Page 56 of Don’t Break My Heart (Secrets of Ravens Hollow #3)

Twelve months later

I’m lying out in the Italian sun, the sound of lapping waves and chirping birds relaxing me into a peaceful doze.

The sun is hot and feels heavenly beaming down on my bare skin.

I have gone from lazing on the sofa inside our villa to lying out on the pool deck.

It’s been a week since I took my last pill and over twelve months since I made the decision to work on my mental health, not just cover up the shit with booze and pills.

It’s been a rocky road, some weeks worse than others.

But the boys have been with me every step of the way.

Making sure I eat properly and exercise when I’m feeling out of control. My therapist has also been a godsend.

A week ago, I finally felt strong enough to attempt coming off the pills.

And so far, so good. I have been on vacation with the boys the whole time, so only time will tell if I can manage without them when I get back to Ravens Hollow next week.

The only side effect I have noticed is this constant feeling I’m about to be sick.

It’s like I’m on a boat or I have had a massive night out with the girls.

An uncomfortable swirling that comes and goes throughout the day.

“A cocktail for the lady?” Reef’s cheeky voice stirs me from my daydreaming.

I glance at him to find he’s holding a brightly colored layered drink with a little umbrella in the side and a slice of pineapple accompanying it.

I swing my legs over the side of the day bed and take the glass from him.

I take a sip. “Fruity. But I don’t think you can call it a cocktail when there is no alcohol present. ”

“It’s really just a fancy fruit smoothie.” He chuckles. “Romeo was worried you didn’t eat enough for breakfast,” he says, but he looks distracted. His eyes are roaming over my body, that look of lust I have come to know well in his green eyes.

“I ate plenty for breakfast. But I’ll take the drink.” I let my eyes run leisurely over him as well. He’s one sexy motherfucker, in just his board shorts, his broad chest glistening from the swim he took not ten minutes ago.

“You should cover up, you’re going to burn.”

I run my hands up and over my bare tits. “Funny you’re so concerned when I’m pretty sure the tent in your pants is you appreciating my half-naked state.”

He bends down to kiss me. “All of me is appreciating your beautiful body. I just don’t want you so burned I can’t touch you later.”

“We wouldn’t want that now, would we.” I smirk back at him as I take up my bikini top and slip it back on then throw a shawl over my shoulders.

Sipping at my smoothie, I am feeling kind of hot and strangely hungover when I haven’t had a lick of alcohol the entire time I have been here. Romeo’s smoothie also tastes kind of strange. I glance down at it. “What did he put in this?” I ask Reef.

“Why, is it bad?” He takes it from me and has a sip. “Tastes good to me.”

“Yeah, okay.” I have another sip and my stomach turns. Fuck. I shove the thing back into his hands and stand, making a run for the downstairs bathroom. I push open the door just in time before I empty the contents of my stomach .

Shit, why do I feel hungover? Is it just my body learning to live without the pills? I move over to the sink and wash my face, then turn around to find all four of them waiting at the door.

“What the fuck, doll face, you sick?” Romeo asks, concern etched on his handsome face.

“Um, no. What did you put in that smoothie?”

“Fruit, mostly. A banana, mango, pineapple, and some ice cream, that’s it.”

“Maybe it was something you ate last night?” Orlando suggests.

“We all had the same pasta. And I cooked it. I will have you know that no one has ever gotten food poisoning from anything I have cooked. Ever,” Romeo snips, taking personal offence to his brother’s comment.

“Probably too much sun,” Reef says with a smile as I pass them all and walk back into the living room.

Onyx hands me a glass of ice water, and I drink it down like a camel.

His hand comes to my back. “You have been off all week, Sloane. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Have I?” I ask. I knew I had been feeling a bit off, but I was just putting it down to being off the pills. Now I’m not so sure, if Onyx has noticed it as well. I start walking up the stairs, heading in the direction of the kitchen.

Onyx follows me. “You’ve been off your food and more tired than usual.”

