“Wow,” Devon says from right next to me. He moved in a flash and he made me jump. “So, it’s all good. That brother of yours is a scary motherfucker. I wouldn’t want to take him on, no matter how big my army is.”
Vito, CK, and Remiel all make a noise of agreement but then look pissed about it.
“What?” I ask, as the silence grows uncomfortable.
“We watched him kill your mother,” Devon says. “Kinda makes for awkward conversation, you know.”
“Oh,” I say with a knowing nod. “Well, rest assured, while I find the topic of my mother unsavory, Her death, I do not. I am grateful to Dracul for everything he has done, and somehow I will have to find a way to make it up to him.” I ponder that thought for a moment before I shake my head to clear it.
“We will check on him shortly,” CK says quietly. “But I am sure he will be just fine.”
“Just fine?” I repeat sharply. “Not exactly reassuring words, my love.”
“Sorry,” he mumbles, remembering that “fine” around here means anything but.
“Mmph,” I mumble as a sudden and sharp pain pangs through my stomach. I clutch the back of the sofa, my other arm curling around my baby bump.
CK is instantly hovering. “What is it?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I lie with a smile. “Just a kick.”
Not a kick, not at all, but I don’t want to worry him, so I straighten my back and try to ignore the stabbing pain.
“Aefre,” he warns me, but I shake my head.
“I’m good,” I say, brushing his hand off my arm.
He returns it, to my annoyance, and leads me firmly over to the sofa and sits me down. “Rest,” he says. “This has been a traumatic day for you. I’m going to get Dr. Hathaway here.” He chews his lip, which shows me his concern.
“Don’t,” I say. “I’m okay. Just a little tired, maybe.”
“Have a lie down,” Devon says, plopping himself next to me and pushing me down. He can see straight through me, of course. He arranges me comfortably and then picks up my feet to put on his lap. Now that I am prone, I do feel tired and the pain in my belly is subsiding. Maybe it is just stress. I stroke my bump, willing the baby to be okay. I can’t take another setback, especially not one of that magnitude.
“Please check on Dracul,” I say to CK. “I need to know. You know how I get…”
“Of course,” CK says immediately, knowing all too well that I prod the loose tooth until it bleeds profusely and pops out. I just can’t leave anything alone.
“Take Remiel and Vito,” I say as I stifle a yawn.
“What about me?” Lincoln speaks for the first time, as usual preferring to sit back and watch the rest of us interact.
“No, I need you here,” I say to him, to which he responds with a loving beam in my direction. “Delinda is comfortable with you and I know she feels safe with you.”
“Oh,” he says, his face falling for a second before he nods stoically.
The men disappear, leaving the three of us alone to contemplate what has happened. I grimace as another slice of pain radiates through me, but then Devon starts to rub my feet and I sigh, closing my eyes.
I couldn’t have been asleep all that long, when I am roused by Devon’s voice. He and Lincoln are talking in hushed tones, but the word “Cole” came through loud and clear.
“You went to see him?” I ask, making Devon jump as he thought I was sleeping.
He gives me a curious, blue-eyed look, but then nods. “Yeah, just to make sure he woke up.”
“And?” I prod when he doesn’t actually confirm or deny.
“All good,” he says shortly.
“Hmm,” I murmur. What isn’t he telling me?