Page 34 of Oathbreaker

“Briar,” he says, and his tone is filled with warning.

“What?” I ask, the warmth I was feeling at being held close to him fading. Annoyance taking its place.

His brows flick up, clearly feeling that annoyance…and lobbing some of his own back in my direction when he asks, “Something you want to tell me?”

My throat goes tight.

Because I know exactly what he’s talking about.

Exactly what he must have picked up on.

Frankie’s hair.

Frankie’s eyes.

Frankie’s penchant for freaking anchovies.

So, I don’t make him work for it.

“I didn’t know I was pregnant until I was almost thirteen weeks along,” I whisper and watch as his entire body goes rigid. “I…there was never any doubt that I’d keep it, keep her.” My eyes close and I remember that appointment with my obstetrician, seeing the black and white image on the ultrasound machine.

The tiny baby.

That fluttering heartbeat.

“We made her,” I say, looking up into his deep blue eyes. “She came from a night that meant so much to me, from a man who meant the world to me, so no, there was never any doubt I would have her.”

“Meant?” he asks, and I shut my eyes, clenching them tightly together, wishing that things were different.

That so many things were different.

“Colt,” I whisper, and he must hear the pain in my voice because he’s quiet for a long moment.

Then he asks, “What happened then?”

“I tried to get in touch with you,” I tell him. “I left a message. I left messages.”

He touches my cheek and my lids peel back, the regret on his face heavy. “I’m sorry, baby.”

I nod, acknowledging that, but having to get the rest of this out. “I didn’t hear anything—not for months—and th-then…you were dead.”

He sighs then takes my hand, kissing the back of it.

Another apology in his eyes, but he doesn’t say it out loud. Instead, he asks, “Do the guys know? Is that why Dash and Atlas want to kill me?”

“No,” I say. “They don’t know. I never told anyone who Frankie’s dad was.”

“They let you get away with that?”

“I don’t know if you remember”—my words are light—“but I can be a bit stubborn.”

“A bit?” he teases, and I gently swat at him.

Then sigh.

And give him the rest of it.

“After a while everyone stopped asking,” I say. “So no, my brother and Atlas, how pissed they both are at you…that’s all on you.”