“We’re on vacation, I’m supposed to spend half the day sleeping.” I open the fridge, looking for something to eat. Then close it again and go to the pantry. Finding a loaf of bread, I take out a slice and bite into it immediately. When I turn back, they are all up here with us .

Reef is grinning at me, way too happy for someone who just witnessed me vomiting my guts up. Romeo matches his expression, like the two of them are in on a little secret.

“What the fuck has gotten into the two of you?” I point my bread in their direction.

“They think you’re pregnant,” Orlando says with a little too much excitement in his voice.

Onyx is the only one who looks at me with more worry in his expression.

“It’s probably just my body adjusting to being off the pills.

I was on them for years, and Ricky said this could happen.

” Pregnant. What the fuck are they on? I shake my head, trying to walk away from them.

They all have vacation brain. That’s all this is.

But as I think it over, I realize me vomiting just now and me being off my food aren’t the only symptoms I have had lately.

My tits are so fucking sore, like all the time, and Onyx is right, I’m sleepy as fuck.

And those are not symptoms of me coming off my pills.

Fuck. I feel lightheaded as the color drains from my face.

I’m fucking pregnant, aren’t I? I’m on birth control, I couldn’t be.

The room blurs, and I feel someone catch me right before I hit the ground.

“Sloane, are you okay?” Onyx says, his voice soft. His voice washes over me, all warm and comfortable like a blanket.

“Call a doctor,” I hear Orlando shout from behind me.

“I think I just need to lie down,” I tell him, and he picks me up and carries me down the stairs to my room.

He places me on my bed then moves in behind me, hugging me to his body.

But there is no way I’m going to rest now, even cocooned by his strong arms. My heart is racing like crazy.

Reef and Romeo are right. I fucking know it deep down inside, one of these motherfuckers has knocked me up .

I lie there staring at the wall, listening to Onyx’s calm breathing, trying to work out how the hell I deal with this.

I know they all want kids, well, at least Romeo, Reef, and Orlando.

Onyx might be more on my side with this one.

And I have never wanted to be a mom. I’m not sure if it’s because of my fucked-up childhood or just because my lifestyle is not a place to bring a kid up in, but it’s just never been on my radar.

Even after watching Harley with the twins.

Mila and Elijah are adorable, and I love them to bits, but I get to hand them back when they start crying or need a change.

A knock comes at the door, and I glance over to see Orlando. “Sorry to wake you but the doctor is here.”

I sit up in a rush. “What, why did you call the doctor?”

“I’m worried about you.” He smiles sheepishly.

I run a hand through my tangled hair, knowing there is no better time than now to face my fears.

“Let me chuck on some clothes.” I move to my walk-in and throw on a summer dress, then pull my hair up into a high ponytail, needing it off my face.

I follow Orlando back upstairs to meet this doctor they have gone and overreacted by getting when I clearly don’t need one.

Orlando keeps a hand on me like he’s worried I might just faint again.

“Sloane, this is Doctor Harrison.”

“I remember,” I snip back at him. I have met this dude before, back on the island when I rolled my ankle. What I don’t understand is why he’s in Italy. But that is hardly the first question I need to ask him.

“Nice to see you again, Sloane.” He smiles at me warmly. “Looks like that ankle has healed up nicely.”

“Yeah, good as new.”

“Can we go someplace so I can look you over? Orlando is concerned about you.”

“Orlando worries too much,” I mutter, rolling my eyes just for him .

Orlando grins back at me, not giving a shit about my snippy attitude. “Use the media room,” he tells the doctor, showing him into the room off to the side of the kitchen.

I follow them in, sitting on the sofa, my stomach churning.

“Give us some privacy,” Doctor Harrison tells him, and Orlando moves out of the room, closing the door behind him. The doctor’s attention comes to me, and he smiles softly. “Your husband said you threw up this morning, that maybe you have been feeling unwell all week and off your food.”

“They think I’m pregnant.”

His brow rises. “And do you think you could be?”

“Maybe.” I shrug, not wanting to admit it out loud.

