DECEIT (B723) by Hazel Grace (ebook reader for surface pro .TXT) 📕

“I won’t.”

“Is that a new dress?”

I can’t help the smile that illuminates off my face. “It is. I bought it on clearance online.”

Typically Alexander rolls his eyes at me and implies that he’ll buy me everything and anything under the sun. Except he knows better than to think I’ll jump on it.

“Do you like it?”

“I do.” Then he frowns. “Emmy…I want you to quit your job.”

I jolt back like he just slapped me.

The fuck?

B723 is my home.

They’re my family.

Even though Alexander thinks I work for Wade most of the time, the lie about B723 doesn’t haunt me as much as what I have done while working for the secret government organization. He believes Ledger is like an equal to Wade. That they’re both tied in together when both men are two separate entities.

“Why?” My brows furrow, and anger begins to form in my veins. I appreciate Alexander wanting to take care of me, but he’s not going to pick away the vital part of my life.

He doesn’t get this.

“I’m not trying to upset you. I can take care of both us and the kids. You’re running around, and…it’s concerning me.”

I gape at him. “How?”

“All you do is Wade’s bidding and think about what we’re going to do for the children. Their childcare, school, college, names, what sort of crib should we buy and—“

“It’s important things,” I reply on the defense.

“Can we hold them first before you start planning eighteen years in the future?” Alexander sits on the side of my bed and grabs my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. “Emmy, I love you. I will support you in any decision that you make but I can’t keep up with you.”

“Me? I’m running out of places to put baby things.”

A glint of a grin traces his lips. “Touche. We need a new house.”

I shake my head. “Not yet.”

Alexander can’t hide the look of disappointment in his eyes if he tried.

I’m not looking to upset him either but he’d be even more broken if we buy a home and the twins aren’t his. I’m not seeking to uproot my newborn children if he can’t handle it like he says he can.

“You think I’ll change my mind?” I don’t answer his question because I plainly don’t want to.

We’ve had this discussion a million times before but I will not be thrown off again by anyone.

When Bishop asked me to marry him, I thought he’d open up to me. That maybe one day, he wouldn’t be so closed off to show me that I was everything he wanted.

I won’t do the same thing with kids and Alexander.

In fact, I’ll never do it again.

“I told you I wouldn’t,” he emits, squeezing my hand to make his point. “I know you’ve just gotten out of a complicated relationship but I—“

“It’s not all that,” I retort. “It’s the simple matter that I might not be carrying your children. You honestly can say that won’t bother you? That you want to take care of my ex-husband’s kids?”

“I love—“

“But is that enough?” I glance down at our joined hands. “You love me but my kids come with me. You don’t know how you will feel if that becomes the case, Alex. I’m sorry but I don’t want to put us both in a difficult situation. I need to be able to give you a clean break.”

Alexander glowers at me. His dark eyes burning holes into my face as his nostrils flare in disdain. “You’re serious? I’m not fucked up in the head. I’m a man, I know what I want. I’ve thought about this, leaving you behind. Shit, you were married before.”

“I technically still am.” I remove myself from his grip, still feeling the welcoming warmth from his hands. “And you might be a man but you’re neglecting the truth. I can’t have you regret me. I won’t be able to move on with you if you do. I’m not doing it again. Been there done fucking that.”

“You’re keeping us at a standstill until you know if they’re my kids?”

“From moving out of this condo, yes.”

He shrugs and rises from my bed. “Then I’ll just fucking buy a house, and when those kids are born, mine or not, I’ll have a place set up for us.”

“Alex—“

“No, Emmy, this is my choice. You just don’t believe me.”

“Because it’s fucked up,” I seize out, placing my palm onto my stomach that is beginning to knot from the reality of our relationship.

“You’ll see…” He walks backward out of my room. “Then when I show you that I’ll love all three of you the same, you’re gonna marry me, Emmy Lou Rhodes. Because I’d fucking do anything for you. End of story.”

Then he storms out, slams the front door of my place, and doesn’t come back with dinner.

Gathered around the rectangular table with all my loved ones, B723 sits with myself and Alexander drinking cocktails and straight shots.

Stormi came to visit, her stomach twice as big as the last time I saw her and she looks stunning. She kisses my cheek and begs for us to catch up.

Of course, I agree.

She’s the closest thing to understanding all the hormones and worries that comes from being pregnant for the first time.

Stormi will be an amazing mother, but for me, on the other hand, I’m still conflicted. Meanwhile, Alexander would be just as good as Marty with being a father.

Our fight a few weeks ago has simmered, but it still leaves a bad taste in our relationship when he tiptoes around where the babies are going to sleep.

I think I cut him deeper with my words than I intended, but I’d rather hurt him now with the truth than both of us when our lives may be turned upside down.

Ledger places a hand on top of mine, the closest thing I have to a parent these days, and seizes my attention. The wrinkles on his face lift into a smile and he looks at me lovingly as