Page 124 of A King’s Obsession

“That ain't what I asked you!”

Before she could get started again, Ashlynn let out another groan and grabbed Malachi's arm.

“CAN Y'ALL PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP? I'M TRYING TO HAVE SOME BABIES!”

Malachi immediately turned his attention back to her, rubbing her lower back while she worked through the contraction. I watched him bend close to his wife, speaking softly against her forehead even while she threatened to break his fingers if he squeezed her hand too hard.

The sight should've been funny.

Instead, it reminded me of everything I'd missed.

I looked toward the door, thinking about Jru standing somewhere in this hospital with my child inside her. Five minutes ago, I hadn't even known I was going to be a father. Now all I could think about was how long she'd been pregnant and how much of it she'd gone through without me.

“How far along is she?” I asked, looking at Malachi.

He glanced over his shoulder, keeping one hand against Ashlynn's back. “Five and a half months.”

Five and a half.

I did the math in my head, and my stomach tightened.

“That's my baby.”

Malachi gave me a look that would've been funny under different circumstances.

“No shit, Sherlock.”

I ignored him, rubbing my hand across my mouth. “How the fuck you find her?”

“Ran into her at a grocery store in Briarwood. I was out there handling business.” He shook his head, apparently reading the next question on my face. “And before you start thinking some crazy shit, ain't nobody been hiding her from you. I just found her myself.”

“Briarwood?” I repeated, trying to understand how she'd managed to stay that close without anybody finding her.

“Yeah, Briarwood. Now, bruh, I love you, but my wife is over here trying to push two human beings out of her body. My part in this shit is done.” He pointed toward the door with his free hand. “Go find Jru, tell her the truth, and stop making shit worse.”

I stared at him for a moment before shaking my head.

“Fuck you.”

“Love you too, nigga. Now get out.”

I stepped into the hallway before somebody else decided to slap the shit out of me.

For a moment, I stood outside the room, flexing my swollen fingers while I tried to get my breathing under control. The pain in my hand was nothing compared to the shit happening inside my chest.

Six months.

Six long motherfucking months.

I'd barely slept since Jru disappeared. I'd hired people, called in favors, searched places I never thought she'd go, and chased down every lead that came across my desk. Every time somebody thought they'd found her, I'd gotten my hopes up just to have another door slammed in my face.

The restaurant we'd planned together was finished. Everything she'd picked out was exactly where she wanted it, right down to the last damn detail. But the doors were still locked because I couldn't bring myself to open that motherfucker without her.

And now I knew she'd been carrying my child while I'd been searching for her.

“Ezra.”

I looked up as Yara stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind her. Her eyes immediately dropped to my hand, and she shook her head.