Page 125 of Devious Corruption

“Okay?”

“Joey called today.”

I tense. If he’s hurt her, I will break his face.

“Yeah?”

“He said he wants to pay you back for the credit card and loan you paid off.” She breathes softly and smiles. “It’s a good sign, right? Him wanting to do that?”

Until he’s proven he can be trusted, I’m not giving him too much credit for anything.

“A small one, yes.”

“I know you hate him?—"

“I don’t hate him.” I correct her. “But if he blows this chance he’s getting, I might change my mind.”

She wiggles closer. “He also said he’s leaving in the morning for the east coast. You got him a job at one of your warehouses?”

“One of the ports that receive shipments, yes. I can protect him better this way, and he means a lot to you. But if he hurts you again?—”

“He won’t. He’s not like Keith. I think he’s always been sort of under Keith’s thumb, but now he has his own path.”

“Still.”

“I know.” She sighs and rests her head on my chest again. “Thank you, though.”

Quiet falls over us, and I’m about to fall asleep when she speaks again.

“Nicolette is coming home soon for a break.”

“She’s fine with us being together, and it wouldn’t matter if she wasn’t.” I get ahead of her worry.

“Oh, I know that.” She snuggles into me deeper. “I just thought when she comes home, it would be a good time to tell her about the baby.”

“The baby?”

“Yeah. Our baby.”

My heart swells.

I’m the luckiest bastard in the whole fucking world.

“Then I guess we should move up the wedding.” I roll her to her back, sliding my hands between our bodies until I find her wet and waiting for me.

“I was thinking the same thing,” she breathes.

“And we’ll have our family.”

“Ours.” She leans into me.

“Ours.” I kiss her. Then bring her to the edge of the universe, riding the waves alongside her.

Because she’s mine.

All mine.

The room crackles with tension. My jaw aches, my fingernails dig into my palms. If I could punch something or someone, maybe I could release all this damn anger building inside of me.