“Okay then. Let’s do a test and see.” He fiddles around in his doctor’s bag, producing a small cup. “If you can get me a sample, I can test right now.”

I take the small cup and slip it into the pocket of my dress. Every step toward the bathroom feels heavy and slow. I don’t know if I want the answer to the question. If I pee in this little cup and it comes up positive, my life will change forever. I don’t even really know how I feel about that.

I do my business then wash my hands, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I don’t look any different. Could this really be happening? My stomach rolls. Shit, if I’m not pregnant, I’m actually a little worried about what is wrong with me.

I step back out into the living room and move quickly through to the media room before I have to come face to face with any of the boys. Once back inside the room, I pass Doctor Harrison my sample. He places a little test strip in there then turns back to me.

“Now we wait a couple of minutes. Can I do some other checks while we wait?” he asks .

“Okay,” I say nervously, not caring about the other tests he wants to run. All I can do is stare at the little test strip that could turn my world upside down.

I feel him place a blood pressure cuff on me and pump it up. Then he checks my heart with a stethoscope. “Can I get you to lie down for me on the sofa so I can check your stomach.”

I lie down and lift my dress.

“Are your symptoms worse at any particular time of day?” He presses in at different points, his hands cold on my warm skin.

“Not really. They come and go randomly. Sometimes after eating, sometimes if I haven’t eaten in a while.”

“Okay, you can sit up now.” He moves back over to the little test strip, and I watch him like a hawk.

I sit up, nervously twisting the ring on my left hand. I feel like my heart is about to stop.

“Congratulations, Sloane, looks like you’re having a baby.” He smiles at me.

I stare back at him, his words rattling round in my head. A baby. I’m having a baby. “Okay,” I respond, not able to find any other words.

“My guess would be you’re between six and eight weeks along, but we would need to do some blood tests and a dating scan to confirm.” I feel his eyes on me, but I can’t look at him. I’m not sure if I’m about to burst into tears or puke all over the floor. “Should I get Orlando?” he asks, unsure.

“No, just give me a minute.”

He gathers his things and closes the door to the media room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I rest my hand on my belly. There is a baby growing inside of me.

Then the strangest thing happens. I smile.

A small sliver of excitement runs through me.

This is not the life I imagined for myself.

Not at all. But maybe, just maybe, it’s better.

I have four of the most caring protective men guiding me through life, and I know they would all make the best fathers.

A knock comes at the door.

When I don’t respond, the door opens, and Orlando comes into view. “Are you alright? You have been in here a while.” They are also impatient and have massive fucking boundary issues when it comes to me.

“Where are the other boys?” I sigh heavily, knowing this is as good a time as any to tell them.

“We’re here, sweetheart.” Romeo pushes his way past Orlando. And Onyx and Reef appear in the room as well.

“What’s wrong, Sloane? Are you sick?” Reef asks, and I love that he is so concerned.

Onyx takes the seat beside me, hugging me close to him. “Whatever is going on, we’re here for you,” he offers.

I suck in a deep breath, knowing once the words leave my lips, there is no going back, this is real. But it’s already real. There is a small human growing inside of me. “I hope so, because we’re having a baby.”

I feel Onyx tense and then hold me closer, if it’s even possible.

“Holy shit, I fucking knew it.” Romeo high-fives Reef, the two of them grinning, overjoyed with the news.

“This is amazing, Sloane,” Reef agrees.

Orlando is quieter, his eyes coming to mine in silent knowledge. “Are you okay?” he asks more seriously.

“Um. I think I’m in shock. I never considered being a mom. But I also never thought I would end up married and in a relationship with the four of you, and I have never been happier. Please just tell me we can do this. ”

“We can do this, treasure. We all love you like crazy. You can do anything, and you have all of us by your side to help.”

The End

If you haven’t read Wicked Games of Desire book one of Harley’s story yet, you can start it here and dive into her world. Or keep turning the page for a special sneak peek preview waiting just for you.