of me hovering, and so she sent me to work, which I did for half days. Finally, the fourth week, I was back at the office during regular hours. Because it was difficult to be away from her, I asked my brothers and father to check in on her from time to time. I think it annoyed her, and yet, she put up with it.