Page 29

I reached across the table. He gave me his hand. I smiled. “I wouldn’t want our jobs to take all our time either. And I want you to know if that is what you want, I’ll support you however I can. And if you want it to stay the way it is, no problem. I only want what makes you the happiest.”

“Thank you, Firefly. I’ll seriously consider it. And what makes me happiest is you and those babies.”

His words gave me a warm glow that lasted until our food was brought. We both ate hungrily, and it was crazy good. I gorged a bit and felt stuffed, but it was worth it. And I still had leftovers for the next day. We talked more to let our food digest before deciding it was time to leave.

Bones paid the bill, and we were almost to the exit when I looked up for some reason. It was like I sensed something. When I did, my eyes met a pair I knew well. I froze. Bones, hands on my back, pressed harder on me. I knew without looking that he saw what I did.

Standing in the doorway was Deon. He was alone, as far as I could tell.

His gaze went from my face and ran down my body until he stopped at my stomach.

I was wearing a dress that accentuated my tummy.

It was summer, and so hot that I liked to wear dresses or skirts and blouses made of thin, breathable fabrics.

I watched Deon’s eyes bulge, and then he snapped his gaze back up to my face, darted it over to Bones, and then his top lip curled.

“You lying bastard! You told me that she lost the baby. Well, it sure as hell doesn’t look like she did to me! What are you doing with her?” he snarled.

Deon took a step toward us. Like magic, I found Bones in front of me. His left hand was behind him, resting on my hip. I knew he wanted me to stay. I did, but I leaned to the left to peek around him and see Deon. My heart pounded, and I felt sick to my stomach. What was he doing in Cherokee?

“You need to step back,” Bones snapped.

“I want to know what’s going on here. She’s pregnant. You lied. Why are you with her?” Deon said louder.

The murmurs coming from behind us told me we had an audience. My face flushed. I’d be the talk of the town. Not knowing what to do, I rummaged in my purse to get out my cell phone. I debated calling the cops, but instead, I found Agony’s name and typed out a message.

Me: At Rossi’s. Deon here. Confronting us.

I went back to listening to Bones and Deon.

“Morton, you need to walk away and forget about Blythe. She’s no longer a part of your life. Forget her. It’s over,” Bones said forcefully.

“Like fuck, I’ll walk away. That’s my kid she’s carrying. You told me she miscarried. Some doctor you are. You wanted her for yourself, so you lied and then hooked up with her. The medical board should take your license,” Deon sneered.

“You’re welcome to report it, but you’ll be disappointed. Yes, Blythe is with me. You have no place in our lives,” Bones stated.

“That’s my baby. I won’t allow you to steal it. I’ll take the lying bitch to court. No judge will let her take my kid from me. You wait,” Deon hissed.

My phone vibrated, but I didn’t read the message. Bones was partially turning to look at me. I noticed he didn’t turn far enough so that he couldn’t see Deon. Bones smiled at me. Why was he smiling?

“Firefly, should we tell him the truth? I think it’s time he knew.”

All I could do was nod and mimic his smile.

I had no clue what he meant. Bones faced Deon, who was seething and had his fists clenched.

I saw the owner, Fausto Rossi, standing off to the side, frowning.

God, we’d never be allowed back here. He had come to our table to speak to Bones earlier, and I’d been introduced.

“Know what?” Deon snapped.

“Yes, I lied and told you she lost the baby in so many words. However, not only is that a lie, as you can see, but there was a bigger one you had no idea about. The baby isn’t yours, Morton.

It’s mine. We’ve had the testing to be sure.

Thank God it didn’t end up yours. I met Blythe at Treasures Down South eight months ago, well before you forced her to quit.

We started to have a relationship. She wanted to leave you for me.

“When she found out she was pregnant, she panicked. She was afraid I wouldn’t want the baby if it were yours, so she cut off contact with me.

I had no idea she was pregnant. After you beat her so severely that she needed medical attention, she came to find me.

Once we reconnected, I made sure she knew I didn’t care who contributed the sperm.

I’ll love and raise the baby because I love her.

However, God saw fit to make it mine,” Bones told him smugly.

I was astonished that the lie rolled off his tongue so smoothly. I wondered if he’d practiced this in case we ever encountered Deon. I made sure to continue to smile. My knees were weak, and I wanted to get out of here. All the eyes, the tension, and the anxiety were getting to me.

“I don’t believe a word you say,” Deon hissed.

“Deon, I don’t love you. I never did. You treated me as a prisoner. I was afraid of you, and you proved I had reason to be. I’m with Bones. I love him. This is our baby. You need to get on with your life,” I informed him, though my voice was shaky. I was clutching the back of Bones’ cut.

“Sir, you need to leave the premises immediately. You’ve caused enough of a scene and disturbed my customers,” Fausto said firmly. He walked over to stand near Bones and me.

“I’m not the one you should throw out. They’re trying to cheat me out of my kid. They’re liars!” Deon shouted.

This was getting worse. I waited for Deon to attack us.

His expression was changing to one I knew well.

It was the one he got before he beat me that night.

I tightened my hold on Bones’ cut and steeled myself.

It never happened. The door behind him opened, and Agony, Hulk, and Lethal walked in.

I was so relieved. I sighed and knew I’d fall if I didn’t sit soon.

“Here, sit,” Fausto said, placing a chair behind me. I didn’t know where he got it from. As I gratefully sat, Bones split his attention between me and Deon.

“I’m okay. Watch him,” I told my man. He was concerned.

“What’re you guys doing here?” Bones asked his brothers. I hoped he wouldn’t be upset that I texted Agony.

“We came to see if you needed us to help you rid Fausto’s wonderful establishment of annoying vermin. We heard it had suddenly been invaded. We can’t have that. To ruin this fantastic place would be a crime,” Agony said, smiling.

“Plus, we don’t want our sister, Blythe, upset,” Hulk added.

“We sure don’t,” Lethal commented.

Deon was trying to move, so he had all four Pagans in sight, but they spread out enough to make it impossible. He knew he couldn’t do anything. The truth of it made him furious. His gaze landed on me. Hatred poured from him.

“This isn’t over, Blythe. That baby is mine, no matter what this one says. I won’t give it up,” he hissed, then turned on his heel to leave.

Bones called after him, “You’d better stay away, Morton.”

Deon didn’t bother to respond as he slammed his hand on the door, shoving it open, and almost mowing down a couple entering.

As he disappeared, the last of my bravado evaporated.

I sagged in the chair, held my head, and sobbed.

Why did I say yes to dinner out? What was he doing in Cherokee?

He rarely came here. What would I do when his lawyer came after the babies? Despair hit me.

Thick arms I recognized well wrapped around my shoulders. Bones’ scent hit my nose. “Shh, Firefly, don’t. I won’t let him hurt you or our daughters. If he’s dumb enough to come after you, he’ll be dealt with,” he whispered, so only I could hear him.

I was too distraught to reply. As he comforted me, Agony and the others were talking to Fausto.

I couldn’t pay attention to what they said.

Minutes later, I was scooped up and carried outside to Bones’ SUV.

He lovingly put me in it, secured my belt, and drove me home.

I cried and stayed curled in a ball of misery the entire way.

I was losing hope I’d ever be free of Deon Morton.