Breathless_ Steel Brothers Saga - HELEN HARDT Page 0,16
going on. I don’t have the heart to tell them.”
“Did you call Joe? Or Ryan?”
A pause. Then, “No. I don’t want to worry them.”
“I’m on my way. You need to call them.”
“Okay,” she said timidly.
I looked at my watch. “I should be there in half an hour. You call me if you hear anything, you got it?”
“Yeah,” she choked out. “Thank you, Bryce.”
“I’d do anything for you. All of you,” I clarified. “I’ll see you soon.” I ended the call and shoved the phone back in my pocket.
“What’s going on?” Heidi asked.
“I have to go. Family emergency.” That had sobered me up quick. So much for the four bourbons. “Damn!”
“What?”
“My car is still at the bar.”
“You want me to drive you over there?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. But you owe me.” She gave me what she no doubt thought was a naughty, seductive smile.
To me, it was kind of disgusting.
I didn’t say much during the short drive.
When she leaned in for a kiss before I got out of the car, I turned, letting her lips brush my cheek.
I wanted desperately for Jade and the baby to be okay, but I was reluctantly thankful for Marj’s call. It had stopped me from making a big mistake.
I quickly left Heidi’s car, got into my own, and began driving.
Marj was waiting by the door and opened it for me before I had the chance to knock. She pulled me inside and fell into my arms.
I kissed the top of her head, inhaling. Her hair smelled like coconut. “Hey. Everything is okay.”
She pulled away. “I still haven’t heard anything.”
“I know you haven’t, because you would have called me, right?”
She sniffed and nodded.
“Did you call your brothers?”
“Ryan didn’t answer, and Joe… I just couldn’t.”
I sighed. “They need to know.”
“They can know when I have actual news. I can’t burden them. They’ve all been through so much.”
“But this is family, Marj. If ever there were three brothers who were there for each other, it’s the Steels.”
“I know. I know. But…”
“No buts. We’ll call them together, okay?”
She swallowed, nodding, but we both jerked when her phone buzzed against her thigh. She pulled it out. “Oh, God. It’s Talon.”
“You want me to answer?”
She nodded.
I took the phone from her. “Hey, Tal. This is Bryce.”
“Where’s Marj?”
“She’s here. She’s upset. How’s Jade?”
He paused a moment. “The baby’s okay, so far. They saw the heartbeat on ultrasound, and they’ve got her hooked up to a monitor. The cramping has subsided, but she’s still bleeding a little bit. They’re going to keep her here overnight for observation.”
“Okay.”
Marj tugged on my arm. “What’s he saying?”
I held my hand up to stop her so I could hear Talon.
“Apparently some spotting during pregnancy can be normal,” he said, “and so can cramping. But because of her severe morning sickness, they want to keep an eye on her.”
“Good.”
“I tell you, Bryce. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“Did you call your brothers?”
“No. I assume Marj did.”
“She didn’t. She didn’t want to scare them.”
“Just as well. So far, everyone is cautiously optimistic. No need to bother them.”
“Talon…”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll call them. Tell Marj I’ll be home sometime tomorrow.”
“Will do.”
“Thanks for being there with her. I know her. Jade’s her best friend, and she’s probably worrying herself into a big mess. How are the boys?”
“I assume they’re in bed. You want to talk to your sister?”
“Yeah. Put her on.”
I held the phone out to Marjorie. “So far Jade and the baby are fine. He needs to talk to you.”
She nodded and took the phone, her facial muscles finally relaxing. “Tal?”
She bit her lip as she listened to her brother for several minutes, only mumbling “okay” here and there. Finally, she said, “I will. You call me if anything changes. I don’t care what time it is.” Pause. “Okay. Bye.”
“You better now?” I asked.
She sighed. “A little. I don’t like her staying at the hospital.”
“The hospital is the safest place for her right now.”
“I know.” Her lips trembled, and her eyes glazed over with unshed tears.
“Come here.” I pulled her to me in a warm embrace.
She felt so good against me, and my cock hardened. Fuck. She didn’t need a horny man right now. She needed comfort.
So that was what I’d give her. I led her through the foyer and down into the family room, where I deposited her on the leather couch and then sat beside her. “The boys are asleep?”
“Yeah. I checked on them right before you arrived.”