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Chapter Twenty-Three

Jolie

Two fucking weeks and yet there is still no trace of Melinda, not even footage of her leaving the building. Wherever she is, Ziyon hasn’t gone to her. Someone doesn’t just vanish into thin air. Chester and Laughn have been trying to convince me to let them bring Ziyon in, but they need to focus on what he is currently up to instead. Look how far killing Mr Z got them—we are still not one hundred percent sure about what abilities the babies will have or if what he did will even work.

Marlow has extracted a file for each of the babies, but the science is so advanced and unfortunately all the scientists that were employed on the Athena Project were killed. Chester and Scarlett are working on it, and they are sure they could understand more if Scarlett’s mother would help, however she still refuses. Boston wants to blackmail her into working for us, but that isn’t how I want to operate. We will find another way. The original teams turned out fine, so I have to have faith that Mr Z and his scientists also knew this would be fine before testing it.

“We look fucking ridiculous,” Blayne snaps.

“I happen to look fabulous,” Colt says with a laugh.

“Not you, dumbass. Look around the room. Everyone is pregnant and can’t even touch their toes and yet Trace keeps telling us to touch our damn toes. I can’t even see my fucking toes.”

“We are in the last trimester—not long now, and you will be able to see your toes again,” Summer adds. She can speak for herself; she has enjoyed being pregnant. Blayne just feels violated, and Sinclair has gained so much weight she just feels crap about her body. I can’t lie and say my experience has been bad, but with two babies in there, it’s starting to feel like they have no room left.

“That’s it. Now try to squat,” Trace says from the front of the room. Though I wouldn’t call what I attempt a squat.

“Shit,” I whisper as I piss my damn yoga pants. Even as a whisper, Trace hears and so does Colt. Colt is already at my side, grabbing my arm as Trace reaches us.

“Are you okay?” Trace asks and my tears fall. I have never cried so much in my whole damn life, and it’s getting embarrassing.

“I can’t squat. Now I’ve pissed myself, and everyone saw me,” I cry. “To make matters worse, I didn’t wear underwear because Chester ripped them off me before classes, so I will have to walk my wet fanny to his class and demand he give them back.”

Colt is in hysterics, and Blayne sucker punches him in the gut.

“Don’t laugh, asshole. Your own woman pisses every time she sneezes,” Blayne chastises.

“We should all start doing pelvic floor classes instead of these useless ones,” Betty adds, which is shocking since she never really speaks up. She is still feeling bad about her involvement in everyone getting pregnant, even though most of us have forgiven her since she had no choice. If you had to choose between the man you love and another team, you would pick the one you love every time. I know I would. I know my guys would. Anyone who doesn’t agree is a hypocrite.

“Fuck pelvic floor,” I snap. “I just want clean undies.”

I know I’m being hysterical, and so does everyone else. Trace rubs my back, trying to be soothing, but honestly, it’s just making me even more uncomfortable that he is so close to me after I pissed myself. “Did you want to shower, and I will go and find Chester?”

“No, you have a class to teach. I’ll go look for him.”

He opens his mouth to argue but then thinks better of it.

“I’ll walk her,” Colt offers, and the tension in Trace’s shoulders eases.

“Fine,” Trace says and pulls me into a hug as he drops his voice to a whisper. “Next time wear underwear or I will bend you over my knee and spank you.”

I smirk up at him. “If I knew that was an option, I would have told you sooner.”

Trace groans as I pull away.

“Come on, pissy pants, let’s go find the beast and get your underwear back. Are they lacy?”

I grab Colt’s arm and pull him away before Trace regrets not taking me himself.

“Oh, I have an idea. Can we cause a scene?” he asks with a laugh.

“Do you want your face rearranged?”

“I haven’t had a decent fight in so long. I miss them pounding me and blood squirting everywhere. It’s so fun, but Sinclair gets mad. But damn, she is so hot when she is mad. Do you think he will get me good?”

I laugh at his stupidity; Chester will do more than get him good. He is on edge over the whole Ziyon thing and is snapping at everyone.

“I think you need to lay off the sugar. You’re talking a million miles an hour, and my brain hurts.”

We find Chester in the science building in the middle of teaching a class. Brennan has finally found a replacement for him starting next week; most of Team Zeus are being replaced one by one since none of them actually want to be teachers.

Colt goes to waltz in, but I grab his shirt, halting him in his steps. Chester is helping a student, and she is leaning over the desk, more buttons undone than needed. Chester is focused on the test tube in front of them, clearly explaining what is going on.

“Oh damn,” Colt says. “Bitch be flaunting the goods to yo man. How will we do this? Mud wrestling? Let it be mud wrestling please—she has a nice set of knockers.”

