Scratching at the scruff along my jaw, I say, “He has a point. Sam holds all the cards. Even if we bullshit her that she doesn’t have the upper hand. Right now, she and Senator Baker are calling the shots. We can only mitigate the severity of everything by playing along.”
We go silent when our food is delivered, waiting for the staff to be out of earshot.
“Listen, I won’t have you assholes giving up. We have plans in the works,” August snaps. “And Rowan, you’ll do your part. Samantha isn’t dumb, so she knows it’s a ruse, but it’s one she wants to play. So, let’s play until we hear back from Teagan.” Then he picks up his burger, and right before he takes a bite, I hear him mumble, “Because we have more than ourselves to fight for now.”
Just as I’m about to ask him what the fuck he’s talking about, the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I watch as a smile lights August’s face, Liam’s mouth drops open, and Karl’s hazel eyes dilate, and I know she’s finally here.
I turn just in time to see Emma walk through the door with Shay and three other guys-guys that are standing way too damn close. One has his hand on the small of her back.
“Who the fuck are those assholes?” I bark.
“One’s Reign,” Liam offers. “But I’m not sure about the other two.”
Karl hops from his chair. “That’s dead and deader if they don’t put at least ten feet between them and my angel.”
August cackles. “It’s good to have you back finally. I thought you were going to turn into a morose fucker for sure.”
Before I can fully take in Emma’s now reddish-blonde hair, a shriek that we’ve all become familiar with rises above all the chatter in the room.
Samantha is on her feet and charging in Emma’s direction. Karl is the first to take off, but we all follow a nanosecond behind him.
A wall forms in front of Emma before Sam can get within fifteen feet of her.
Maybe I won’t end them just yet.
“Do it if yuh tink yuh bad,” Shay seethes, stepping around Reign and the two other guys guarding Emma.
Emma’s hands push at the bodies blocking her. “Is this really necessary? I’m not some damn damsel in distress. Move,” she commands.
My heart stops when Emma steps into view. I survey her, taking in the blush of her skin and the fullness of her lips.
Have her breasts gotten bigger? I continue my perusal and stop when my eyes take in her??
“You stupid bitch. How the fuck did you get pregnant? It was supposed to be me,” Sam shouts, and everyone’s gaze whips in her direction.
“What the fuck do you mean it was supposed to be you?” Liam hisses. “What did you do?”
Ignoring Liam’s question, Samantha slides her arm through mine, and I’m tempted to shove her away, but she taps at the watch around her wrist-a reminder to fall in line. But how the fuck are we supposed to fall in line when Emma’s pregnant? She’s goddamn pregnant.
We need to reassess. My nostrils flare at the sight of the guys touching her. Like they’re staking their claim. I have to work hard to keep my face blank.
Assessing the situation, I move quickly. Samantha needs to be states away from Emma. I’m mad she’s breathing our girl’s air at all.
“Let’s go, Samantha. You have nothing to worry about. It’s probably some rando’s baby. Emma was never too selective with who she let between her legs. Look how easy it was for her to spread them for all of us,” I choke out and force myself to turn away. Ignoring the gasp of shock, I put one foot in front of the other, hoping to get Samantha away before she does something stupid.
Once we’re outside of the cafe, I breathe for the first time in ten minutes. Sam’s whining about something, but I could give two shits what it is. I’m too focused on August’s mumbled words earlier.
‘
Because we have more than ourselves to fight for now.’
EMMA
“Let’s go, Samantha. You have nothing to worry about. It’s probably some rando’s baby. Emma was never too selective with who she let between her legs.”
Rowan’s words are a dagger to the heart. He caught me flat-footed. I couldn’t find the words to flay him for his bullshit ass statement. But I shouldn’t have been surprised. That’s who Rowan has always been. I was just the fool who believed he changed.
Stupid fucker.
The cafeteria moves out of focus as tears blur my vision. I can’t fight the exasperated huff that escapes me as the distorted image of them walking away assaults me.
I think I see Karl reach for me for a moment, but by the time my eyes close to prevent the tears from falling, all four of their backs are to me. Rowan is linked arm-in-arm with Sam, and as they exit the cafe, she turns around and smirks. Well, she attempts one anyway. Her face is still as frozen by Botox as I remember.
“Come on, Ry, let’s get you out of here. We can eat back at the house,” Shay whispers in my ear as she tugs me free from my trance.
“Those are the assholes you used to be with?” Elias growls, but I still can’t find the will to speak.
“Fucking pussyholes is what they are. Wait ’til I see them later,” Shay snaps.
I walk aimlessly behind her, not uttering a sound.
It’s not like I expected them to fall at my feet with endless apologies or for them to say their choice was a mistake and I was really their Chosen. I just wasn’t expecting them to find out about my pregnancy and dismiss it like it’s not one of theirs.
“Emma,” Reign sighs exasperatedly, which means he’s been trying to get my attention for a long time.
“Sorry. How long were you calling me?”
Reign’s mouth curves into a sympathetic smile, and I want to punch him. I don’t need him or anyone else feeling sorry for me. I’m one sad smile away from screaming.
“Not long. I wanted to know if you still wanted to attend class later?” Reign states.
His question only fuels my rage. I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I have to walk around despondently while they are unaffected?
“Yes,” I snap, stomping up the stairs and into the house.
No one calls me on my bratty-ass attitude, and it’s for the best. I’ll apologize later. I know I’m being petulant, but I can’t seem to find the fucks to give at the moment.
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.