Page 109 of Stolen Matrimony

“Well that went better than I expected,” I mumbled.

Dropping my eyes to the floor, they landed on the pregnancy test and I couldn’t help but grin. If Cashlynn was carrying my baby, then this marriage was about to get a lot more interesting.

____

“You’re right; the kid has good instincts,” Lucas mentioned, watching Ezra and Carson spar with one another. We were currently at the farmhouse, in the basement. Although impulsive at times, Ezra was the best hand-to-hand fighter out of the four of us. The two had on boxing gloves and headgear. Carson wasn’t doing bad holding his own either. I was gonna have River train him but he had a job under his security firm today.

“Told you. I’ve been training him for a little over a month and already see improvement in him. He’s been working with Emmet too; he’s into technology and shit.”

Lucas rubbed his chin. “You plan on bringing him in the business?”

“Right now? No. I doubt his sister will let me anyway.” I chuckled. “But in the future if he wants to?” I shrugged. “Even still, he needs to learn basic skills and stop being so scared of everything.”

Lucas nodded in agreement. His eyes fell back on my brother and Carson. “So what did you call me here for? I assume it wasn’t because you want me to teach him how to do medical shit. Did you bust your stitches?” His eyes swiveled to me and he narrowed them.

“Nah, I actually got some good news I wanted to share in person.” My mouth lifted into a wide grin. “Cashlynn’s pregnant.” Pride swelled in my chest. She might not have taken the test, but the signs were obvious.

“Damn, for real? It’s about time! I bet she was surprised.” He chuckled.

“Hell yeah, I thought I was about to prepare for war.”

He shook his head. “If I thought I was preventing pregnancy only to learn my prevention was tampered with I’d be ready to go to war too.”

I shrugged. “She’ll get over it. The end of the year was growing closer and we were running out of time.” An heir was needed within the first year of marriage. Her being pregnant now would make that happen and be one less thing to worry about later. Plus, I was excited to have someone to pass my legacy to when the time came.

Lucas lifted his hand and patted my back. “After we raided that church, I grew respect for your wife. She saved my life, but I also learned she’s someone that you shouldn’t fuck with. I would sleep with one eye open.”

He turned and walked to where the sparing was. I pulled my phone out and went to my tracking app, checking to see where Cashlynn was. She was at my other house, using the shooting range I assumed. It seemed to be her favorite place when she was upset.

My attention was caught when Carson flew back on his ass, bouncing off the mat.

“Damn,” Lucas muttered.

“Shit, Ezra, You had to hit him that hard?” I slid my phone back into my back pocket and walked closer to where they were.

“He was distracted. Distractions will get you killed,” Ezra explained.

I walked to Carson and held my hand out, helping him up. “You good?”

He nodded. “I’m fine.” He cut his eyes at Ezra who was smiling at him.

“See he’s good. I ain’t even hit him that hard.”

“It’s been a minute since we put the gloves on. You tryna run a round, doc?” I asked Lucas.

“These are million dollar hands. Do you think I’m gonna risk them?”

I waved him off. “If you’re scared you can admit it, little bro. I’ll go with Ezra.”

His eyes narrowed. “One round, but we need to take it easy; you’re still healing.”

I waved his concerns off. “That’s what I like to hear.”

It had been a minute since I’d sparred with any of my brothers. We used to do it a lot when we were growing up. My dad made sure even though I was the only one to go the assassin route that all of us were trained and prepared for anything.

____

I was mid cut into my steak at my dinner table when Cashlynn came into view. Sticking my fork into the cut piece, I lifted it to my mouth while watching her. She stood where the living room and kitchen connected, watching me with a blank expression on her face.