Cruel Seduction - Kelli Callahan Page 0,59

you tell me? I’ll give her some medication that can help with that.” Owen never takes his eyes off the screen.

“Oh, are you a doctor?” I ask Owen.

“Something like that,” he answers, only leaving me more curious. What does that mean?

“I’m here,” Quinn groans, and she looks awful.

Jaxon hurries to her side and wraps an arm around her waist, helping her to the couch. “Julia? Can you please fix Quinn some tea?”

“Of course, Mr. Steele.”

“Who is that?” Quinn asks. “She’s new.”

“It’s another part of the meeting I want to discuss.” Quinn mumbles something incoherent before laying down on her side, holding her stomach as if she is still nauseous.

She looks pale and exhausted.

“Quinn, when was the last time you really kept something down?” Owen kneels on the floor and puts two fingers on her wrist to check her pulse. He lays the other hand on her forehead to check her temperature.

“Don’t fuss over me. I’m fine.” She bats his hands away.

“I’m serious, when was the last time? Are you in pain? While morning sickness is normal, pain isn’t, Quinn. Are you in pain?”

Quinn manages to open her eyes all the way and water fills them as she nods. “I didn’t want to say anything. I didn’t want to seem like I was worrying for nothing, but, Owen, it hurts so bad. I think something is wrong.”

“What?” Jaxon drops the mug in his hand, the ceramic shattering against the ground. The steam from the tea spreads across the floor. “Why didn’t you say anything to me? Quinn?” Jaxon lays his hand on her stomach, and I can see the fear in his eyes. He is scared.

“How long?” Owen bites out.

“I’m sorry, Jaxon. I should have told you. I didn’t want you to worry. And, Owen, I don’t know, a few hours?”

“We need to get her to the hospital. She could be having a miscarriage,” Owen says, and all the men in the room stand, ready to leave. Sebastian grabs my hand, and suddenly everything moves quickly after that.

Julia stares at us with such sadness. “I will keep an eye on the house, Mr. Steele. You don’t need to worry about that. I hope your wife is okay.”

“Thank you, Julia,” Jaxon chokes. He risks his injured arm and picks Quinn up off the couch, cradling her against his chest. She is a small person, but I’ve never seen her look this small. She is crying uncontrollably against his chest, and Jaxon is doing a great job of keeping it together, but he is erratic. He can’t seem to think or find anything. His only focus is Quinn.

“Jaxon, I don’t want to lose them,” Quinn says, peering up at him through devastated lashes. “I didn’t know. I thought a little pain was normal. I thought it was from the morning sickness. Oh God, I did this. What if they are gone, and I could have done something earlier?”

“It’s going to be okay. They are going to be fine,” Jaxon says, kissing her sweaty forehead.

Owen opens the kitchen door to the garage, and we all file out. I am surprised that the guys decided to go to the hospital too. Jaxon could have taken her, but it is obvious the rest of the men don’t want to leave them alone. They are a family. I’ve never experienced anything like that.

I was the only child, and my parents had me in their forties. I was never supposed to be born because my mother was told she couldn’t have kids. They loved me and cared for me until they died around ten years ago. I don’t have anyone else. And then I met Kendrick, so I have lost the sense of what family is supposed to be like.

As I see them all getting into the truck, Heaven hobbling with his broken leg and Owen climbing into the driver’s seat to drive, I know this is what happens when people love one another.

Jaxon slides into the backseat, along with Heaven and Grayson. Sebastian and I sit up front. I am in the middle, squeezed between Owen and Sebastian.

Quinn cries in the back seat, and Jaxon pets her hair, whispering something in her ear that is private, but I know it has to be words full of love. Heaven rubs her back, and Grayson massage her calves.

She is like a sister to them.

Would that happen with me and Sebastian? Would I become part of this family, or does Sebastian want me to leave eventually? We haven’t done much