I let out a breath and shake my head. “Do you think if we ignore him, he’ll go away?”
“No.”
“Darn.”
We cross the street and turn on North Orchard, heading toward Lucas’s house. My heart swells in my chest when I see the gate, and knowing I’m going to be in my lover’s arms in just a matter of seconds makes me feel so much better.
But then again…I have to tell him what happened. That I accepted help from Lucifer and now he knows I’m pregnant and wants our baby. Suddenly, I don’t want to walk through the large double doors anymore.
“This is it,” I say, slowing at the gate.
“Damn.” Easton eyes the house for a few seconds. “He still owns this place even though you’re married and living together in Thorne Hill?”
“Yes,” I say with a sigh, knowing where Easton is going with this. “Eliza stays here now, and he owns property and houses all over the place. We spent two weeks at his vineyard in California after the wedding, and whenever things finally calm down, we’re going to his place in France.”
“Must be nice,” Easton grumbles, and I just roll my eyes.
“Thank you again, Easton. Really.”
“I’m just glad you didn’t die.”
“Hah. Me too.”
“I’m going to call later and check in with you.”
“Text instead,” I say, wrinkling my nose. “I hate talking on the phone.”
“I remember,” he says and gets a distant look in his eyes, as if he’s thinking back to those few weeks we spent together in our teenage years. “I’ll text you later.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
“I’ll be as careful as you are.” He pats my shoulder and then turns around, going back down the street to get to his truck. I take in a steadying breath and push open the gate. My heart speeds up and the small reprieve I got from being terrified of losing the one thing I never thought would happen crashes down on me again.
My fingers are shaking when I open the door and step into the foyer. Scarlet comes running, her little puppy bark echoing through the house. Lucas, who was in his office working, speeds through the house and takes me in his arms.
“You’re covered in blood,” he says, brows pushing together.
“It’s not mine,” I rush out, though he knows right away from the smell.
“No, it’s…” He inhales. “Abby’s. Fuck, Callie, what happened?” He draws his fangs and protectively cradles me against his chest. My eyes fill with tears, and the emotions I was suppressing break through the gate.
I open my mouth to tell Lucas everything but only a strangled sob comes out. Lucas holds me tight, stroking my hair, and then picks me up and carries me into the living room. “Callie,” he says after a few seconds have passed. His blue eyes are full of concern and anger. Not at me, but at whatever caused me pain.
“Roger showed up, shot me, but the bullet hit Abby,” I say when I can finally find my voice. “I called for my dad and Julian to come help, but…but…” I don’t want to say it. Saying it out loud makes it real, even though I know it’s real. “Lucifer showed up instead.”
“What?” he asks. “He can’t. He’s bound in Hell.”
I shake my head. “He came and he healed Abby. He…he…saved her life. She’s okay.”
“Then why are you so upset?” Eliza quips, appearing in the living room. She’s leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, looking bored as usual.
Tears run down my cheeks when I close my eyes in a long blink. Lucas brushes them away with his thumb and kisses the top of my head.
“Because he doesn’t do things for free. He’s going to want to be paid back, and I think…I think he wants our baby.”Chapter 3“What?” Eliza speeds forward. “Why—how—the fuck?”
”Exactly,” I reply, sitting up and wiping my eyes. “He looked at me and it was like he knew.” I turn my gaze down to my stomach. “Everything happened so fast.” I close my eyes and see Abby lying on the floor, blood pouring from her stomach. “Abby was dying.”
“So you made a deal with the devil.” Lucas gets up, fangs bared, and paces across the living room. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“What?” I ask, heart skipping a beat when I see Lucas stare at me angrily.
“You made a deal with the devil,” he repeats slowly. “And used our child as collateral.”
“Lucas,” Eliza snips, and he holds out his hand, silencing her.
“I didn’t put our child up for anything,” I snap. In the back of my mind, I know Lucas is freaking the fuck out and wants someone to blame. But right now, I’m scared and need him on my side, not against me. “My sister was dying before my eyes. What did you expect me to do?”
“Not take a fucking deal with the devil,” he growls and balls his fist and hits it against the wall. His hand goes right through the drywall, and two pictures come crashing down, glass shattering as soon as they hit the floor. I wince and my eyes fill with tears, but anger courses through me and the lights above us start to flicker, lighting up the dim room.