“I was so scared that it would be someone else. I almost shot someone because I was so scared. Please, tell me it’s over,” she says into my neck.
“I can’t say that it’s over forever. For now though, it is. There is nothing to fear tonight, Little one.” I kiss up and down her neck reassuring myself that she is here and she is safe.
“We’ll talk later, Boss. We’ve got shit to figure out now.” My second pats me on the back before turning to leave.
“Let’s get you back to bed. I need to taste you on my tongue,” I whisper in her ear before nipping it.
EPILOGUE
EVORA
Two Years Later
“Oh,shit. Oh, shit. What the hell am I supposed to do?” I mumble the chant to myself as I stare at the stick in my hand.
Banging on the door causes me to jump. “Are you ever coming out of there? We have sick people to see.”
“Would you just let me be? I mean dang it, Clelia, I’m trying to have a moment to freak out!” I yell back through the door.
“You are damn right we are freaking out. We aren’t ready for this,” the snark bitch in my head fusses.
“I will give you until the count of three to tell me what the ever-loving hell is going on in there, or I’m going to get maintenance to come open the door!” Clelia hollers.
Growling, I pull the door open and come face to face with my best friend. I don’t say anything to her, I just hold up the two sticks in my hand for her to see.
Gasping, she covers her mouth, and asks, “Are you serious? Like for real?”
“What am I going to do? Hendrick and I haven’t even talked about the future, much less adding a baby to the mix. Shit, I just got to the point I can be in a hospital without losing my shit,” I rattle on with no pause.
“First, I need you to breathe. Hendrick thinks the world of you, and you still have nine months or so to continue to work through that fear you have,” Clelia says, being the voice of reason before she pulls me into a tight hug, squealing.
“Let’s get today done. Then I’ll try and find a way to tell him what’s going on,” I tell her, smiling wide.
The day drags on forever, yet it's not long enough, before I know it, I’m standing at the receptionist desk in his office. The receptionist isn’t there, but I can see Hendrick standing at the windows with his hands in his pocket, and with his ever-present hat tilted low on his head. I make my way to the door, knocking softly. He turns quickly with a scowl until he sees it's me standing there. He crosses the office quickly, pulling the door open, and yanking me in.
“I thought you were working late tonight, Little one,” he murmurs, tugging me in tightly to him.
“Well, Clelia agreed to stay late for me. I needed to come talk to you about something,” I state.
Hendrick leans back, looking over my face, and when the monster pushes for release, I know he can read the fear in my eyes.
“What happened? Why do you look like you’ve had the life scared out of you?” he demands to know.
“I’m, umm, I’m well, you see, I’m—,” I stutter.
“Little one, just tell me what’s going on so I can fix it.”
Looking up into his face, seeing the distress there, I decide to just spit it out, “I’m pregnant.”
Hendrick drops his arms, stepping back from me. He looks from my face to my stomach, back to my face, and back down again. Reaching up he pulls his hat off his head, turning away before putting it back on. He paces back and forth, not saying a word as I stand there with tears fighting to break free and run down my face. Hendrick finally turns back to me.
“I’m sorry, I know we haven’t talked about it yet. If you don’t want the baby, then I’ll go and you’ll never see us again. I’m so sorry, Hendrick.” I cry, feeling my world crash down around me.
Hendrick turns on me, and the look on his face is not one that has ever been pointed in my direction. “Are you serious?” he questions, roughly.
“Hendrick, what else am I supposed to do? I know the baby is a surprise, but I want it,” I tell him, standing tall.
Hendrick rushes over to me, falling to his knees in front of me, saying, “You are talking crazy. You’re not going anywhere. Yes, we didn’t talk about this, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want it. You are mine, Little one, and now, we’re having a baby, this means you will forever be mine.”
“Forever yours? What do you mean by that?” I hold myself still waiting on his words.
“We’re going to get married and have many more babies. I’ll protect you and any of our babies forever,” he murmurs, kissing my belly then standing, cupping my face, and kissing me like he’ll never be able to place his lips on mine again.
“I love you, Hendrick,” I whisper between kisses.
“I will burn the world to the ground for you, Little one.”
Hendrick spends the rest of the afternoon showing me just how much he meant every word he said.
I’ve spent most of my life afraid of everyone and everything, until my very own Monster showed me that there was nothing out there to fear.
