Reaper doesn’t say anything, and I watch as Sarah drags him to the bed where she was sitting moments ago. I squeeze Knives’ hand, and for some reason, I feel really lucky to be a part of this moment with them. Knives kisses my temple and brings his lips to my ear, “I want that with you.”
“Really?” I say, holding back from tackling him to the ground and getting to work on a family. I never thought this would happen. I thought I’d always be at my dad’s mercy, but I ran, thinking I was running toward death, when really it led me right here, to freedom
“Really.”
I’m about to ask what changed when Doc squirts the jelly on her stomach and rolls over an ultrasound machine.
Reaper is holding her hand, his entire body shaking. It’s hard to see this big bad man, the President of the Ruthless Kings, become emotional and afraid. Knives leans over and slaps Reaper on the back, giving him an encouraging nod.
A gesture that everything will be okay, but I can tell Reaper doesn’t believe it.
Doc places the wand on Sarah’s stomach and points. “Okay, Reaper. Do you see this area? It’s grey.”
“Yeah,” he chokes.
“That’s the muscle. It’s fragile, but it isn’t in the worst shape. Down here—” Doc sides the wand further down and searches for something specific. “Where is it…” he continues to try, and then a fast whoosh takes over the speakers.
Thumpthumpthumpthump.
“That’s your baby’s heartbeat, Reaper. Strong and healthy.”
Reaper stares at Doc with watery eyes, and his cheeks turn red. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, Reaper. You want me to record it for you?”
Reaper nods, squeezing Sarah’s hand so hard, I’m afraid he is going to break it. “Please, please, please. I want to hear it every day.”
Even Doc is getting emotional.
“Sure thing,” he says, pressing a few buttons. “And that little bean right there is your baby.” He points to a little blob on the screen, and I can’t tell it’s a baby, but I believe Doc.
Reaper can’t stop staring at the computer. He lifts his finger, grazing it over the white dot. He peers down at Sarah and lays his hand on her belly, cupping it with protection. The width of his palm covers her midsection, but it makes me hold my breath.
“Thank you,” Reaper’s voice breaks. “I love you so much, Doll.” He pulls himself forward and kisses her senseless.
I can’t help it. I’m a crying mess, and I start clapping. “Congratulations. I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Mary,” Knives rolls his eyes but keeps a smile on his face as he tries to lower my hands, but I shrug away and keep clapping. “They don’t want a round of applause.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” I say out of the corner of my mouth, and Reaper takes a bow. “Yay! You did it.”
“Yeah, we did.” He doesn’t say it in a cocky way, but a proud reassuring way. “Hey, Doc. Do you care if we stay down here for a while and watch the screen? I just… I’m not ready to leave yet.”
“I’ll say you two deserve it. Take as long as you need.”
“When can we find out the sex?”
“I don’t want to know,” Reaper says. “It doesn’t matter. Happy and healthy, that’s all I want the two of you to be.”
“Aw.”
“Okay, Doc. I think she is having concussion symptoms,” Knives says about me.
“I’m allowed to be happy for them. And aren’t you supposed to be…” A pain shoots through my head when I think about the fight upstairs. “Isn’t there something important you need to be doing? I can’t remember what it is…”
“You missed all the important stuff,” Doc says, flashing a light in my eyes to check my pupils. “You wouldn’t have remembered it, so don’t strain yourself. Knives’ brother came back from the dead, and apparently, he worked with your dad because he is undercover FBI.”
“What?” I stare at Knives, who is flipping a star across his knuckles. I snag it from him and hide it under my butt. “Mason is back? I thought you said—”
“He is. He was. I didn’t know he was alive. I don’t know if it is him.”
“Would I know him?” I ask. “If he worked for my father?”
Knives’ eyes go dark, and the clear crystal color replaces the bright blue, something that happens when he is pissed. “He better hope like hell he never ran into you, because I’ll kill him all over again.”
“Why aren’t you talking to him?”
“Because you’re more important. He can wait. Your dad can wait. You were hurt, and I want to be by your side. I want to make sure you’re okay. When I know you’re safe, I’ll talk to him.”
Moretti walks out of the playroom, and as he walks to a nearby bed, he leaves bloody footprints behind him.
Doc closes the playroom door right as Maximo screams.
“I don’t think my brother is a good man,” Moretti says. “I can’t remember why, but I don’t believe him when he says Mary’s father took Natalia. Something in my gut tells me, Reaper.”
“We will find out. I think tonight, everyone settles. Relax. Tomorrow, we try and get everything out of the way. We’ll make a plan. Mary will be safe, and maybe, we can save a few others from his clutches too. It won’t be easy, but nothing worth it ever is.” Reaper rubs Sarah’s stomach and closes his eyes to listen to the song of the heartbeat on the monitor.
“Congratulations, Reaper. I am happy for you,” Moretti says, trying to smile, but his eyes are sad.
“I’m not going to let anyone hurt my family, and that includes your brother. I think he is trying to play us. I’m starting to wonder what else he is behind if he has his hand in this.”
“I wish I could tell you,” Moretti says, dropping his elbows to his knees. “I wish I knew.”
I can’t imagine not being able to remember anything. Every memory Moretti makes is one of his firsts. We are all he knows, and I’m wondering if that is why he has stayed here. I know Doc said he could leave, but he chooses not to.
“I swear, Reaper. If I remember anything, one tiny thing, I will let you know, but my head is dark. There is nothing. I want to protect him. He is my flesh and blood. He’s my brother.”
“I know,” Reaper says with understanding, not only for his MC brothers but for his sister that surprised everyone for Christmas. “It isn’t you I doubt, Moretti. Okay?”
Moretti nods, stands, and leaves. He is light on his feet as he climbs the steps to head toward his room.
“Seems like all the issues revolve around family,” Knives says, tracing the spot where a ring would sit on my left hand. “Family can be a real pain in the ass, can’t it?”
“You need to talk to him before getting information out of him,” I offer, hoping he chooses to be put next to his issues and make himself a priority. “Talk to your brother before you talk to the agent side of him. You won’t be able to talk if you don’t ask the questions I know are rolling around in your head.”
“You come first.”