Page 139 of Range
“I want your chin up, chest out.”
I straightened my posture and lifted my chin.
“Have you accepted your fate, baby?”
I nodded. “I have.”
“Are you at peace with it?”
“I am.”
“Then nothing else matters.”
“I love him,” I whimpered, pulling my shirt up to my face.
My intention wasn’t to cry. I’d cried enough. My tears wouldn’t solve the issue at hand. They wouldn’t set Josiah free.
Teddy nodded.
“I’d almost be offended if you didn’t,” he claimed.
His words took me by surprise. I grabbed another cracker. It crumbled in my mouth as I considered what Teddy was insinuating. My brows furrowed as the truth surfaced.
“Chem?”
He stared, soundlessly.
“Why did you put me on this case? But, more importantly, why didn’t you allow me to abandon it when I tried?”
His chest rose as he placed his index finger against his cheek and his thumb underneath his chin.
“Because you needed it.”
“Needed it?” I scoffed.
“So did Josiah.”
Flabbergasted, I rested my bones against the back of the chair.
“This was your plan all along?”
He shrugged. “Pregnancy? I didn’t expect it. Not from you. Not from Rugger. Not from Roulette. Not from Rather. Not even from Royce. But, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to… Well, procreation. It would be untrue if I said I was disappointed. It would also be untrue if I said I’m not looking forward to welcoming the twins. Your sickness, however, is concerning.”
“Chem– you put me in front of Josiah purposely?”
“You’d waited long enough, wouldn’t you agree?”
I quieted, unable to respond. I had waited long enough.
“Josiah has a good head on his shoulders. He’s not like us, but he can navigate our waters if necessary. He’s loyal. And, his heart is made of gold.”
“You knew about Kason.”
He nodded. “A woman of your stature does not belong with a man who has no idea how many pounds of pressure a trigger requires for a bullet to dislodge from a weapon.”
I couldn’t argue with his logic. Neither would I try. We shared beliefs that pertained to providing and protecting.
“You deserve someone who’d paint the city red for you.”
