An uncomfortable eruption in his gut made Brody tense. Something cold and menacing was trying to claw its way inside him, and he didn’t like it.

Not one bit. But skin-prickling tension didn’t play by normal rules. His comfort level was irrelevant anyway.

Time spent in the compound’s secure conference room was becoming a daily thing. On any given day, at some point, he’d end up here with one or all the Justice principles, so today was no different.

His gaze slid to a corner of the room. There sat Alex, half in shadow and exuding an intense vibe, on a beast of a chair that was the Justice equivalent of an iron throne.

Swallowing a sour-tasting lump of dread, he studied the unmoving man. Alex was intimidating on the best of days. It was just how he was. Common wisdom suggested it was something in his DNA because the kind of power he put off couldn’t be faked. Or acquired. You either had it or you didn’t, and in the case of Major Alexander Valleja-Marquez, the dude had it in spades.

Brody’s attention swung back to the matter being discussed around an oval table. Cam and Drae stood side by side, occasionally murmuring to each other. Calder was standing across from him with his hands on the table as he leaned in and studied the object that brought them together.

Jace was also part of the group. His frown was in no way friendly as he stood with his arms crossed. He said very little, but Brody sensed he was far from detached.

Domineau was there too, but as usual, she was lurking and hard to pin down.

“I’ve done everything except wave a magic wand over this thing,” Calder grumbled. “Bupkis,” he growled.

Jace made a confused sound. Calder straightened and clarified. “Bupkis. Means nothing at all—which is exactly what I’ve found. Nothing.”

There was surreal and then there was bizarre, but Brody was leaning toward a word mash-up to describe today’s meeting. Bizreal. He liked it. Bizarre surreal. The only way to describe a room full of serious, scowling adults staring at a fucking Cabbage Patch doll in the middle of a table.

Bella’s doll. The one Heather’s mother gave his daughter when they first met. Kelly Anne.

Yeah, bizreal.

“She’s clean as a white room. I’ve subjected the toy to every scan imaginable. Unless the damn thing is bewitched or carries a spell, the only reasonable conclusion is another false flag.”

“Or a mistake,” Cam asserted in a tone that suggested he was working on a new theory.

Drae grunted. “Spooks aren’t sloppy.”

“True,” Domineau interjected from the shadows. “But consider this. If there’s someone inside, we all know that person is expendable. It’s how shit works,” she reminded them. “Some low-level putz. Those are the idiots who make the sloppy mistakes.”

At the moment, Brody didn’t give a rat’s ass for the distinction. Putz or puppet master made no difference to him. All he could focus on was that he was targeted. His kid, his family. Not cool. Not cool and quite possibly deadly for the unlucky bastard fucking with his life.

Without thinking, he cracked his knuckles. The sound was amplified in the confined space.

A movement caught his eye. Draegyn, with his back turned to the room, moved next to Alex, bent slightly, and murmured. Calder joined them.

The Major never moved a muscle. His overall demeanor was all kinds of disconcerting.

Jace also moved in and motioned Cam over. As the group huddled together, Brody listened and tried to keep his shit together.

With an uncharacteristically dark and menacing sound to his voice, Jace said, “I think Cam should deep dive everyone in the canine program. That doll wasn’t near the kennel by accident. Maybe dropping it was a blunder or a distraction, but let’s focus on what’s important.”

“I have a suggestion,” Domineau announced. “Save time and energy.”

A savage intensity burned in her eyes. Brody knew that look, and it made him tense.

“Go for it,” Cam told her.

A smile turning to a sneer gave Smoke a dangerous vibe. Brody’s respirations increased as adrenaline shot into his system. They weren’t in Kansas anymore.

Domineau laid it out. “Let’s say we’re looking at a troll. Someone placed on the inside.”

Cam bared his teeth as an ominous growl rumbled from his throat. As the guy in charge of vetting the Justice staff, he took the likelihood of a human incursion as an affront to his legend.

Domineau nodded at him and continued. “This is my zone,” she reminded them. “Tradecraft 101.”

“No doubt,” Jace muttered. “But can you put your resume aside and get to the point?”

They did an eyeball-to-eyeball stare down that ended when Cam snapped. “Cut it out. Both of you. Jace, back down. And Smoke? Your bona fides are solid.”

