Sam’s smile faded and his usually tan complexion turned white as he looked down at his wife. “I don’t think I can do it,” he told Maddie, his voice full of dread.
“You don’t have to do it. I’m doing it,” Maddie answered calmly. “Since everybody is here, I guess we can tell you all. Sam and I are being twice blessed. We’re having twins.”
“Oh shit,” Mia heard Max mumble under his breath, but he was so close only she could hear him. She squeezed his hand, warning him not to make his concern show. It was obvious that Sam was already sick with worry.
Sam sat down, his face white, looking like he needed to put his head between his legs to keep from passing out. No wonder he had been fretting so much over childbirth.
Mia smiled at Maddie, whose happiness was showing in her eyes. Obviously her sister-in-law was overjoyed, and it made Mia’s heart warm. Wrapping her arms around Maddie, Mia whispered, “Congratulations, Maddie. We’ll help the guys get through it,” she said jokingly, although she wasn’t so sure the statement wasn’t true.
“I just told Sam,” Maddie admitted, hugging Mia back. “He’ll warm to the idea eventually.”
Both women looked at Sam, his face white as a sheet now.
“Or not,” they both said together, laughing as Helen joined in the group female hug, leaving the men to ponder the hell of having twins.
She and Max waited until they could see the baby before they left, walking hand in hand out of the front entrance of the hospital after viewing Simon’s adorable baby girl, completely surrounded by Max’s security to keep the media away.
“I wish I could have your baby,” she pondered thoughtfully.
“Sweetheart, you don’t say something like that to me and not expect me to respond accordingly. I thought you wanted to wait,” Max said huskily.
Mia thought for a minute before answering, knowing she was ready to have Max’s child. In fact, she was starting to ache to have his baby. “I know we were waiting to have a family, but—”
“I’m ready if you are. I think we’ve waited long enough to start really living our lives together,” he told her warmly, wrapping an arm around her waist.
“Me, too,” she replied, surprising herself with that answer. She hadn’t been ready before, but suddenly she couldn’t wait to have Max’s child, to see a child created with love grow inside her. Maybe she really had grown up.
Two women in the same body…again.
For some reason, she liked the woman she was now. “When I recover my memory, we can talk about it,” she replied. “We do need some time after all that’s happened, but it would be nice to plan it.”
“I’ll be more than happy to do my part to help,” Max replied, his voice intense and sensual, as though he couldn’t wait to get her naked.
“You’ll be my stud once I know what happened and we know everything is going to be okay?” she asked teasingly.
“Baby, I am your stud. The only one you’ll ever need. And everything will be fine,” he quipped arrogantly.
“We can’t exactly get started immediately, but you could practice,” she dared him, heat gathering between her thighs and branching outward.
They’d used his car and driver, and he helped her into the back seat of the limo, closing the privacy barrier as he climbed in after her.
Grinning wickedly at her, he hit a button that opened a slanted storage compartment, causing condoms to pour out and onto the floor.
“You have condoms in the car? You really are prepared,” she said, laughing as he tore open a random package.
“I was a Boy Scout,” he informed her in a sinful voice.
Naughty Max was overwhelmingly seductive, and she had no defense against him. Not that she wanted any. She was more than willing to let him practice, and he did.
Chapter 6
It was sixty-five degrees, but Mia was sweating. The beads of moisture were trickling down her face, one right after the other, her body trembling as she did as she was ordered and looked down the scope of the rifle, only to jerk her head back when she saw her husband’s head right in the center of the sight, vulnerable. “No! Don’t hurt him. I’ll do whatever you want. Just leave my family alone,” she cried desperately, yanking against the steely grip restraining her.
The rifle slowly lowered, the maniacal voice holding her hostage declaring, “Easy shot. A few hundred yards. I could take him out in less than ten seconds and then go pick off both your brothers, too, before anybody even realizes what happened. The security of these rich pukes isn’t worth a shit.”
He could. Mia knew he could. Danny Harvey had always been a sharpshooter, highly skilled at hitting his target. “You won’t get away with it. The police—”
“Won’t do you a damn bit of good after they’re dead. And I doubt they’ll pay much attention before that. Everyone knows about the crazy Harrisons. They’ll never find me,” he answered venomously. “Are you willing to take that chance?” In a softer, crazy sing-song voice, he told her, “You don’t love any of them, Mia. Not like you love me. You want me. You married that rich suit as a substitute. I’m here now. Cooperate and we can be together again.”
She cringed as his large, grimy hand touched her cheek. “What do you want, Danny?”
“You. We belong together. We always have,” he told her harshly.
“And my money,” she added in a self-mocking voice. Danny would have no problem working his way through her trust fund now that she had access to it.
Grabbing a fistful of her hair, he slammed her head back against the tree he had been propped up against just a moment ago. “That’s just a side benefit. I love you.”
This isn’t love. It had never been love. It was insanity.
The blow to her skull making her dizzy, Mia shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Danny was right about one thing…she couldn’t risk it. And she wouldn’t. She had to figure out a way to get Danny away from her family before they all ended up dead like her parents. He was more toxic than her father had been, and even more deadly.
It’s my fault. I brought this bastard into my life, and now he’s threatening everyone I care about. I should have never married Max. I should have stayed away from him. He doesn’t deserve this.
A set of cold, slimy lips clamped down against hers, and Mia tried to choke down the bile rising in her throat, willing herself not to struggle. It would be a fight against a madman, and she’d lose. She needed to think. If she didn’t, Max and her brothers could die.