“That’s fucked up. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I know you didn’t, and now, they know you didn’t too. All’s well that ends well, huh?”
“If you say so.”
Dane went back to the penthouse after they were done. He found Adriana pacing back and forth in front of the windows, looking concerned.
“What’s wrong?”
“I, uh,” she said hesitating. Finally, she continued. “I heard from the doctor.”
“And? Bad news?”
“Well, I guess that depends on how you feel about it,” she said, her face a bit flushed. “It was definitely ketamine, but there doesn’t seem to be any lasting damage.”
“That’s good, but I get the impression there’s more.”
She took a deep breath and blurted it out. “I’m pregnant.”
Now, it was Dane’s turn to be flustered. He struggled to find the words. For most of his life, he’d never really wanted a family. He’d been opposed to getting married, much less having kids. His life was busy, and he liked it that way. Slowing down to deal with a family was something he’d never even considered.
And yet, at this moment, he realized that none of that mattered and that he wanted this more than anything. His smile broadened as his hands instinctively reached out to touch her belly.
“How far along?”
“Just a couple of weeks. I’m barely pregnant, but you know how fast shifter pregnancies begin to show up.”
“Wow, the first time we were together. We really didn’t waste any time, did we?”
“I guess not. Are you happy?”
“I’m beyond happy. I’m ecstatic.”
“Me too. I mean, I wasn’t expecting this and have no idea how I’m going to balance it with a career, but I am really excited about it. I’ll figure it out.”
“We’ll figure it out,” he corrected.
“Listen, about that. Dane, I know that we’ve not been together long, and anything can happen. I’m not holding you responsible for this. I can take care of the baby if you aren’t on board.”
“I would think a journalist would pay more attention to what she’s told,” he said to her, looking her in the face as he spoke. “I love you, Adriana. I love that you are having my baby. I can’t imagine my life without you. We’re going to have a long and happy life—together.”
Adriana smiled, a single tear rolling down her face. He reached out to wipe it away and kissed her.
“Come on. You’ve been cooped up in here long enough. You want to go by your place and grab some clothes and then go back up to my parents’ house?”
“Is that safe?”
“Yeah, I think so. The FBI has their eye on the Black Talons. They aren’t going to try anything, and if they do, I’ve got a backup plan for that.”
Adriana nodded. She trusted him. She felt scared, especially now with a smaller life to consider, but she knew he would only do what was best for them. She grabbed the few things she had gotten delivered and threw them in the shopping bag they’d come in before following him to the elevator to leave. It would be good to get out into the country again. It would be good to get anywhere again, really.
They made quick work of packing a few more of her things in a suitcase once they arrived at her place and then climbed back in the car to head back out to his property. The more she considered it, the more she wasn’t sure about it, but her apprehension was soon put to rest once they arrived at the old house where they’d first found one another and, apparently, created a new life. There was an odd comfort as if it were somehow sacred ground.
“Come on. I want to show you something,” he said.
“What?”
“Come down to the cellar with me,” he told her, pulling her along by the hand.
“Oh, we’re doing this again, huh? Are you sure you aren’t a serial killer?”
“I’m pretty sure, unless I have a tumor or split personality that I don’t know about. You’ll just have to take your chances and see.”
Adriana laughed and followed him down the stairs into the cellar, looking around at the massive wine shelves built into the wall and extending into the darkness beyond the stairs. He flipped on a light switch behind him, and her eyes widened. Wine wasn’t the only thing down here. There were food freezers, dry goods on shelves, cases of bottled water, and all the modern conveniences of a full kitchen.
“What on earth?” she muttered.
“It’s a storm shelter, of sorts. It’s designed to protect us in case of a natural disaster or nuclear fallout. The door on that wall leads to a large den, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. It’s not huge down here, but it’s sufficient to ride out anything for quite a while.”
“So, it’s basically an enhanced basement.”
“Pretty much, but there’s one thing you won’t find in other basements. Come with me,” he told her, walking over to a shelf containing cans of food and pushing it until it slanted sideways.