Considering that Jace was calm and cool at all times and that the entire Justice team got along great, the crackling tension was because all of them were stressed to the max. Only everything was riding on them figuring this thing out.

Drae did nothing more than hold up his hand, and the room fell silent. His place at Alex’s side gave him incredible power—and responsibility. After a minute of pause, he thanked everyone for their input and politely but firmly told them to get the fuck out.

Everyone except him and Cam, of course.

When Brody was alone with Alex, Drae, and Cam, he shuddered as a bead of nervous sweat slithered down his spine.

Cam took up silent sentry in a corner as Draegyn motioned him closer. He wasn’t sure whether to salute or genuflect when he stepped in front of Alex.

“Brody,” the Major began. His tone was as serious as his demeanor. “What mission did the brass throw at you? The one that sucked you back in?”

Flabbergasted by the question, Brody squinted into the shadows and frowned.

“Excuse me, Major? Uh, what?”

Despite not having been original Team Justice, he understood the group dynamics and knew the parts each had played.

Draegyn St. John came with a storied cachet. While Domineau somehow melted through walls, Drae was part Bruce Lee, part James Bond, and part Houdini. Stories circulated about him hauling his cocky swagger through a roomful of bad guys and taking everyone out without breaking a sweat. Calling him a ninja wasn’t just mocking snarkasm. The guy could write the instruction manual.

He was also Alex’s consigliore. His second. The faithful lieutenant, co-pilot, and loyal wingman who proudly stood shoulder to shoulder with the man they all admired. So when Draegyn explained or filled in the blanks, there was never any doubt who he spoke for.

“Why do the men in black have such a hard-on for you? Why are they so damn interested in bringing you back?”

“Oh,” he muttered. “Uh, yeah. That. Well shit, Drae. What do you want me to say? None of this is a mystery. At least, not from my standpoint. I was a military asset. An asset they used.” A shrug was all he had.

Drae didn’t give up and continued to pepper him with questions.

Did he have something they wanted? Information, perhaps.

Were people afraid of what he knew?

Why did they need to know about his last mission?

He didn’t hesitate to give up everything he had. Mission confidentiality and knee-jerk adherence to military code didn’t mean shit in the real world. Not when his family and so many others were in danger.

Alex sat forward. Brody gulped when he got a clear look at his face. From the moment he’d declared that someone was going to die and gave everyone a chance to head for the door, Brody had been on high alert. This shit was real. It wasn’t a video game.

“There’s an intersect somewhere,” he told them. “We’ve overlooked something. I want Jason to break it down. All of it. Do you understand?”

Oh, hell yeah, he understood, but all he could do was nod. The way Alex’s jaw clenched and the darkness in the man’s gaze were scary as fuck.

And then the Major slowly stood. Alex was a big man, but right now, he seemed larger than life.

“My wife tells me Bella is inconsolable about the doll.” He pointed at Kelly Anne. “I trust Calder’s judgment. Take it home. Focus on Bella.”

Then Alex growled, “I’m out,” and simply walked away.

When the Major was far enough along the hallway and out of earshot, Brody turned to Drae. “Jesus Christ. Is he okay?”

The answer was immediate, to the point, and full of subtext.

“Fuck no, he’s not okay. And thank god. They’re messing with the wrong guy.”

“Look, honey,” Heather said in a happy voice. “The cupcake show you like is on.”

She pointed at the TV, but Bella barely reacted. “When’s Daddy coming home?”

Time did a somersault, and Heather found herself back in Maryland with a frightened, traumatized child who constantly fretted over her father’s whereabouts. Now that she was a parent, watching her daughter struggle was torture.

“Uncle Alex needed him, but he’s on his way home.” She held up her phone. “He just texted and asked if we needed anything from the store.”

Unusually sullen, Bella got on the floor and curled up next to Georgie. “Don’t want anything.”

Heather sighed, and her heart ached. She pressed a hand against her stomach and willed the butterfly ballet to stop.

Maybe a quick pivot was in order. She changed the subject and brought up the wedding.

“I made an appointment for us to look at bridesmaid dresses at that fancy shop Aunt Stephanie told us about. Daddy thinks we should have a girls’ weekend in the city. Grandma says she can fly in too. Won’t that be nice?”

Bella rolled to her back and gasped. “Granny is coming?”

For a second, Heather imagined the gasp was one of joy. And then her daughter wailed, “But Kelly Anne!”

