Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,144

at them both. “He’s a private person. We both are. Everyone assumes we don’t…that he can’t…”

“Trust me,” Addy said, her voice steely like Jesse’s sometimes got. “I’ll handle everyone else, especially the women.”

“I just don’t want things to be awkward for Jesse. He’s so private about this stuff and we’ve come so far. I—”

“I’ve got this,” Addy promised.

Ellie nodded. Relief filled her as she smiled. “We’re going to have a baby.”

Everyone was assembled for a meeting she should’ve shown up to fifteen minutes ago. Addy shoved the almost-forgotten medicine into her pocket and kept Ellie close to her side. The woman was on an emotional rollercoaster and on the verge of losing it altogether.

Pregnant.

Addy fought back her own tears.

No one deserved this more than Ellie and Jesse. She had to admit she had more than a few questions of her own, but her friend was right. They were both private people and no one deserved answers to slake their curiosity.

Addy’s hand trembled when she swiped the door open. She steered Ellie toward the whiteboard room and silently willed the tears pooled in her eyes away. No one would give a damn if she cried, but she didn’t need the fallout of an overreaction by anyone in the room because Jesse deserved this happy news.

They all did once the couple decided to tell anyone.

A baby.

Addy hadn’t ever considered having children until everyone around her started to have them. Seeing Kamren’s boys and Jessie and Ariana and Destiny, though…

God.

Would Kristof want children?

He’d be a great dad. Addy had zero doubt.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and paused outside the door. She drew Ellie into another hug. Addy hadn’t ever been a hugger until she’d met Zoey and Ellie. And Riley. That woman hugged anyone whenever.

“Thank you,” Ellie whispered. “I’m glad you were there.”

“Next time don’t do this alone. We’re here for one another, remember?” Addy pulled back. Ellie nodded. “Good. Now let’s go in there so you can tell Jesse.”

The buzz of conversation struck her as it always did when she entered the meeting room. An awkward silence settled in the room as everyone’s attention shifted to where she and Ellie stood. She battled her urge to step in front of her friend and hide her presence from everyone watching.

“Ellie? What’s wrong?” Concern filled Jesse’s voice as he rounded the table to stand in front of Ellie, who flung herself into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist.

Tension struck the room as Jesse’s brothers all stood. Ellie whispered into Jesse’s ear.

Addy battled a new stream of emotion as she watched the man’s face. Shock. Pure joy so emotionally charged it struck the entire room as he gripped his wife tighter and sank to his knees.

Tears streamed down his face. Ellie settled her head in the crook of his neck and sobbed.

“W-what the hell?” Nolan stood closest. Jesse’s other brothers hovered.

Levi had somehow navigated his way on Jesse’s other side, across from the other men. Addy caught the man’s gaze and didn’t bother hiding the tears filling her eyes. He more than anyone would understand.

“I love you,” Jesse said, his voice raw with emotion. He stood and firmed his grip on his wife. “Debrief me later.”

He headed toward the door. Laughter tumbled from Addy before she could stop it. Nolan moved to follow, but Levi intercepted.

“Stand back,” Nolan ordered.

“He clearly wants time alone with his wife.”

“He was crying,” Dallas said.

“What’s going on? Addy?” Mary asked.

“It’s not my place to say, but I’m wading in and setting the rules now so neither of them have to.” Addy swept her gaze to everyone in the room. “They’ll decide what we know or don’t know. There won’t be any questions because Ellie worried herself sick about how everyone on this compound would react.”

“Addy. You’re kind of scaring us,” Bree said. “If there’s trouble, I want to know. I can cancel my flight and stay here.”

Addy couldn’t chance Bree backing down from taking the time off she needed. “She’s pregnant.”

Startled gasps rose in the room, followed by excited screams from Rhea and Bree and Riley. Levi looked down at the ground, hand across his eyes. His shoulders shook.

Jesse’s brothers did the same. Nolan and Dallas didn’t hide their tears as they hugged.

“I-I didn’t think that they….” Riley swallowed. “I guess that’s one of the rules you’re setting, huh? We can’t ask for details.”

“No. I’ll crawl down throats and up your asses if y’all make her uncomfortable. Or Jesse. You know how fiercely protective she