“Yep. He’s being detained in security. The cops are on the way.”
“You called the cops? Are you crazy?”
“Fuck no. I’m not stupid. But we’re in a public hospital with lots of witnesses. Someone else called them. So get your ass in here so we can deal.”
“On my way.” He clicked his phone off and shoved it back in his pocket.
“What’s wrong?” Dani asked.
“Cops are coming. We’re going to have to deal with them or face an even bigger shitstorm.”
Dani pressed her hands to his chest and pushed free of him. He loosened his arms and let her slide to the ground, making sure she was steady before he actually let go.
“Creed, this is insane. It’s not normal.”
“No, it’s not normal for either of us. But it is reality. This is why I need you on the island where I can protect you.”
“I wasn’t safe at the Diablo, I’m not safe at a freaking hospital, so where exactly do you think is safe? This is crazy.” She stomped off toward the hospital, but Creed grabbed her hand and spun her back to him.
“You’ll be safe with me. I promise nothing like this will happen again. Me and the pack will make sure of it. You are precious to us.”
Her forehead crinkled when she frowned. “Why because I’m pregnant?”
“That’s part of it, but—“
“Don’t peg your hopes on this baby, Creed. I’ve barely made it this far.”
Now it was his turn to be confused. “What is that supposed to mean?”
She sighed heavily. “It means my body has been fighting it from the beginning. So far I’ve spent a small fortune on medical treatment that got me this far along, but I’m afraid if you put me up on a pedestal and get your hopes up, you’ll end up disappointed at the least.”
He suddenly felt shell shocked. “That’s why you worked so much? For the money to save our baby?” In his mind and to anyone who’d listen he’d torn her to shreds for her lack of compassion and apparent love for nothing except the all mighty greenbacks.
Now his stomach twisted with guilt as the reality of what she'd done sunk in.
“You didn’t know. I could have told you and I chose not to. And don’t ask me why. I don’t know. I needed time alone to deal with it.”
“But—” he started.
She shook her head. “Not here, Creed. If you feel the need to hash this out, fine. But I’m not going to do it in a hospital parking lot.”
“Come here, baby.” He rumbled, his voice sounding like broken glass going through a blender.
She shook her head.
“Please,” he said.
He saw the moment when she softened toward him again. Her shoulders dropped and her lip trembled. She took the few steps separating them and he wrapped his arms around her, pressing his lips against her sweet smelling curls.
“We do have to hash this out,” he whispered.
She immediately stiffened.
“But later like you said.” He put two fingers underneath her chin and lifted her gaze to his. “Right now though, I need you to feel how grateful I am that you did what you did to take care of our baby.”
A strangled cry sounded in her chest and her eyes filled with tears he suspected had never been shed. At least not for him.
“That ain’t all, Dani.” He tightened his grip on her chin, making sure she stayed focused on him. “You’re not going to do that again. I’m here and whether we are together or not it’s my job to keep you and her safe. If you pull that secret shit again, there will be consequences and I’m pretty sure you won’t like them.”
She sighed again. “Why do you do that?”
“What?” he asked.
“In one breath you say the sweetest thing you could say to a woman and in the next you remind me what an arrogant ass you can be.”
He smiled, not feeling any real anger coming from her. “I’m a man, baby. I love that you want to protect me and take care of yourself, but ultimately that’s my job and you got to give that to me.”
She rolled her eyes and he happened to think that was the cutest damn thing at the moment. Sassy, sweet and hot as hell in bed. Obviously, they weren’t always going to see eye to eye on some things, but he believed all the good between them would outweigh the bad in the long run. And he was perfectly happy with proving that to her.
“Go inside, Dani. Let’s get through the bullshit we have to get through so we can get to the good stuff at my place.”
“You’re incorrigible. I’m not sure I won’t end up killing you in your sleep if you keep trying to boss me around.”