Oh, shit. She walked right into that one. Thinking about the Cabbage Patch doll and the quiet furor its discovery on a pathway inside the Justice compound initiated, Heather squirmed.

If only they could take away Bella’s upset by giving her the secondhand toy she adored.

Georgie perked up. His tongue came out, and he panted for a second before licking Bella’s face.

Half as moment later, she heard the garage door.

Brody.

The faithful family pet looked at Heather. She shook her head, convinced the animal would understand and not jump up to go greet his master.

Georgie stayed put, but that didn’t mean his tail didn’t wag when the door to the garage opened and slammed shut. The next sound was keys dropping in a bowl.

She glanced at Bella and willed Daddy to hurry. His little girl was curled on her side, forlornly picking at a string on the sleeve of her shirt.

He bounded up the stairs. The sound his booted feet made as they approached gave her comfort. Everything was all right when Brody was around.

“Is it naptime?” His teasing question was perfect for the way they were lounging.

Bella sat up. “Daddy! You’re home.”

He came to Heather’s side, touched her neck, and bent for a hello kiss.

“What’s in the bag?” she murmured.

He smiled and held up a brown bag with rope handles. The one with a Justice insignia that they used for swag.

“You mean this?”

Bella barely moved. He arched a brow. Heather frowned to let him know all was not right.

“Bells, come here,” he said. Sitting next to Heather, he put the brown bag on the floor and opened his arms.

She was relieved when the child crawled to him and let him lift her onto his lap. Her relief was swamped by concern when Bella promptly announced, “If Granny comes, Kelly should be here.”

Heather put her hand on Brody’s shoulder for support, but his dazzling smile when he looked her way suggested he didn’t need it.

“Of course.” He chortled. “Where else would she be? Can’t have a Clarke gals tea party without Kelly.”

“Brody,” she murmured. “What’s going on?”

He leaned and picked up the bag. “I think this belongs to you, Bella Mia.”

Kids and presents of any kind—boxes, envelopes, bags, it didn’t matter—were a match made in heaven. Bella tore into the brown sack and started screaming.

“Kelly Anne! Daddy! You found her!”

She practically leaped off his lap and started twirling with the doll pressed into a serious hug.

“Kelly, Kelly, Kelly! I missed you! Look, Georgie! Kelly came home!”

The dog joined her exuberance and woofed softly while they marched around the loft with Bella chanting the doll’s name between plenty of hugs and kisses.

“Calder says the doll is clean,” he quietly told her.

Concern gnawed at her nerves. “Are you sure?”

He took her hand and kissed it. “Yeah. It’s okay.”

She felt him studying her face.

“Are you okay?” His concern was obvious, but she wasn’t sure what made him ask.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”

“Honey, you’re white as a sheet.”

“Really?”

Heather was considering his words as Brody took both of her hands and began to rub them vigorously.

Mumbling, “I feel fine. I mean, maybe a little lightheaded, but that’s just because I didn’t have lunch,” she tried to sit straighter and ended up sprawled like a ragdoll.

She pouted when he stood and gave her shit. “Goddammit, Heather,” he grumbled.

“We’re gonna have a slumber party! Havta get ready,” Bella yelled as she scampered into her bedroom with Georgie on her heels.

Heather started to get up, but Brody pushed her down. “Stay put. Preferably with your feet up. I’ll get dinner on the table.”

An unexpected yawn made her face ache. “Everything is ready and in the warmer. I was just waiting for you to get home.”

He bent and kissed her soundly. “Let me take it from here.”

She’d be an idiot to turn down the offer, so she snatched the remote control, grabbed a pillow, and lay down on her side.

“Can you toss me that blanket?”

Brody chuckled as he grabbed her favorite sofa throw and shook it out. When he covered her and tucked Heather in, a quiet peace took her over. She loved him with her whole heart. They were a family. All she’d ever hoped and dreamed about was right in her lap.

Life was good.

Brody paced in the kitchen.

“Don’t overreact,” he scolded out loud. “It’s probably nothing.”

Yeah, no. This didn’t feel like nothing.

He continued to pace and tried to make sense of his crazy emotions. Every day for the past couple of weeks, there was something. Headaches. Upset stomach. Lack of appetite. Moodiness—more than usual.

Why wasn’t Heather reacting?

