Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(60)

“I love you,” he murmured, caressing her cheek and gazing back at her.

“I love you, Destin Parks,” Sula whispered, a teary-eyed smile curving her lips before it faded and she bit her lip. “I should warn you, though.”

“Warn me about what?” Destin asked, lifting her chin and rubbing her bottom lip when she released it.

Sula gazed back at him with a worried expression. “My father and brothers will probably try to kill you,” she said with an apologetic look.

“Let them try,” Destin murmured, leaning forward to kiss her deeply again.

Her family was the least of his worries at the moment. Drawing back, he twisted so that he could lean back against the pillows with her and hold her. Thankfully, the beds were designed to hold a Trivator warrior, so they were both longer and wider than a normal hospital bed. He carefully wrapped his arm around her when she sat forward enough for him to do so. Once he was settled, she lay back against him.

“How bad is your shoulder?” he asked, rubbing his chin against her hair.

“Patch said it would take a few weeks to completely heal,” she murmured, yawning and rubbing her cheek against his chest. “The medication he gave me took all the pain away. I feel good right now.”

Destin chuckled and picked her hand up in his. He leaned his head back. He wanted to know what had happened tonight, but it would have to wait. He could feel her exhaustion. He suspected the pain medication they had given her also had a sedative in it to help her sleep.

“Can you scoot down and I’ll hold you?” he murmured.

“Yes,” Sula replied, yawning again, but not moving. “In just a minute.”

In less than a minute, she was asleep. It took a little maneuvering, but he was finally able to slide them both down a little. Feeling for the control next to the bed, he lowered the head of it. He stopped when she whimpered in her sleep.

Wrapping his arm around her, he stared up at the ceiling. He would hold her for a few more minutes before he joined the other men. Only when her body totally relaxed did he carefully slide his arm out from under her and cover her up. He rolled out of the bed and stood gazing down at her. Her hair was lying across the pillow. Under the loose fitting gown she was wearing, he could see the bandage on her shoulder. He could tell her right hand was lying protectively over her stomach under the sheet. He didn’t know if she had it that way because of her injured shoulder or if she was subconsciously protecting their child.

“I’m going to be a father,” Destin whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. “I sure as hell didn’t see this coming. Kali is going to love this.”

Destin reluctantly turned on his heel and walked to the door. He paused when a wave of indecision hit him. He didn’t want to leave her alone. His gaze went to the window. Fear hit him, and in his mind, he saw all different kinds of horrible scenarios where someone came through the window and took Sula while she was sleeping. He jumped back when a soft knock sounded on the door. A second later, Chelsea peeked in.

“I think Cutter and the others are looking for you,” Chelsea murmured, glancing at the bed where Sula lay sleeping. “You go take care of what you need to do. I’ll stay with Sula. My Thomas is sitting with Beth. We won’t let nothing happen to these two girls. Congratulations, by the way. Patch told me about Sula.”

“Thank you,” Destin replied, glancing one last time at Sula before he quietly exited the room.

Trig was waiting for him in the hallway. Destin could tell from the other man’s expression that he wanted blood – Prymorus Achler’s blood. Trig wasn’t the only one.

“Let’s find the bastard and take him out,” Destin said.

“I can do that,” Trig replied, turning to follow Destin down to where Cutter, Tim, and Richard were waiting for them.





19





Destin glanced at the other men when he entered the room. Tim and Mason started to rise, but Destin waved for them to remain seated. His eyes lit up when he saw the coffee pot in the corner. It was one of the old fashion ones, not the alien version.

“Thomas just made a fresh pot. He said he thought we might need some,” Tim said. “Cups are in the cabinet above.”

“Thanks,” Destin replied. “Trig, do you want any?”

A disgusted expression flashed across Trig’s face and he shook his head. “No. Beth gave me some yesterday. It takes like shewta! That means shit in your language,” he said with a shake of his head. “I don’t know how you humans drink the stuff.”

Richard chuckled. “I kind of figured that was what it meant. It’s an acquired taste. If you spend enough time up at night, it can be a life saver,” he replied, lifting his own cup toward Destin for a refill.

“I’d like to know what happened, from the top,” Destin requested in a quiet voice, pouring the coffee into Richard’s cup and replacing the carafe in the coffee maker. “I also want to know everything you know about this Prymorus Achler guy.”



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An hour later, the men were retracing what happened in the former Usoleum Councilor’s residence. It was obvious that someone had searched it – thoroughly. It was doubtful that it had been the men sent to kidnap Sula, so it could only mean one thing; Sula and Beth had been searching for something. He turned when Cutter walked into the back bedroom where he was standing.