Her Beast

College was not far away, and she’d already picked where she wanted to go. Placing a hand on her stomach, she gritted her teeth and entered. Finding the pregnancy tests, she saw there were so many that she just picked the one that seemed to offer the highest accuracy.

A couple of hours later, she was back at home with the pregnancy test kit burning in her pocket. Carrying the presents she’d purchased up to her room, she made sure to lock her door before going to the bathroom.

Taking a seat on the toilet, she read through the instructions. Peeing on the stick was not something she would ever get used to, especially as her hand wouldn’t stop shaking.

“Please be negative. Please be negative.”

She’d put a timer on her cell phone so it would beep when she was supposed to look at it.

Her heart pounded as she allowed her thoughts to drift. A baby. Beast’s baby. She had fallen in love with him—how could she not? In a weird kind of way, he was her hero. He’d taken her away from her aunt, given her a life, and a chance to finally have a future. The past few months had been a complete dream.

Going to college would cost her him.

Would he even want a baby?

He’d not once talked about a future with her.

Her alarm sounded, and picking up the stick, she saw the answer that she already knew.

She was pregnant with Beast’s baby.

Staring at the stick, she placed it back down on the edge of the bathroom sink. What the hell was she to do now?

The news terrified her.

The unknown always had.

She didn’t have anyone, not really.

Whatever happened, she couldn’t keep it from Beast.

Chapter Ten

Washing the blood off his hands, Beast stared at his reflection. Someone who betrayed him had to pay the consequences, and the only way to stay ahead was to make sure everyone knew who they were dealing with. He wasn’t a man with much patience.

He changed into a clean shirt, smoothed back his hair, and stepped out of the bathroom.

“The mess has been dealt with,” Caleb said.

“Excellent.” He employed cleaners of the special variety that helped to get rid of bloody mess and dead bodies. Seeing his brother wanted to say something, he paused. “What is it?”

“I got a call from Hammond.”

“Yes.” Hammond was the security detail he’d put on Hope. No matter where she went, someone was near her to keep her safe. He had a lot of enemies. Most of them kept their distance, but he wasn’t willing to take any chances with his woman, so he made sure she was protected at all times. “Is something wrong with Hope?”

“She purchased a pregnancy test at the pharmacy.”

Beast paused. “Excuse me?”

“She’s back at the house. That’s what I’ve been informed, and I figured you should know.”

Pregnant.

He’d hoped she was.

He’d not worn a condom in a very long time. He loved the feel of her naked cunt wrapped around his cock, and he was selfish. He didn’t want to share her with anyone.

Running fingers through his hair, he nodded at Caleb.

“Was this your plan all along?” Caleb asked.

“I think you should stay out of this.”

“I’ve stayed by your side throughout everything, Beast. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I won’t get hurt.”

“This girl wants her freedom.”

“You don’t know what she wants, just like you don’t know what that girl wants back at your house.” Beast stared at his brother. He knew all about the girl that was given to Caleb as payment.

It was the same girl Caleb had been asking questions about. “You knew?”

“Of course I knew. I’m not an idiot, Caleb. I didn’t get this far by having people hide shit from me. I’m aware of everything that goes down.” They climbed into the car, and he told the driver to take him home.

“She’s safe when she’s with me.”

“I have no doubt. You’re many things, brother, but a rapist is not one of them,” he said.

Speaking of rapists, he’d already gotten the update that Micah was being taken care of in prison. That fucker had hurt way too many girls, and Beast felt no remorse for sending him down. Some people needed to learn the fucking hard way.

Getting back home, he didn’t wait around, and went straight to Hope’s room. She wasn’t there, and he went to the bathroom, finding the pregnancy test. Moving out of her room, he saw something in the garden, and saw Hope swimming in the pool.

It was freezing cold outside, but he paid to have the pool heated.

Holding onto the stick, he made his way outside, and he nodded at the security guard in the garden to leave. Once they were alone, he moved toward the edge of the pool. Crouching down, he held the test as she swam toward him.