Claimed by the Betrayed Mercenary

Chapter Eight

Connor's POV

‘W . . what?’ I manage to choke out.

Raising her gaze to me, Hali’s expressive green eyes, so much like my own, harden slightly, ‘I said that I am pregnant Connor, Gage and I are going to have a baby.’ Her lip suddenly starts to tremble as she stares at me, her moment of bravado fleeing as she crumbles into the uncertain little kid that I once knew. ‘Please don’t be upset’ she begs, ‘don’t leave me! I know this is awful timing for you with everything going on, but I’m excited and scared and every other emotion right now and I really need my brother.’

My mouth opens but I don’t have anything to say, my baby sister? Is . . having a . . . baby?

‘there’s a . .’ I swallow thickly, nodding my head down at her stomach, ‘in there?’

Hali nods, tears pooling in her eyes, ‘I’m sorry’ she whispers, ‘I don’t ever want to hurt you Con, but I really really need you! I want my kid to know you, the real you, not this version that you’re currently pretending to be. My baby needs her Uncle Connor, I want her to have the Uncle that matches the brother that I had as a little girl, the one who would rip the world apart just to make sure that she’s safe.’

My head is reeling, my sister is pregnant, there’s an actual person inside her body! I’m . . I’m going to be an uncle. Emotions roar through me, pain, so much damn pain as memories surface of another woman telling me the same thing. Anger, that her f.ucking boyfriend impregnated my baby sister, I don’t care that she’s mid twenties, she’s my sister and I don’t see a f.ucking ring on her finger, she deserves better.

The final emotion though is something else, something I haven’t felt in what seems like an eternity . . happiness, for my sister, who is so obviously excited despite her fear of my reaction. I grip onto that sliver of positivity with both hands, needing to harness it, refusing to let go.

‘Con?’ she murmurs nnervously when I don’t speak, ‘Con are you OK?’

A smile tilts up my lips, feeling foreign as I nod, tugging her into my lap and hugging her tightly.

‘F.uck me! My kid sister is going to be a f.ucking mom’ I mutter.

Hali laughs as she nods, ‘not for a while’ she replies, ‘I’m still only in my first trimester.’ Sobering, she leans back to look at me, ‘are you sure you’re OK?’ she asks worriedly, ‘I’ll . . I’ll understand if you need a few days to get your head around it.’

I shake my head firmly, ‘nope, I’m good’ I retort sternly, ‘I’m . . ‘ I suck in a breath, forcing my voice not to waver, ‘I’m happy for you Hal’ I grunt, ‘you deserve all of this and more.’

‘Thanks big brother’ she replies, snuggling into my chest like she did when she was little.

‘I’m still going to kick Gage’s ass’ I add, ‘he knocks up my sister without even a f.ucking proposal? Hell no!’

Hali shoves my chest playfully, ‘this isn’t the dark ages anymore Connor, you can have a baby without getting married.’

I snort, ‘not when it’s my f.ucking sister you can’t, if he’s in this for the long haul, he needs to man the f.uck up, and I’ll be telling him that.’

My sister rolls her eyes, ‘as if I didn’t have enough overprotective men in my life, here comes my brother, the worst of them all.’

I chuckle, Shaking my head, ‘those guys are kindergarteners beside me Haliberry, I’ll f.uck over anyone who hurts you, friend or not.’

She nods, smiling, ‘I know’ she replies softly before wrinkling her nose, ‘though you won’t even have to raise your fists right now, just lift your arms and you’d knock anyone out cold.’

I gape at her, ‘are you saying I stink?’ I huff.

Hali shrugs, ‘well, if the shoe or sweat stain fits, when did you last shower?‘

I growl playfully, ‘I don’t think I’m that bad, maybe you should get closer, tell me . .’ I go to grab her head, lifting my arm, ready to force my sweaty armpit into her face as she screeches, scrambling off my lap and backing away.

‘Come on Hal, smell me’ I taunt, pushing to my feet and stalking her, ‘how bad is it?’

‘Stay away from me!’ my sister orders, moving around the couch, her hands out protectively, ‘I don’t want your gross, sweaty armpits anywhere near me.’

‘Aww is Haliberry scared?’ I tease, ‘what’s wrong? Don’t you love your big brother any more?’

‘I love you loads, but right now I will love you more after you’ve had a shower’ is the response I receive.

Chuckling, I back off, my sister relaxing as she gives me another furtive glance, f.uck me what now?

‘Spit it out’ I growl in resignation.

‘Are you . . ‘ she licks her lips uncertainly, as I wait for her to finish. ‘do you think you’re staying around here, for a while?’ she asks.

I blink, surprised, I hadn’t given any real thought to what I was going to do, to be honest, my thoughts haven’t gotten a lot further than how many beers it takes me to pass out.

‘I dunno’ I admit, scratching my three days worth of stubble, ‘I don’t have any immediate plans to leave . . .’

Hali’s face brightens as she clasps her hands together eagerly, ‘sooooo’ she draws out, ‘maybe you’ll stay in Maine?’ she probes.

I shrug, ‘sure’ I mumble, what else do I have to do.

‘Great!’ My sister squeals, bouncing on the balls of her feet, ‘then I have a job lined up for you!’

Wait, what now? I gape at my little sister as she beams widely at me.

‘Where?’ I asks cautiously, ‘doing what?’

‘At Cadell Security’ is her excited reply, ‘working with Gage and the others.’ Her expression turns hopeful, almost pleading as she studies me.

I groan, rubbing my hand down my face, ‘I don’t need a handout Hal, I can find my own job’ I growl.

Hali nods quickly, ‘I know! But it’s not a handout, I swear! They really need more people, they have more jobs than they can handle, Gage and Harrison are always complaining about it. They know that you’re good at what you do Con, they were impressed by your resume, they’d really like to have you on board. she adds.

I narrow my gaze at my sister, ‘how have they seen my resume?’ I demand.

She has the good grace to look sheepish as she mumbles, ‘I might have given them a run down of your previous jobs and Gage may have contacted your old employer for a reference . . ‘

I roll my eyes, ‘Hal’ I groan.

‘I know! I’m sorry! But they really need the help and you need to get out of this apartment! I’m worried about you! Please? Pretty Please? With Sugar and sprinkles?’

I throw up my arms in defeat, ‘fine!’ I scowl before the stench of body odor hits me and I drop them quickly, damn! I really do need a shower!

Ignoring my sister’s shrieks of excitement, I head toward the bathroom to have my first shower in what might be a week, I can’t actually remember.

‘I’ll text Gage and let him know and then make coffee then shall I’ my sister calls at my retreating back.

‘Decaf for you’ I shout back, pushing open the door to my bathroom and closing it as my sister groans loudly in response.