Chapter Ten

Kyla

“I’m what?” I shook my head at the doctor, quite sure he must’ve come into the wrong room. “That really isn’t possible, Dr. White. All I need is to get this hole in my arm fixed up so I can go check on Torch.” Because the words he’d just said to me were not what I had expected to hear for at least ten more years.

Dr. White was a kind older man with a shock of white hair, and right now those brows frowned at me with one hand pointing my way. “Tests don’t lie, young lady. When was your last period?”

Instantly I knew the answer, but I shrugged and took the glib route. “I don’t know, Doc. I’ve been kind of busy for the past few months running for my life.” I emphasized my point by gesturing to my arm.

He gave me a sympathetic smile. “And I am truly sorry about that, Kyla, but that doesn’t change reality. Based on the blood test taken from you last night I’d say you’re about six weeks pregnant, but you can find out for sure with your OBGYN.” His stern tone told me I couldn’t put this off no matter how much I wanted to.

My head began to shake on its own, my brain unable to process the gravity of this news. I couldn’t be pregnant when I didn’t have a job. When I didn’t know how Torch felt about me. About our relationship. My future hadn’t even technically started yet, and now I had to start planning a new one. “If I promise to make an appointment will you please stop saying that word?”

His lips twitched, but ultimately the smile won out. “For now, I will but this is important. If you plan to have this baby, you will need prenatal vitamins, a plan, and maybe a little less danger.”

Shit. Now things had just gotten real with talk of keeping my baby. With a long drawn out sigh and a nod I told him, “Fine.”

With a fatherly smile and a sympathetic squeeze of my shoulder, Dr. White left with a promise to return soon. As soon as the room fell silent, I let the tears fall until they ran dry, which honestly felt like hours. I knew I probably looked a mess with red puffy eyes and blotchy skin, but I couldn’t bring myself to care as that word echoed in my head. My heart.

Pregnant.

The word sounded like a life sentence and though part of me felt nothing but fear and worry, I didn’t feel regret. But I knew that might come once Torch found out. I’d deal with it.

The door pushed open again and Torch shoved his way inside, wincing with fresh bandages on his shoulder. “Hey, sugar, how are ya?”

I shrugged. “That should be my question to you.”

“Been better.” He flashed a grin and lifted himself up on the bed. “Scoot.” His left arm wrapped around me, and I winced when his fingers brushed my arm. “Shit sorry, sugar.”

“It’s fine; the bullet went straight through, and they cleaned it. I’m just waiting for someone to stitch me up.”

He caressed my jaw and turned me to face him. “I hate this happened to you, Ky. Scarred your beautiful face. I’m so glad that asshole Stash took two bullets in his leg.”

My shoulders slumped in relief at that news. That meant the police had him in custody and this was all over. But it also meant Torch would probably want me gone soon. “That’s really good news.”

“Then why do you sound like it’s not?” Raven brows dipped into a deep V as he spoke.

Because I’m in love with you and having your baby. “Because it means you’ll want me to leave now, right?”

His face twisted into a dark scowl. “You think I’d do that?”

I shook my head because honestly, I couldn’t be sure. My feelings were all over the place, and as much as I wanted to believe Torch and I could make a go of it, I didn’t know. But I couldn’t say that to him. Not yet. “No, but I’ve brought nothing but trouble to your door, Torch. Your knuckles raw and bruised, a bullet in your shoulder. It’s been a lot.”

“Honey, I love trouble, and you’re the best kind of trouble I’ve found in a long damn time.”

And that right there was why I never stood a chance at resisting this man. His words, simple yet smooth, never failed to touch my heart down to the core. I leaned into his shoulder and pressed a kiss to his jaw, but he gathered me closer and smiled against my lips, and I couldn’t resist. “Oh, Torch.” My fingers grazed his jaw where stubble had grown for a few days, and I felt myself soften. “I love you.” The words were punctuated with a kiss on either side of his mouth, his cheeks. His nose before settling on his mouth.

But Torch froze at my declaration, letting me know just how unwelcome it was. “You don’t have to say that.”

I pulled back and stared at him. “But I do,” I insisted. I had never been in love with a man before, so I couldn’t say without a doubt I’d know when it happened, but I knew what I felt for Torch went beyond lust. Beyond affection. I killed a man to protect him, and I didn’t regret it—not even with the almost nightly nightmares. That had to be love.

He sighed like my love was a burden. He didn’t want it, and I knew then that I had made yet another miscalculation. Another mistake. “Kyla.”

I held up a hand, feeling tears that I knew I wouldn’t be able to fight. “Don’t, Torch. It’s fine, I should’ve known. I’ll have Daddy get my things from your house, but I think it’s best if I go home with him when I’m discharged.” Dammit, I wanted to turn away from him, but I couldn’t lean on my left arm and I refused to bury my face in his chest. “I’d like to be alone now.”

“Kyla, please. I’ve already been discharged, and I wanted to wait with you.”

“I’ll be a while, so you can go. Thank you, Torch, for keeping me safe. I’ll never be able to repay what you’ve done for me, but if you ever need something, I’ll try my best.” With his big body no longer occupying most of my bed, I curled up on my right side and let the tears silently fall.

The door clicked shut behind him, and I knew the time had come to stop messing around and get to work on my future. Which now included a baby.

Heartbreak could wait.