More like putting her head through the damn desk. With that thought, Chester turns to the door. He looks between me and the girl in front of him. She sees that his attention is elsewhere, looks up, and has the nerve to smile at me.

“Let’s make a scene,” Colt says giddily and bounces on the tip of his toes.

I take a step into the room and walk up to Chester. “Hey, Little Angel, is everything okay? Are my babies okay?” He places a hand on my stomach.

“No, Chester, I’m not okay. Someone stole my underwear before class, and I happened to piss my pants and need them back.”

I hold out my hand and tap my foot. Chester smiles and reaches into his pocket and pulls out the black lace thong that doesn’t cover much, but I need them for under my uniform. The damn seam in my pants I wore today will rub, and I don’t need that.

“These ones?” he says, holding them in the air. The class watches on, snickering at him waving them around.

I try to snatch them back, but he pulls them away at the last minute, bringing them up to his face and inhaling.

“Give them back,” I demand.

“Your wish is my command.” He laughs, handing them over and leaning in. “But just know that pussy is mine.”

“I don’t know, big-tit Barbie is trying hard to get your attention,” Colt goads, clearly overhearing what Chester just whispered.

Chester screws up his face and looks back at the girl. “Who, her?” he asks, his tone laced with disgust. Colt nods. “Not a fucking chance in hell. Gross.”

Colt laughs like a hyena, and while I should feel sorry for the girl in question, I don’t. Chester is mine, and these pregnancy hormones have me wanting to gouge out eyeballs with spoons.

“You were flirting back before she came into the room,” the girl whines.

“Don’t be fucking daft, bitch. He was answering your stupid-ass questions. If you’re dumb enough to flirt with the boss’s man, you’re clearly missing a few brain cells.”

I look back in surprise. Since when does Khale stick up for me? We have established a passively aggressive hate-hate relationship for Summer’s sake.

“You so like me now,” I joke, and he flips me off.

“Does anyone else smell piss in here?” he says, and I return the favour and flip him off. Colt looks like he is having the time of his life.

“Go shower before I’m tempted to ditch class and fuck you,” Chester growls.

“No can do, big man. Sinclair told me that Jolie told her you vetoed shower sex. Sucks to be you, man.”

“Colt, shut up. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had shower sex?”

Chester runs a hand down his face with a groan. He is so damn beautiful that I could stare at him all day. I never thought I would dig dual nose rings, but he makes them look sexy as fuck.

“On that note, let’s go. Even I can feel the sexual tension in the room, and if you two get down and dirty right here, I don’t want the rest of your boyfriends killing me for seeing things I shouldn’t. You don’t need to explain to them why Chester murdered the entire class.”

I nod, as he is right. Pushing up on my tiptoes, I place a kiss on Chester’s lips, then Colt and I leave the class.

I ended up going home with Case after my first class. Every time I sneezed or moved wrong a little pee would come out. I shouldn’t have to take a suitcase of underwear to class for each time I sneeze. After a nice shower and a clean set of clothes, Case and I lounged around and watched movies. It’s been nice spending some alone time with him. I feel like he sits back and just waits for my time, unlike a few unnamed others who demand it constantly.

I push Case back on the black L-shape lounge, sliding down onto my knees in front of him. His hooded eyes watch as I lick my lips and flick open the button on his jeans, sliding the zipper down. In true Case fashion, his hard, throbbing cock isn’t restricted by boxers.

I run my finger over the silver ring through the tip, and he shivers at the contact. “How come you never told me you were a virgin before we had sex?” I ask. It may not be the best time to bring it up, but curiosity gets the better of me.

“I don’t know how many men would admit to being virgins when a hot girl wants to ride them.”

“Kai did.”

“My brother is a kiss-ass half the time.”

“Admit that you love him,” I say, before licking from the base of his shaft to the tip. Making sure to take my time, I hit every ridge along the way.

“I don’t hate him,” he says between clenched teeth.

“That works for me,” I say with a low laugh.

I waste no more time talking, as words are no longer needed. I slide my lips over his head, making sure not to go too far down. The damn ring hits the back of my throat, and a small gag has me pulling back. Case loosely tangles his fingers in my hair and guides me to the pace he enjoys. My tongue explores his length, and the soft moans coming from his mouth make me squeeze my legs together.

A sharp pain hits me behind my eyes out of nowhere, and I pull back, throwing my hands over them. Case slides off the couch and lands beside me.

“Wildflower, are you okay?”

“I don’t know,” I cry. “My head hurts, and I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

“What can I do to help?” he asks, rubbing my back.