Just now, when all the color drained from her face, he was sure she was full of it when she insisted she was fine. Her surprised ignorance, however, wasn’t an act.

Taking out his phone, he pulled up the calendar marked with cycles and fertility phases, and it took ten seconds to realize he was kidding himself. All the research he’d done into how this making a baby thing happened only confused the matter. Some expectant moms could point to a missed cycle. Others had unusual periods. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if he and Heather created their own category. One where he suspected she was pregnant before she did.

Focusing on the task at hand, it didn’t take long to set the table and get everything ready. When he climbed the stairs into the loft, he found her snoozing on the sofa with the television tuned to Nickelodeon. Even when she slept, Heather put being a mom first.

A huge lump of emotion lodged in his chest.

Bella crept up on him while he was lost in thought. She slotted her little hand into his and tugged until he looked down.

“Mommy is tired a lot.”

God. Even their daughter knew something was going on.

He winked and gave her hand a squeeze. “Maybe she needs a time-out?” He chuckled.

Bella nodded enthusiastically. Thank god, she had no idea what kind of time-out he envisioned.

With a sweetness that only a child with the purest of hearts had, Bella left his grasp and went to her mom. She kissed her face, and whispered, “Mom, dinner.”

Heather roused and smiled. “I love you, Bells.”

His heart melted. “My girls,” Brody murmured.

“I dozed off,” Heather admitted with an embarrassed smirk. She sat up and laughed when he and Bella each took one of her hands and hauled her to her feet.

She asked, “Will Kelly be joining us for dinner?”

“No, no,” Bella emphatically declared. “She was tired, so I put her to bed with the others. She wants to stay in my room, okay?”

Heather looked at him.

He smiled and nodded his understanding. “Your call, honey. Now, who’s hungry? Mom made chicken and dumplings.”

“Me, me,” Bella chirped before dashing off.

Heather wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned against him. “Are you going to say anything else about the doll?”

“No,” he told her. “The details aren’t important. But you are, Ms. Clarke, and I believe it’s time for me to exercise some control before you run yourself ragged.”

“What does that mean?” She sniggered.

He wagged his brows, and leered, “I’m working on a time-out scenario. A very adult time-out.”

“Will I be naked?” she teased.

“Count on it.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“Yes,” he drawled. “You’ll be using your words.”

A cloud of suds and steam filled the shower. As Heather scrubbed her legs with an exfoliating sponge, a steady thrum of arousal made her hands tremble.

She loved this part of their intimate life. When Brody told her to get ready, it turned her on not knowing what he planned.

Rinsing beneath the spray, she cupped a handful of water between her legs and moaned when her body reacted to the small touch. At this rate, she’d be swollen and dripping before things got started.

The shower door flew open, and Brody stood there—naked and beautifully erect. He saw her hand between her legs and grunted. “No touching.”

“I wasn’t,” she pouted.

The man had a lusty grin that always managed to steal her sense. “I believe that’s my responsibility.”

She gave him a dose of shade and added an unmistakable smirk. “Well, if that’s the case, what are you waiting for?”

He gasped. “Tsk, tsk. Naughty, naughty.”

Oh, crap. Was she in for a bit of Brody Jensen’s specialty? Edging and orgasm denial?

“Ah.” He snickered. “I see the light of understanding in your eyes.”

The devil! She flicked water at his face and pulled on the door. “Go away. Let me finish.”

He laughed. “Maybe I’ll join you.”

“No!” she screeched with a hand planted atop her flowered shower cap. “My head will get wet, and nothing ruins a mood quicker than having to stop to dry my hair.”

He acquiesced but pointed at his cock. “Nothing ruins his mood.”

Her sexy man needed a little reminder who he was dealing with. She liked the obedient role but never hesitated to make her own points. With no warning, she wrapped a hand around his lovely erection and stroked the full length.

After a couple of groan-inducing squeezes, he grabbed her wrist. “Either get on your knees or stop right now.”

She licked her lips and contemplated some raunchy mouth fucking. Tempting, but no. Her body was throbbing with need. A need that required him to be inside her.

At least, she was honest.

Reluctantly releasing him, she remembered his taunt about using her words. Brody taught her how to stoke the fire with filthy language. Mr. English Professor liked it dirty.

“Know what I want?” She gave him a sly smile.

“Do tell,” he replied. His satisfied smile spurred her on.

“You can’t guess?”

