The pain was welcome to him. He cupped her face, stroking his thumb across her bottom lip. “You can’t tell me that you don’t feel … something.”
She pressed her face against his palm and smiled. “You know I do. I feel so many things.”
“Then stay with me. Give me a chance to prove to you that I’m willing to risk it all for you.” He wanted her. He’d fight for Raven. “We’ll move to Fort Clover.”
“Smokey would hate that.”
“But you’d love it. I already have a house. I’m willing to make this work.”
“For me?” Raven asked.
“Yes, for you. Always for you.”
He saw the tears in her eyes and knew he had a fight on his hands to make her realize that she was worth it. He was going to love and protect her. Wipe all those assholes from her head so they never got the chance to darken the doorway of her mind again.
“I’d like that,” Raven said.
“Good.”
He couldn’t resist a kiss, and he took one, smashing their lips together.
****
Drago came to his hospital room as he was getting dressed. He’d already had enough of the hospital and wanted out. Raven had gone in search of some coffee, and he, well, he needed to get the fuck out.
There was no internal bleeding. Nothing that rest and a good dose of revenge wouldn’t cure. Marchetti was high on his list of people to hurt.
“You shouldn’t be leaving the hospital,” Drago said.
“I don’t need to be here.”
“I was hoping in your weakened state would lure Marchetti here.”
“I’m not going to be a sitting duck,” Carlos said. “Do we know where he’s headed?”
“We’re keeping an eye on all of his credit cards. His latest mistress was found dead in her apartment this morning. He’d beaten her up and left her to bleed out. She was eight months pregnant with his child.”
Carlos growled.
The rustling of paper drew his attention back to Drago.
“I believe congratulations are in order,” Drago said.
Carlos took the paper from him.
There it was.
Confirmation of what he’d been waiting for. Raven was pregnant with his child.
“Make all the necessary arrangements,” Carlos said. “I will be marrying Raven.”
“I don’t think that is ideal.”
“Sebastian, she is pregnant with my child. She is going to be my wife. I’m not going to argue with you about this.”
Carlos grabbed his jacket.
“Don’t you think you should tell her the truth?” Drago asked.
He looked behind Drago and shook his head. “That is over,” Carlos said. “She will never find out. Raven is mine to protect, and if you still want me as your boss, then I suggest, like everything else you’ve got locked up in that brain of yours, you keep it to your fucking self. She is never going to find out about that. It is over. Raven will make a choice.”
He folded up the piece of paper that confirmed she was pregnant.
Carlos didn’t have time for Drago to agree with him before she arrived back at his room.
“You’re dressed. Even though you’re supposed to be resting.”
“I’m thinking we can go to Fort Clover,” Carlos said. “I’ve got some business there, and I know I will be perfectly safe. I’ve got a whole MC at my beck and call.”
Raven chuckled. “Yeah, right. They will not come to your call.” She rolled her eyes. “But I might.” She turned toward Drago. “Any news on Marchetti’s whereabouts?”
Drago didn’t look happy. “Not as yet, but I’ll find him.”
Raven turned her back on Drago and looked toward Carlos. “I think we could use Big Dick. He can find anyone and anything.”
“More reason to go to Fort Clover,” Carlos said.
Drago didn’t look happy.
****
Three days later
Raven picked up Bella, who was determined to get a hug from her. She had missed this little girl’s princess party, and she had felt so guilty.
Abriana chuckled. “She has missed you.”
“I can tell, and I love it. I missed her as well. So much.” She pressed kisses all over Bella’s face, and then blew a raspberry on her cheek. “When did you get so big? I told you not to grow up on me.”
Bella giggled and called her Auntie Raven.
She smiled.
The little girl settled down in her lap, playing with the buttons on her jacket. She hadn’t gotten her leather cut back yet, and she was still wearing the clothes Carlos had bought for her to play the role of his fake fiancée.
“I have to say, I thought you were selling me something,” Abriana said.
“Ha, ha, ha, very funny.”
“Seriously? Where are the boots? The jeans. The pants. You’re even wearing your hair down.”
“I wear my hair down all the time.”
“I know, but this is different,” Abriana said.
Bella started to snore, and Raven smiled as she glanced down at the sleeping girl. Abriana kept looking at her a little strangely. Raven couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it was like she wanted to say something.