Page 3 of Xane

CHAPTER TWO

–ZORA –

“Wait, please,” a voice calls out and I inwardly groan.

I have a hot shower and a book calling my name, not one more patient.My feet are hurting, and I really want to go home to my cat.I want to sit on the couch beside him with my fluffy socks and a nice glass of wine to enjoy a quiet evening.

Releasing a deep sigh, I turn and come face-to-face with a blast from the past.Holy shit, it’s Grayer Xane Balls.Balls.The corner of my mouth twitches.Boy, did I tease the man with his last name, and I wasn’t the only one.Though, I was the only one he didn’t beat to a pulp for giving him shit.I was also the only one who called him Grayer while everyone else uses Xane.

“Grayer, what are you doing here?”I wonder.

It’s then I notice the little bundle in his arms.A baby.He has a child?An unexpected stabbing pain hits me straight in the chest.He has a child, probably a wife along with it.Once upon a time, we made a pact to be one another’s first.

To get married and start a family.Childhood dreams.Until he started acting like an asshole, making us go head-to-head at every turn.Though, we did share our first kiss and gave our virginity to one another.Young love and all that until we had a wake-up call, one that sent him running.Well, leaving town without a word.It took me years to get over him...judging from my body’s reaction?I’m still not over him.Ugh.Asshole.

Flipping the switch from personal to professional, I tell him, “Oh, what’s wrong with your baby?Come on in.”

He rumbles something, but it gets lost when I’m already standing inside the clinic.I wait for him to enter and lock up behind us.

“Bring your son or daughter back here,” I murmur and walk toward the back.

“Not my kid, Z,” he grunts.

We’ve used to be on a first-letter basis, and I guess he thinks we still are.Wait.Did he say not his kid?

Hitting the lights, I ask, “Not your child?”

I turn to face him and feel my eyes go wide.“What did you do?Kill the parents and steal the damn child as a peace offering before coming here?”

Outside I didn’t notice the blood spatter on his biceps, shirt, and all over his damn face.Now, though?With the bright light in the exam room?Yeah, it’s clear he slaughtered someone before coming here.

Shit.I shouldn’t pull our own personal stuff into this.Me thinking I was pregnant a decade ago, which I wasn’t because my period was simply two days late, happened right before he left town without a word.

I’m very aware of the patches on his leather vest, and the president part stands out.Growing up in this town where his father’s motorcycle club practically runs everything, it’s obvious the blood is human.

His lips part and I hold up my hand to stop him.“Don’t say anything, I don’t want to know, nor do I want to get involved.Give me the child and leave.I’m guessing that’s why you came here, right?”