I rub at my chest. “My heart hurts, Sapph. They want to see me tonight as a farewell party kind of thing and then it’s over.” I can’t stop the tears from falling.
I stand, my knees feeling weaker than wet paper. “If they find out I am mafia blood now it will only ruin the memory of me. I don’t want that, ya know. I’m going to cancel tonight and just leave it as is. Let our time together end with no chance of my secret identity coming out.”
She nods and studies me for a minute and I can tell she understands my reasoning.
I excuse myself and push the up button on the elevator. “Harlon will come looking for me sooner or later today. Will you cover for me? Just say I am out helping a friend or something.”
She leans a shoulder against the marble wall outside the elevator. “You know he’s getting curious as to where you are going when you ditch your security detail almost every night. He’s not buying the whole evening art classes lie.”
Figures. He’s too fucking smart.
The elevator dings and speak of the devil. My detail walks off looking as exasperated with me as I feel toward them. It’s getting harder and harder to give them the slip.
I throw a hand up. “Not going anywhere today. You can rest for once.” They eyeball me for a moment and then continue on their way. Probably to go report to my brother. Fuckers.
“Are you going to at least let him know what you’ve been up to?”
There’s no judgment in her tone, only curiosity.
“Yes, but after I can stop feeling like the worst person in the world for keeping my identity a secret all this time.”
Sapphire wraps an arm around my shoulder and I forget about the men in suits paid to make my life hell. “I get your upset, but you seriously do not look well.”
I shrug. “I’m fine. I’m going to head to bed.”
I got to step on the elevator but she won’t let go.
“Sapph,” I say, wanting my bed.
“I think I know what is wrong. I think I know why your cheeks have been so red and why you are feeling nauseous. Wait here.”
Now she has me curious. Sapphire grabs a bag from beneath her desk and shuffles me into the elevator.
Five minutes later I’m peeing on three different pregnancy sticks.
“Why did you have these?’
“You know why, Little Miss Cupid.”
Now that I think about it I’ve seen her nibbling on salty things and drinking lots of water.
Stupid me. I’ve been so tied up with Aziel, Gage, and Rush I kind of let the Southern Alliance and my cousin’s sexcapades slip off my radar.
“Do you think…” I don’t know how to finish the glaring question we both know is a high possibility.
“I didn’t have a chance to tell you but the breeder contract… I signed it.”
My hands fly to my mouth when I gasp so hard I gnarly choke. “Holyshit!”
Instinctively, my hand drops to her stomach and my other to mine. “Sapph. What the fuck have we done? Do you think you are carrying their baby?”
“I know I am. I’m late. I just haven’t had the balls to, you know…” she gestures to the three tests lined up on the edge of the countertop.
The timer goes off and we both shoot forward.
I stand over the sticks and my world blurs behind a sheen wall of water.
I grab her shoulders. “I have to go. Cover for me, okay?”