“Call Brennan. He will know what to do.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, and I hear the ringing coming from the speaker on Case’s phone. When Brennan answers, Case explains what’s happening, and he tells Case to get me into the bedroom and that he is on his way.

There is no point taking anything, as virtually nothing works for me, anyway. I just need to sit back and wait until Brennan gets here; he will know where Chester keeps everything.

Case helps me to my feet, and I stumble. “Shit,” Case swears under his breath as he takes my weight so I don’t fall.

“What’s going on?” Petra asks, rushing into the room. “Brennan just called me and asked me to come and help.”

“Jolie suddenly got a pain in her head and is feeling sick.”

“Let’s get her upstairs,” Petra says, taking my weight on the other side. The pain behind my eyes is so bad that when I open them, everything is blurry.

We take it slowly, step by step until we are in the main bedroom. Petra asks Case to hold me up, and she races across the room to pull the covers down on the bed and fix the pillows. Once they get me into bed, Petra mumbles something about heat packs and leaves the room. Case sits by my side and holds my hand.

Creed comes barrelling through the door, his footfalls making the pain in my head worse. I open my eyes and panic flashes across his face.

“Tenshi, what’s going on? I can feel your pain.” He drops to his knees beside the bed.

“I’m okay, Brennan is coming.”

The three of us sit and wait. Petra comes back into the room with a heat pack and puts it behind my neck.

“I also called your doctor. I wasn’t sure if Brennan would remember in his panic, but his receptionist said he is on his way to the house now.”

“Thank you,” Case says. Creed is still on his knees beside the bed, his head resting next to mine. I run my fingers through his hair for comfort.

After what feels like forever, Brennan runs through the door closely followed by Chester, who has an arm full of things. He doesn’t move closer to me; instead, he sets up a metal pole.

Brennan slips off his shoes and jacket, letting it fall to the floor, and climbs onto the bed behind me. “The doctor will be here soon. Chester has some pain medication for you and is starting a drip now.”

I nod because I can’t talk—the thumping behind my eyes is too painful.

“Creed, move,” Chester demands. “You can’t take away her pain. I get you can feel it, but I can hear the screaming inside her brain. I can’t focus on anything else, so I need you to step back.”

The tone in his voice isn’t anger, it’s fear, and I open an eye to look at him. My Chester is brave, angry, and wild, but this man standing before me is child-like. It’s surreal to see him so vulnerable.

“It’s okay, Little Angel. Hopefully, this will help dull the pain,” Chester whispers, taking my hand in his. “This might sting a little.”

I barely feel anything as he inserts a cannula and hooks me up to a drip. If I can’t even handle a little head pain, how the hell am I going to be able to push these babies out?

“The silent alarms are going off. I’m going to let the doctor in,” Case says.

“Did anyone message the others? They would want to be here,” Petra asks.

“Shit,” Brennan blurts out. “I didn’t even think about it. I panicked and only called the doctor from my car.”

“It’s okay, I will call them now and make myself useful,” she says.

The room remains silent until Case and the doctor walk into the room.

“Hi, Jolie. Is it okay if I turn the light on so I can check you over?” The doctor asks in a soothing tone.

I nod, since it’s the best I can do. The light flicks on, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut tighter. Chester growls, and the lights instantly dim.

“You can work in this lighting,” Chester demands, and the doctor agrees that it’s fine.

“I’m going to take your blood pressure, and I will need a urine sample.”

Brennan and Chester help me to sit up. I keep my eyes closed as the doctor takes my blood pressure.

“Let’s get that urine sample.”

Chester’s bourbon-and-sex smell envelops me, and I feel his arms slide under my legs and arms before he lifts me, holding me to his chest. “Shhh, I got you,” he whispers, and I curl into him. He places the IV bag on me but leaves it attached to the cannula.

He walks me into the en suite and places me on my feet, managing to hold me up while sliding my pants down to my ankles. I step out of them, wobbling slightly.

“Sit, and I will support you.”

“I need the cup. You’re not holding it.”

He chuckles and hands me the small cup, then helps me sit while we get the sample. Once I’m done, he takes the cup and screws the lid on and sits it on the counter.

“Let’s get you dressed so the doctor can check you over.”

“I don’t want to put my pants back on.”

We stand quietly in a stare off for a second. Chester looks me up and down, but he finally relents and pulls his shirt over his head before he takes off my shirt and replaces it with his. He steps back and nods before dropping to his knees, then helps slip my underwear back on.

I refuse to let him carry me again, and I walk back into the room with Chester by my side. Now everyone is here, with worry on their faces. “I’m fine guys, relax. The doctor is here.”