Page 27 of Ours (The Possession Duology #2)

Tilting her head, she couldn’t stop herself from laughing.

She knew all Kade’s dark secrets. “Of course, who do you think helped Kade clean up all of Demetri’s little.

..messes? But hey, you managed to survive!

You’re the first one that’s ever come out alive!

Good for you!” she praised, her eyes dropping to her rounded belly.

“I trust there was no harm done to our little one?”

Shaking her head, Lexi wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach. “No...sh... he , uh... he is doing just fine! Couldn’t be healthier!” she replied, kicking herself for almost letting the sex of her child slip.

Reaching down to her stomach, Valentina placed her cold hand against her bump. “That’s fantastic news. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to him, now, would we?” she said with a smirk.

Swallowing a scream, she nodded in agreement. The woman was acting like a cat with a mouse, and she didn’t appreciate it one bit. She knew. She absolutely knew.

Sensing a change in his human’s mood, Cupcake pulled back his lips and let out a low growl. It didn’t matter that he recognized the big woman. Orders were orders.

Narrowing her eyes, Valentina turned her attention towards the German Shepherd. Dropping her hand from Lexi’s belly, she fought the urge to kick the dog. Its loyalty no longer seemed to side with her, it was yet another small snafu.

“Control your dog,” she said sternly.

Dropping her lips into a frown, Lexi glanced back and forth between the blonde and her dog. For a moment, she wondered if she should let Cupcake go in for the kill. Ultimately deciding against it, she reluctantly followed the woman’s words, she ordered him to heel. “Cupcake, sitz,” she said.

Keeping his brown eyes centered on the tall woman, the shepherd obliged his human. Sitting on his hind legs, he patiently waited for further instructions.

“Sorry about that,” Lexi muttered.

“Don’t be. I suppose it’s understandable why he’s so protective of you. You are his Alpha’s pregnant bitch , after all,” Valentina replied, a hint of jealousy in her voice.

Dropping her mouth open in shock, Lexi pushed out an unbelieving laugh “I beg your pardon?”

Unbothered by her taking offense, the blonde shrugged her left shoulder. “Did I stutter?” she asked.

Widening her green eyes, she bristled inside. She wanted to reach up and slap the shit out of the Amazonian. How dare she? “I would choose my words more carefully if I were you,” she replied, her voice shaking ever so slightly.

Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, Valentina smirked at the pregnant hellcat. She was happy to finally see a bit of the fire Kade had so reverently spoken about. It was good to know that she wasn’t a total doormat. Not that it would make a lick of difference.

“Careful, Alexandria. We don’t want to stress out the baby now, do we?” she asked.

Biting back a scathing response, she took in a much-needed breath. Bloodbayne’s blonde whore wasn’t worth the rise in her blood pressure. “Thank you for bringing over the gift, Valentina. Was there anything else you wanted?” she asked, eager for the woman to take her leave.

“Actually, yes. I spoke to Kade not too long ago,” Valentina said.

“You did? When? Is he ok?!” Lexi interrupted, panic dripping in her voice.

Taken aback by her change in demeanor, Valentina almost felt guilty for what she was about to set into motion. It seemed as if she genuinely cared about Kade and his wellbeing. The poor little lamb was so clueless.

“On the way over here! He wanted me to apologize for not contacting you. Things went a little sideways in Thail—”

“What do you mean, sideways?” she interrupted, taking a step towards Valentina. “Is he ok?!”

“He’s fine, he’s fine,” Valentina assured, motioning with her hands for the pregnant bitch to calm down. “He’s very resourceful, there’s no need to worry. Yes, things didn’t go quite to plan but he was able to get the job done, and that’s the important thing.”

Lifting her hand to her chest, Lexi let out a heavy sigh of relief. He was alive and well. She could finally stop worrying. “Good! That’s good! When is he coming home?”

Keeping a blank expression on her face, Valentina dropped her icy stare down to her belly.

If she was a better woman, she would tell her the truth.

Give her a head start, have her run as far away as she could and never look back.

But what good would that do? Bloodbayne would eventually find her and the child.

No one ever escapes him or his Organization.

“He will be home tonight, but very late. He told me that he doesn’t want you to wait up for him. It’s important that you, and our little prince, get some rest,” she replied.