He snorted because she was so obviously messing with him.

“Well, I’m pretty sure it involves my dick destroying your pussy. If there are nuances or subtleties, perhaps you’d care to share.”

A blush hotter than the steamy shower set her senses ablaze. He wasn’t kidding about the destructive power he wielded. A sudden shyness zapped her brain, and she shut up.

“Wow,” he drawled. “That must be one hell of a dirty thought.”

“Yeah, well, you have yourself to blame.”

His devastating grin set off a multi-alarm blaze in her center.

“Leave it to me. I know just what you need.”

She finished the shower and dried off in record time. After five minutes of primping and a quick spritz of the perfume he liked, she was all but running for the bedroom.

He’d set quite a stage. The Tantra chair was beside the open sliders leading to their private patio. Around the room, candles provided a soft glow. A folded towel and a container of slippery lubricant made her pussy tingle. But what grabbed her attention and sent Heather into a carnal meltdown were the spreader bar and cuffs he held like weapons.

“Is this what milady had in mind?”

The gods blessed him with a lover whose perversions and desires perfectly matched his. One look at the fire in her eyes when she saw the kinky equipment told Brody he was right. Not all the time, but certainly on occasion, Heather liked playing along the slut fault line. She quivered at his touch whenever he took her for his pleasure. Pleasing him and gratifying his desires made her drip with arousal.

And he was happy to comply because she was so beautifully responsive that her pleasure sometimes exceeded his own.

Her shy smile made his heart thump faster. He grinned.

“I asked a question.” He waved the bar and cuffs. “Yes? No?”

Because she was fucking perfect, her answer was half sarcasm and half seductress. “Whatever pleases you, Brody.”

“Then yes, it is. No take backs.” He chuckled.

Her adorable blush made his hard cock throb. She had a filthy mind and was up for pretty much anything, but even after all this time, she retained a fragile innocence that spoke to his heart—not just his dick.

“My hands are a bit full,” he joked. “Why don’t you do the butt plug honors? Pick something pretty.”

When her eyes darted to the folded towel and lubricant, she bit her lip. Heather enjoyed her growing collection of princess plugs.

He put the bar and cuffs on the floor next to the Tantra chair and made sure they had complete privacy.

“May I have this one?” she asked.

In her hand was a modestly small silver plug with a pretty purple gem. It was going to look beautiful in her ass.

He took it and put the toy on the towel. Then he had her kneel.

She tried not to giggle when he started circling her with his hands clasped behind his back. It was his professor shtick made memorable by a bobbing cock.

“Explain why you didn’t eat lunch. What have I said about taking care of yourself?”

“Oh. I, uh, got busy. That’s all.”

“Busy is not an excuse, Heather.”

She looked at him. He saw by her expression that she understood he wasn’t speaking empty words.

“I know. My bad.”

Well, shit. She just made this a whole lot easier.

He walked to within a few inches of her face and taunted her with his erection.

“Do you want me to fuck you?”

Her reply was instant, breathy, and serious. “Yes, Brody. Please.”

He ran his thumb on her bottom lip and stood there while she tried to suck on it as if it were his dick.

“I want your promise, Heather. No shitting around. We’ve come too far to backslide now.”

“I understand,” she murmured. “It’s important for me to stay healthy.”

Thank fuck she got it in one go because he was through playing.

“Lay over the end of the chair. Ass up.”

She rocked off her knees like a goddess and went to the Tantra chair. When she was in position, he made a demand that got an instant reaction.

“Open yourself, woman. Spread your ass cheeks.”

Her hands visibly trembled when she reached back to do as he asked. The vulnerable position and her surrender turned him on.

Moving into her field of vision, he uncapped the lube and held up the butt plug. Squeezing a glob onto the plug’s tip, he leered at her and grunted. “Don’t tense. Just give in.”

Inserting the plug took a few tries, but by the time it slid in, and the gem settled against her hole, they were both breathing heavily.

He patted her ass. “Purple is a good color. Very regal. Perfect for your royal sexiness. Now stand and kiss me.”

She levered off the chair and rocked her hips. The kiss she gave him almost triggered the smoke alarm—that was how hot it was.

After that, he essentially mauled her from head to toe. He threw her onto the bed and put his mouth everywhere except her pussy. The love bites that made her crazy got his poor cock throbbing like a mother.

