Page 31 of From Angel to Rogue (Four Foxes #6)

KATY

You’re pregnant.

Two words I never thought I would ever hear again was now my reality.

Was this what people meant when they said to be careful what you wished for?

Because God gave me not one but three children at the same time. I was still figuring out a way to raise Luka, but now I had to raise two toddlers. That was, if they made it out safely. A different kind of fear ticked my heart, and I absentmindedly rubbed my belly.

Come out safe, please.

“Katy?” My brother’s worried eyes met mine just as Lan and I exited the doctor’s office.

“Matty,” I breathed, suddenly emotional at the sight of him, and he immediately folded me into his big arms.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes,” I said around the lump in my throat. “Turns out, I’m pregnant.”

He froze, and his shocked eyes flew to mine. “You’re pregnant?”

“Yes,” I said softly. “I’m going to be a mom, Matty. To twins, like us.”

I watched as my brother’s tough exterior crumbled. “Holy fuck, K.” Matty tightened his hug. “Now, I want to wrap my sister in bubble wrap and never let you go anywhere.”

“Yeah, same feeling,” Lan added from somewhere behind me.

I rolled my eyes at them. “I’m pregnant, not an invalid.”

They both zipped their mouths, knowing well not to say anything back.

The entire car ride back home, I couldn’t stop staring at the sonogram picture of my babies. They were two tiny blobs, so tiny like the size of apples, living and growing inside my belly right this moment. That thought itself made my head spin.

The sound of cartoons was going on full force when we entered the apartment about ten minutes later.

My eyes went straight to Luka, who was cuddled next to Sierra on the couch. They were sharing a huge bowl of Cheetos. Probably Sierra’s idea.

“Hey, guys.” Sierra paused the TV and tuned her attention to us. “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” I replied, smiling. “Thanks for picking him up.”

“It’s no big deal.” She shrugged, padding to Matty’s side, who wrapped his big arms around her and crushed her lips to a sweet kiss that left her blushing.

Shaking my head at those two, Lan and I walked over to Luka, who stood on the couch, eyeing us curiously.

“Hey, Luka,” Lan and I said at the same time.

“Hi, Katiew.” Luka leaned over the back of the couch. “Hey, Lawndon, Sira said you guys had work.”

“Yeah, but we’re back now.” I swooped to his side and pressed a kiss on his cheek. “How was your first day?”

“Good.” His eyes twinkled as he held up three fingers. “I made two friends, Gabbie and Link. We had pizza for lunch, and Ms. Nancy taught us about numbers.”

“Did you have fun, then?” I kept reaching out to ruffle his velvety hair, so he stopped playing jungle on the couch and crawled to my lap.

“Yes, Katiew.” His small, soft palm patted my hair. “You okay?”

He asked so sweetly that no words escaped through the emotion clogging my throat.

Thankfully, Lan scooted closer to us. “She’s fine, buddy.”

A squeal came from somewhere behind us, followed by, “Yay, I’m going to be a triple aunt.” Matty must’ve told Sierra the good news.

“What’s a triple aunt, Katiew?” Luka questioned, brows furrowed.

“I don’t know, baby.” I shook my head innocently. “Maybe it’s a word Sierra created.”

“Yeah, she says funny things all the time,” Luka agreed, giggling. “But I louve her.”

Just as Luka finished that sentence, Sierra whooshed in like a blur and hugged me from behind. “I’m so happy for you, Katy,” she whispered in my ear. “So, so happy.”

“Thanks, Si.” I flashed her a smile over my shoulder.

We didn’t want Luka to know I was pregnant yet. He just came in three days ago, and we didn’t want to bombard him with the news that there would be two toddlers with him soon. Lan and I decided to give him a week or so to settle in before we drop the news on him.

“Let’s get going, firecracker.” Matty tugged Sierra to his side. “Take care, K. I’ll see you soon, little fella.”

“Bye, Mr. Matty.”

The three of us waved to their backs as they left.

“So what should we do?” Lan asked, slouching so far back on the couch that his head was eye level to Luka. “Drink chocolate milkshakes? Watch The Lion King or change into comfy pajamas?”

“Say all of the above,” I whispered to Luka like it was a secret.

He nodded before turning to Lan with the seriousness of an Army veteran. “All of the above, Lawndon.”

“All the above it is.” Lan smiled, but his eyes were on me, looking at me like I was the blood pumping through his heart.

Right at that moment, it dawned on me how we could’ve had this all if it weren’t for my insistent need to chase perfection.

Lan and I could’ve been so happy a freaking long time ago, kids or no kids.

Because without my Lan, none of this would’ve mattered.

I knew that now.

I did this to myself, but I was given a second chance at everything I’d ever wanted.

And this time, I wasn’t going to ruin it for anything, even myself.

