Filed to story: The LORDS Series Free PDF by Shantel Tessier
I close my eyes, trying to calm my breathing while wondering why the fuck the Lords would send me that. Why do they want me to see that? Haidyn was supposed to give her adrenaline, but it’s obvious he didn’t. He knocked her out because he didn’t want her to go through the pain. Why?
He loves her. My mother’s friend’s words come back to me. For some reason, they had to brand her, and he couldn’t bear to put her through that kind of pain.
The thought makes my Lords brand itch, and I slowly move my neck back and forth, trying to scratch it against the pillow. The one on my ass burns as well. I freeze when I hear the bathroom door finally open and hold my breath.
Seconds later, I hear him exit the bedroom, and I close my eyes, releasing my breath. Fuck. I feel like the Lords are trying to tell me something, but I’m not sure what it is. Or if I even want to know.
HAIDYN
My cell went off while I was in the shower, and it was a text.
SAINT: Come home please…she needs you.
I haven’t spoken to him since he stood in the doorway of my house, so I know it must be important if he’s reaching out. Running a hand through my hair, I contemplate ignoring it. But the fact that Saint was the one who messaged me makes me think it’s important.
Walking back into my bedroom, I go over to the side of the bed that Charlotte is lying on. I gently pull back the covers from her face. “Charlotte?” I place my hand on her shoulder, and her heavy eyes open to meet mine. “I have to run.”
“Okay.” She yawns.
“Get some sleep, doll face. I’ll be right back.”
I jump on my bike and pull up to Carnage in less than twenty minutes. Jessie meets me at the main entrance. “They’re upstairs in the birdcage, sir,” he informs me, knowing I was coming. I guess Saint informed him that he requested my presence.
Making my way up to the birdcage, I exit the elevator just as the door to Saint’s room opens. He steps out into the hallway to meet me. His head is down, and he runs his hand through his already disheveled hair. When his eyes meet mine, I feel a coldness run down my spine.
What the fuck happened? “What’s going on? Where is she?”
“In our room,” he answers, and his voice is hoarse.
I reach out to open the door, but he steps in my way. “Saint???”
“I…” He pauses, lowering his voice. “I need you to talk to her for me.”
“I came, didn’t I?” I snap, getting irritated.
He nods to himself a few times. “I just need her to know that I’m here for her.”
I frown at his words and go to ask him what the fuck he means by that, but he steps out of the way and opens the door for me. Knowing she’ll tell me more than he will, I step inside to find her sitting on their bed, back against the headboard and staring straight ahead. Her eyes are red from crying, and her face is splotchy.
“Ashtyn?” I ask, closing the door behind me.
She blinks, her eyes finding mine. They widen, and she gasps. Scrambling off the bed, she rushes to me and throws her arms around my neck, leaping into my arms. “Haidyn,” she whispers before I hear her sniff. Her body trembles in my arms as she begins to cry.
I walk her over to the bed and sit her down on the edge, prying her body from mine. I kneel in front of her. “What’s going on, baby girl?”
She sniffs, trying to get her emotions under control, and takes in a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”
I was afraid of this. Kashton had told me that she found out she was pregnant, and all I could think about on the way here was that she lost it. I pretend I don’t already know that information because this isn’t the first time Ashtyn has told me she’s expecting. She had run into me in a hallway here at Carnage. She was upset, and I couldn’t get her to calm down, so I snuck her out and took her to see Devin. I didn’t want her to worry about being pregnant without proof.
Four years ago
“Saint…”
“We’ll figure it out,” I assure her and kiss her forehead. I don’t understand why she’s so afraid of being pregnant. Saint will take care of her. Hell, Kashton and I will also take care of her. She’s not alone here.
The door opens, and her breath catches when she sees Gavin enter. She rises onto her elbows, but I push her down.
“No…”
“This is Gavin,” I tell her. She thinks it’s Devin-our doctor on call at Carnage-but I understand that. They’re identical twins. “He’s here to help, Ash.”
“Haidyn.” He nods to me before placing her in the stirrups and not wasting any time. We’ve got to confirm the pregnancy and get back to Carnage before anyone notices she’s missing.
Her eyes are wide, and her heavy breathing fills the room. I take her hand and give her a reassuring smile, trying to ease her concern.
Gavin begins a vaginal ultrasound, and the sound of a heartbeat makes me smile. She was right. She and Saint are going to be parents. I’m going to be an uncle.
He finishes it up and then stands. “Give me an hour and I’ll have a room ready.”
“Room?” She jumps up. “What…what do we need a room for?” She’s panicking, and her body trembles.
Gavin looks from me to her. “I’m assuming you came here for termination…”
“No,” she cries, frantically shaking her head.
“Give us a minute,” I tell Gavin, and he walks out.
“Ash-“
“I want this baby,” she cries. “Please, Haidyn. I want this baby…We just can’t tell Saint.”
I run a hand down my face. “You can’t hide a pregnancy from him. I can’t hide this from him.” I cup her face. “He’s going to be happy??”
“It’s not his child.”
I frown, my hands dropping from her tear-streaked face. “What do you mean not his child?”
She drops her head and sniffs. “I was raped.”
“Who the fuck raped you?” I snap, and she flinches.
“I don’t know who it was.” She lifts her eyes to mine and whispers, “But it happened before the vow ceremony.”
My mind tries to comprehend everything she’s telling me. “No…” I was there. I saw what happened. “You bled??”
“Saint cheated.” She interrupts me. “At the ceremony.”
I take her hands in mine. It’s the same thing she told me when she ran into me in the hallway at Carnage. I didn’t understand it then, and I don’t understand it now. “I believe you, baby girl, but you’re not making any sense.”
“Saint knew I was raped beforehand, and he cheated at the vow ceremony to make it look like I was a virgin.”
“Fuck.” Now it’s all making sense. The reason for her overreaction isn’t really an overreaction now. Saint will be in deep shit with the Lords if they find out he did something to the vow ceremony. “Who would have known that to tell him?” I ask, trying to think of my next step. I’m now on damage control.
“My father.”
“Goddammit,” I hiss. “And Laura told you all of this?” Ashtyn had also informed me that the fucking therapist was the one who forced her to take the test during one of her sessions. Right before I ran into her in the hallway at Carnage and I snuck her out to see Gavin. We needed proof other than a test that Laura could have altered. Turns out, she wasn’t wrong. We heard the heartbeat. Ashtyn is pregnant.