Lifting her lips into a bright smile, Lexi felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Rubbing her opened hands across her bump, she savored the soft kicks of her daughter.

Once Kade returned, they would be another step closer to ending their living nightmare.

Soon they would be free of the whole cancerous lot.

“That’s terrific news!” she beamed. “Thank you so much, you’ve made me feel so much better!”

Plastering a faux grin on her face, Valentina straightened her posture and turned towards the door to leave.

There wasn’t any point in staying a moment longer, her work was done.

Now it was up to the buffoons to finish the job.

“You’re welcome Lexi, I’m glad I could put your mind at ease.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to head back to the City before the entire Organization falls apart.

I don’t think Bloodbayne can even wipe his own ass without me. Men are so inept.”

Stepping behind the blonde as she took her leave, Lexi scrunched her face in confusion. “Bloodbayne is in the City? I thought he was in Columbia?” she asked.

Opening the front door, Valentina glanced over her shoulder with a look that matched Lexi’s. She didn’t know what the hell she was talking about. “Why would he be in Columbia?”

Furrowing her brow, her mind began to race. The crime boss didn't go to Columbia? If that was true, they could have killed Bloodbayne the night they came home from the hospital. Why did Kade lie to her? What kind of game was he playing?

“Oh, I thought I heard someone say something about him being there. Guess I was wrong. Damn pregnancy brain,” she muttered. “Never mind!”

Eyeing her curiously, Valentina shrugged her shoulders. It really didn’t matter what she had heard, but she tucked the bit of information away just in case. “Why don’t you go make some tea and enjoy the gifts. There’s plenty of chamomile in the pantry,” she said before crossing the threshold.

Nodding her head, Lexi leaned against the edge of the wooden door. Tea might do her a bit of good, it might relax her enough to get some much-needed sleep. In the morning, her love would be home, and they could finally get the ball rolling.

“That sounds great, actually. Thanks for the suggestion, and thanks for coming,” she said.

Waving her hand dismissively, the blonde walked towards her silver Jaguar C-X75 parked in the driveway. “Think nothing of it!” she yelled.

Not waiting for her to jump into her flashy sports car, Lexi quickly shut the door and bolted its lock. Taking a step to the left, she entered her code on the flatscreen keypad to arm the security system. Turning towards Cupcake, she gave the pup a smile and patted the top of her thigh.

“What a fucking bitch, huh Cupcake? Well. Now that that’s over, why don’t we make some tea and open some prezzies?”

...

Sipping on her second cup of chamomile, Lexi glared at the huge gift basket before her.

She had been staring at it for over an hour, quietly arguing with herself on whether she should open it.

Through the cellophane, she could see that it was filled to the brim with various baby items. Blankets, pacis, rattles, onesies; all in various shades of blue.

They seemed harmless enough, but as she was learning, nothing was as it appeared when it came to Bloodbayne and his Organization.

Oh, would you just quit pussyfooting around and just open the bloody thing? Nikki sniped.

“Welcome back, whore,” she muttered under her breath.

Aww, Lexi. I love you, too. Now suck it up and see what Papa Bloodbayne bought baby hellspawn .

Placing her teacup on its saucer, she mentally flipped off her alter. “She isn’t a hellspawn,” she grumbled.

Whatever you say, now get to it! I swear I see a pair of Dolce & Gabbana baby booties! Nikki replied.

Reaching across the dining room table, she clumsily grabbed onto the basket.

Her arm felt unusually heavy, but she easily excused it away.

It had been a very long, extremely stressful day.

Besides, it was becoming increasingly normal for her to feel exhausted at this point during the day. Pregnancy was oh so much fun.

You feeling ok, bitch? Nikki asked curiously.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just getting a little tired, that’s all,” she replied, pulling the basket towards her.

Uh huh .

Rolling her eyes, she paused for a moment as she heard Cupcake whimper beside her. Looking at the shepherd, she gave the pup a reassuring grin. “It’s ok, Cupcake! We’ll go to bed soon and when we wake up, Daddy will be home and everything will be ok!”

Nudging her hip with his snout, he gave another high-pitched whimper. There was a new scent on her skin that he didn’t care for. His human needed to lie down.

Giving the dog a curious look, she reached down to scratch his peaked ears. “It’s ok, boy! I’ll be quick,” she promised.