“Good morning, Landon,” I announced in the sweetest possible voice when Lan came rolling out of bed. I leaned over to wipe down the counter on the far end. The motion made my tits spill out of my low-cut sundress. I deliberately chose this instead of my modest ones so I could gauge his reaction

Through my lashes, I could see Lan’s eyes go straight to my chest and his gaze darkened as he came to a standstill.

“Morning,” he mumbled, taking the seat at the breakfast table right opposite me. “What are you doing?”

“Just cleaning up.”

“On a Saturday morning?” He scratched his head, but his eyes were still trained on the top of my chest. I was two sizes larger than usual. I thought it was because I’d started eating again, but now, I knew the real reason. No wonder they felt heavier and my nipples a shade darker.

Hiding my smirk, I slowly straightened myself. “Yeah, why not?”

A slight flush spread across his nose when his eyes met mine and found me watching him. “Umm, what?”

I raised a brow and threw the cloth away. “You asked me.” I bunched my arms under my chest, popping a hip.

“What?” A swallow worked down his throat. “What did I ask you?”

“Cleaning. Remember.” I tried hard not to let my coy smile show when he didn’t say a thing while his eyes raked over me like I was his only obsession.

My insides screamed with glee. I’d never been brave enough to play like this with him, but it served him right for toying with me.

“Lan.” I waved a hand in front of his face. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” He licked his lips.

My little tease session gets interrupted by the sweetest possible voice. “Katiew,” Luka mumbled, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he made his way to me.

He was wearing his cute green frog and red car pajama set that I got for him. I might have gone a little too overboard and completely revamped his closet with the most adorable and smartest wardrobe that I could find.

“Hey, Luka.” Before I could crouch down to meet him, Lan lifted him and plopped him on the tall breakfast chair while his little feet dangled in the air.

“Hey, buddy. Good sleep?” Lan asked him, returning to his previous seat. I didn’t miss the way Lan adjusted his pants in a flash of a second.

I guess I did affect him a lot more.

Let’s see how long you pretend to be aloof.

“Yes, Lawndon. I dreamed about dino’s attacking a munster.”

“Whoa, buddy. That must be some dream.”

It was natural to have a lisp at his age, but I sometimes worry if maybe it was because of his past. He was still small and thin, but I’d been making him eat a lot of good fats and proteins along with one too many treats.

As a mother, I shouldn’t really encourage them, but I just wanted him to get stronger while still not missing out on his childhood.

Luka nodded, slanting a shy smile my way.

“What do you want for brekkie?” I asked, coming over to his side. “Since it’s the weekend, you get to choose whatever you want.”

“Really?” His wide eyes blinked at me.

“Yep.”

“Hmm.” His brow furrowed as he thought for a long second while Lan and I exchanged a look that could only be deciphered as proud parents.

“Can I get a chocolate milkshake? I louve them,” he said, his voice brimming with innocence.

“Of course you can. But you must brush your teeth after that.” I mustered a stern voice.

“One chocolate milkshake for brekkie coming right up,” I announced as if I was the one who was going to make it.

Coupled with my insistent craving and Luka requesting them almost every day, I had my favorite diner in the city deliver them every day.

There was already a fresh chocolate milkshake waiting in the fridge.

“Lan?” I asked innocently after I ushered Luka to the couch and put on his favorite construction cartoon. The kitchen was attached to the living room so I could keep an eye on him. Lan was still in the same place we left him, watching us with a slight grin.

Oh, it’s not going to last long, mister.

“Lan.” The tip of my pointer finger grazed his shoulder as I passed him. The sharp hitch of his breath was music to my ears.

“Yes, angel?” he said in a smoldering voice that burned my insides.

A faint shiver trembled my hands, but I met his gaze with nonchalance. “Can you get the glass from the upper cabinet?” I asked in a sultry tone, biting my lips. “I can’t reach.”

Lan’s eyes widened as he nodded, leaping to his feet.

“What the fuck has gotten into her?” I heard him curse under his breath as he made his way to the cabinet.

I slowly stalked my feet to his side and hovered over his back and stood there quietly.

He didn’t have to reach higher to lift the glass into his hand, and when he turned, his soul almost jumped out of his skin. “Jesus fuck, Katy,” he breathed, holding his hands to his chest. “You scared me, woman.”

A subtle smile played on my lips. “Luka thanks his daddy ,” I drawled in a low husky tone.

His jaw fell; his eyes unblinking as my hands slowly retrieved the glass from him. He was standing right there, gaping as I coolly went on to make a glass for Luka.

My moments casual and ignorant almost, like I didn’t just say what I said.

He was still standing right there, his gaze weighing down on me as I padded over to Luka to give him his shake. Outwardly, I was the normal Katy as always, but inwardly, I felt like I had won something significant.

I didn’t know how long he planned to play this game with me and watch me squirm.

Now, it was my turn to leave him high and dry and wondering.

Lan didn’t know what was coming for him.

I had so much more planned.

Tonight.