He tortured her tits—sucking and biting her nipples with randy abandon. She tried to touch him, but he kept her wrists in his grasp.

“I think you’re ready,” he growled against her skin. “Sit on the chair.”

She was unsteady and shaking with need but did what he asked. He approached and started by instructing her to hold up her hands.

He took his time placing the padded cuffs on her wrists. She watched every move.

“Lie back and lift your knees.”

Her soft whimper was sexy and exciting. Experienced at finding her center of balance on the wicked fuck lounge, she lay back on the lower curve and lifted her legs. The second she did, he was there with the bar.

The grating sound as he adjusted the metal pole was so different from the hushed sounds of her breathing. She quivered when the first ankle cuff tightened. He pushed her thighs wide and started on the second ankle restraint. After that, he quickly affixed the cuffs to the bar and stepped back to admire his handiwork.

“Very fuckable.” He chuckled while casually stroking his cock.

He swung a leg over the chair and sat between her spread legs. With a couple of adjustments, he had her in position.

He spread her open, his breath catching when the evidence of her creamy arousal was clear. He gently plucked at her clit, causing her to moan and tense.

Taking his time, he edged her arousal with only his hands and fingers. Narrating with crude precision took him to the furthest reaches of his control. She was shaking and begging as he enjoyed her dripping pussy.

He’d had enough. Standing but still straddling the chair, he got up in her face.

“Use your words, beautiful lady. Tell me what you want. Tell me what I can do to you.”

She whimpered and struggled for composure. “Oh god, Brody. My pussy aches for you. It hurts so much,” she cried.

“More fingers?”

“No. No. More, need more.”

He smiled. “By more, do you mean my cock?”

“Oh god, yes.”

“Inside you? Is that what you want, pretty baby?”

A full-body shudder made her quiver all over. “Yes. Fuck me, please.”

He moved her into a devastatingly vulnerable position. He pushed the bar until her ass left the padded lounger. The purple plug taunted him, but her pussy was pure invitation. An invitation he took.

With a hand guiding his cock and the other pushing the bar until she was beautifully open, he pumped the fat head of his dick into her juicy passage. The plug made for a tightness that felt glorious.

“Relax,” he demanded. “Let me fuck you, baby. Give in to my cock.”

She moaned.

When her wet warmth cradled his entire length, he marveled again at the inferno radiating from her pussy.

They started slow. Going deep, he thrust forcefully and became lost in the lewd symphony of squishing sounds that revealed her need. He used the bar to ruthlessly take advantage—stroking over and over with mighty grunts that punctuated each commanding thrust.

He rubbed her sweet clit until she howled. With his cock buried inside her, Brody brought her to a shaking climax. Before the tremors calmed, he sucked on her nipples, and demanded, “Again.”

This time, he put his hands beneath her ass and changed his angle of penetration. Molten lava arousal drenched his cock.

She was helpless with her wrists tethered to the bar that forced her legs open.

“Come again, baby. Come again so I can bathe your pussy with my seed.”

She jerked and shook. Her pussy squeezed the fuck out of his cock. He held still and enjoyed the show. Crying her need, she begged him to finish it, but he just laughed and surged against her spread pussy.

“Don’t give up, Heather. Squeeze harder. Feel my cock.”

She gave as good as she got. The spasm, when it hit, blew his mind. Her sweet pussy convulsed, a flood unleashed, and she stiffened. He praised her cunt. Lavished words of love laced with filthy lust as she came undone.

And then he fucked her like a madman. The roaring fire in her core scorched his cock. She cried his name and begged for more. The noises he made when his cock exploded came from his soul.

When his balls were empty, he couldn’t believe they’d survived.

His hands shook as he removed the cuffs and bar. The towel came in handy to mop up the flood. She whimpered and trembled all over when he pulled on the plug. Her ass didn’t want to let go, and a sense of lusty triumph filled him.

She was completely subdued and barely conscious when he carried her to their bed.

Brody didn’t know how he knew, but he just did. Heather was pregnant. Their wild passion had made a baby. He couldn’t wait for her to figure it out so their next path along the journey of love could begin.

Bella was going to be a big sister.

Heather was getting an answer to her dreams.

Though it was the wrong time to think about Alex’s vow to kill someone for threatening the family, he did.

He watched her sleep and came to the only viable conclusion.

Would he kill to protect her and their family?

Fuck, yeah.