Turning her attention back to the basket, she tore open the clear cellophane.

It was probably silly of her to even open the damn thing, since her daughter would never use any of the supplies, but she needed the mental vacation.

She couldn’t help but feel a small bit of happiness knowing that her world would revolve around little baby things very soon.

Reaching into the wicker basket, she removed the various items. With wide eyes, she carefully inspected each gift. Two incredibly soft cashmere blankets, multiple designer onesies and sleepers, there was even a silver Tiffany’s rattle. She couldn’t believe how luxurious everything was.

Oh, now I’m really pissed that hellspawn is a girl. We all could’ve lived a life of luxury. After all the shit we’ve been through, it’s what we deserve but no, she just had to be a damn girl, Nikki grumbled.

“I’m glad she’s a girl,” Lexi said, dropping her free hand to her bump.

Almost on cue, she felt her daughter move against her palm. It was a slow and gentle press, not anything like the karate kicks she felt after Valentina left. It seemed as if everyone was ready to settle down for the night.

“I suppose we should go to bed,” she said, allowing herself to yawn. “I can’t wait to see your Daddy, and I know you can’t, either.”

Rising from her seat, she wobbled as she began to feel lightheaded. Gripping the edge of the dining room table, she closed her eyes and waited for her body to right itself out. Between the sudden nausea and exhaustion, she wondered if she would even be able to make it to the bedroom.

Barking once, Cupcake watched his human sway back and forth. How could he protect her from something he couldn’t see? It made him incredibly nervous.

Exhaling a shaky breath, she opened her eyes and looked at her dog.

He seemed worried, she felt terrible that she was making him uncomfortable.

“Don’t worry, Cupcake, this happens to pregnant women.

I don’t know why they call it ‘morning sickness’ when it happens all throughout the day.

But I promise, I’ll be ok,” she, righting herself and taking a couple steps away from the table.

Dancing from paw to paw, Cupcake let out a strangled bark. Good , his human was finally moving. But her movements didn’t seem quite right.

Wait, Lexi, Nikki ordered.

“What is it?” she asked, stilling her body.

What’s that hiding in the back of the basket? Do you see it? Nikki asked.

“See wh—” she replied, turning her head towards the basket.

Before she could finish her sentence, her eyes zoned in on a little piece of pink sticking out of the sea of blue. Almost instantly, all the blood drained from her face as she realized the implications of that particular color.

What the fuck is that? Nikki asked.

Moving back to the table, she reached in and grabbed onto the item in question. Quickly yanking it from the basket, she felt a phantom punch to the gut. It was a stuffed pink unicorn, she realized. Embroidered on its belly read ‘ GRANDPA’S LITTLE PRINCESS .’

“Oh my god,” she whispered, her body shaking in a mixture of fear and anger.

I don’t think God’s going to help you, Nikki replied.

Swallowing back the bile rising in her throat, Lexi dropped the unicorn and danced her eyes around the dining room table. Fuck, fuck, fuck. She needed Kade home, now.

“Where’s my phone?! I need to let Kade know!” she exclaimed, panic lifting her voice.

You left it in the bathroom, Nikki reminded her.

Spitting a curse, she forced her sluggish legs to walk forward through the dining room. With every shuffled step, she found herself growing more and more weak. This was something other than pregnancy, did she eat something she wasn’t supposed to?

More like something you drank, Nikki said, her phantom voice unusually shaky. Get to the damn bathroom and call 9-1-1!

Suspecting that the tea she had consumed was most likely tainted, she hurried her exhausted body. Valentina meant for this to happen, the bitch wasn’t loyal to Kade at all! How was he so fucking naive to believe she could be trusted?

Staying directly at her side, Cupcake whined as they stepped into the main hallway. Something was very, very wrong, and it worried him to no end.

Blinking her watery eyes, she tried to center her blurring vision. All she had to do was walk another ten feet to the bathroom. Once she had her phone, she could call for help.

“It’s ok...Cu...Cupcake ...I’mmm almos—”

Unable to finish her sentence, Lexi fell silent as her eyesight suddenly darkened.

Stumbling over her own feet, she felt her body sway to and fro.

Trying unsuccessfully to catch herself, she fell hard onto the wooden floor.

Her last memory was that of her dog barking wildly, before she slipped into a drug induced sleep.