“I do,” My voice sounded quiet. I didn’t remember much about my pregnancy besides the hurt and anger. I was so angry at Nolan for taking away any happy memories of my pregnancy, but that wasn’t the important part. I was there for Emmett, even when I couldn’t be there for myself.
“I thought I would be catching up on sleep before the baby gets here, but no matter how many naps I take, I never feel rested. I feel bloated and achy and uncomfortable.”
I gave her a sympathetic smile, “It will all be over soon, and eventually you catch up,” “When?”
“Two years, three?” I shrugged, smiling. I wanted to lessen the blow that I wasn’t joking.
My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it, sitting up. Nora tracked my movements and I put Caspien on speaker.
“Hi,” I clutched the phone.
“All good here. Cali is heading back; I got confirmation from her driver,” I let out a deep breath and sunk into the chair.
“Amazing, see you soon,” I hung up.
Nora smiled at me, “I told you so,” She shrugged and let her eyes close.
Cali got back before the guys and walked into Caspein’s wearing her cloak, a gleam in her eye. I raked my gaze over her confirming she was in one piece.
She took the seat at the end of the couch where Nora was balled up, “I think I’m drunk,” She announced, smiling widely.
“How?” I asked, laughing.
“From drinking?” She gave me a wry smile, “Anyone want a drink?” She asked, moving to stand.
“Sit. I’ll get something, but first fill us all in, and then you can continue on your path to drunkenness.”
“Continue on my quest,” She gestured to her coat, “I’m medieval now,”
“Apparently,” I shook my head and walked up behind her on the couch and placed a kiss on her head. She smelled like cheap beer, strong liquor, and smoke.
When I went to choose some wine from Caspien’s cellar, I heard the guys come in. I felt Caspien’s presence behind me; it was solid and warm. He wrapped his arms around me, leaning his chin on my shoulder.
“That’s a good vintage. She’s tipsy; she won’t appreciate it,” He frowned, looking at the bottle I chose.
“Oh, I liked the flowers on it,” I put it back, shrugging, “We all can’t be wine snobs. Plus, she did just go into an assassins’ den for us.”
He laughed once and kissed my neck, “Fine, let’s bring out the champagne.”
He stood up and reached above me for some bottles, and I went to grab some glasses and a sparkling water for Nora.
Cali was in Holden’s lap on a chair, and Griffen had Nora’s feet in his lap, massaging them. It was such a nice scene. Cali and Nora seemed like complete opposites, and so did Griffen and Holden. But everyone balanced each other and completed us and I couldn’t imagine this group without any one of them.
“Start,” Caspien said. Cali reached for a bottle, “Start talking first,” He commanded. She sat back and crossed her arms, “Fine,” Caspien popped the cork and poured her a glass, earning him a satisfied smile.
“Why didn’t I get one?” Holden complained, and Caspien sighed, pouring everyone a glass before tugging me into his lap. I leaned into his steady warmth, savoring his strong presence behind me.
“I met a guy claiming to be him,” Cali rolled her eyes.
“That was it?” Griffen asked.
“I literally said one thing. You’re going to need to hold your questions,” Cali stared at Griffen, who held his hands up and muttered an apology.
“I talked to a woman at the bar, strange woman actually,” She paused, shaking her head once, “I told her that I wanted to meet him, give him a trial run. I handed her a wad of cash which hurt me to my core, and the card you gave me,” She took a long sip, “Also had some horrid liquor,” She winced.
No one said anything, waiting for her to go on.
“When I was leaving, someone stopped me and asked me to sit with him. He claimed to be the person I was looking for,” She snorted.
“What did he look like?” Caspien asked.
“Black hair that was shoulder-length, gray eyes, lightly tanned skin, scars, full lips-” Caspien tightened under me.
“Okay, okay stop,” Holden cut in, “He sounds fucking handsome,” He muttered, wrapping his arms around Cali, almost spilling his glass. “Get this; he was wearing a cloak. I would have fit right in,” She arranged her cloak, admiring it.
“Is that him?” I asked Caspien.
“I can’t be sure. When he came to me it was years ago. His sides of his head were shaved, but yes, black hair and gray eyes.” “Nice lips?” Holden asked.
“I guess you could say that,” Caspien responded. Cali snorted once into her glass.
“Did he give you a name?”
“John,” Cali shrugged.
“You’re joking,” Griffen cut in. Cali shook her head.
“I have never heard him use anything other than one of those ridiculous aliases,” Caspien said.
“The Silent Assassin, The Blade,” Griffen ticked off names on his fingers, “The Deathless Night,” “Loved that one,” Holden laughed, “This guy really is poetic,”
“Midnight Assassin,” Griffen went on.
Holden shrugged, “Eh, not his best.”
“Blaze, The Beta Killer,” Griffen looked at me, “He was going through a phase.” He explained.
“Clearly,” I shook my head, smiling.
“Cheshire Wolf,”
“Doesn’t even make sense,” Holden said, taking a slug of his drink.
“Does he get these names, or is given them?” I asked.
“Both,” Caspien said, placing his arm around my stomach and pulling me closer, I settled into his chest and let the warmth radiate through me.
“Five knives,” Griffen went on, “The Serpent, and now John,” he shrugged.
“That is one hefty list,” Cali noted.
“I want details, everything that you saw, heard. Everything you can remember from your conversation.”
Cali sighed but went into full detail, everyone’s attention was on her, and I think she was enjoying it.
“Well, if that truly was him, then I think he will call,” Caspien said. He interlaced his fingers with mine and squeezed my hand.
“So now we wait,” Holden said.
“For how long?” Cali asked.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.