Taming Blade (Kings Reapers MC Book 5) Nicola Jane (suggested reading TXT) 📖

she says and a round of groans erupt, making Anna laugh harder. “I take my role seriously.”

We spend some more time talking, but when they eventually leave, one by one, I realise how tired I am. Sara is the last one and I take her hand. “How are you?”

“I’m okay,” she mumbles.

“You’re not okay. I can see it in your face.”

“I booked an appointment,” she whispers, looking away from me. “To deal with the problem.”

I wince. “That can’t have been easy.”

“It’s tomorrow,” she adds, and I raise an eyebrow.

“What time? I’ll come with you.”

“You don’t have to do that. You have enough on and you need rest. I’ll be fine.”

I frown. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re not doing this alone.”

BLADE

“You’re dressed,” I say, sounding surprised. Tillie smiles, doing a little spin to show off her fully-clothed body.

“I have to go out,” she says.

“Where?” I snap. She looks over at me and frowns at my harsh tone. “You should be resting,” I add more calmly.

“I told you a million times, I’m fine. This is important.” She picks up her handbag and walks to the door. I move, blocking her exit, and she sighs.

“So important you can’t tell me what it is?”

“Fuck!” she screams, and I take a step back, shocked by her outburst. “Back the fuck off! You are crowding me and it’s driving me insane.”

I pull the door open and move to the side. “Look, Blade, I’m—” she starts to apologise, but I put my hand up and she stops talking. She kisses my cheek and leaves.

Chapter Twenty-Two

TILLIE

We’ve been over the procedure and now we’re in the waiting room filling out paperwork. Sara keeps crying and it’s breaking my heart. I watch her closely as her pen hovers over the signature line. “You okay?” I ask.

She nods and presses the pen on the line before moving it away again. “I can’t believe they can terminate up to twenty-four weeks,” she says. I frown, confused to why she’s thinking about that when she’s only fourteen weeks. “It’s fully formed by then,” she adds, and I nod. “She’s the size of a peach right now,” she continues. “She’s already got her ovaries.”

“If she is a she,” I say.

“She’s got arms and legs.”

I place my hand over hers. “Sara, you don’t have to do this.”

“How can I look after a baby? I killed a pet hamster when I was twelve because I forgot to feed it,” she says. I wince and she nods in confirmation. “I know, awful, right? I starved the poor little thing to death, I didn’t sleep for weeks after that I felt so awful.”

“I mean, you can’t forget to feed a baby because milk actually leaks from your breasts. I read it online. Plus, it cries a lot when it wants something, so your job is basically to guess what it wants for the first few weeks,” I reason.

“And not let it die,” adds Sara. We both smile. “Maybe I shouldn’t do it today. Just in case it’s the wrong decision.” I nod, taking the pen from her and stuffing it in my bag. “My god, you have no shame,” she hisses. I always steal pens—it’s a bad habit.

We take a slow walk back to the club. It’s a good twenty minutes away, but we both need the air. “What if I fuck this kid’s life up?” she mutters.

“You won’t. Just be you and you’ll do amazing.”

“We’ll have a kid around the same time,” she adds, and I smile. “You think they’ll grow up to be best friends?”

“Yes. Why would they not when they have us as parents?” I sigh. “Are you going to tell Lake?”

She nods. “In my own time.”

“It’s just that Blade’s kinda on to you. He guessed when I came out of your room holding the test. I haven’t confirmed his suspicions, but you’re gonna show soon enough.” Sara holds her flowy shirt against her small bump and I grin. “Wow, you kept that well-hidden.”

“I know. I’m practically a whale already.” I nudge her, laughing. “It’s my parents who’ll have a fit. My dad will lose his mind.”

I take her hand. “It’ll all work out. Somehow. At least we have each other.”

“And you have Blade,” she adds, winking.

“I really like him,” I mutter. “Like way too much.”

“Is that possible? Isn’t it called love when like is too much?”

“I’m scared it’s all too fast. After everything that’s happened, and now we’re having a baby, what if he realises he doesn’t want me six months down the line? Our relationship is so stormy.”

Sara rolls her eyes. “That wouldn’t happen, but if it did, I’ll keep your room free at the house. Speaking of which, I’m moving back there this evening. I’m gonna find my balls, tell Lake the news, then move home.”

“Wow, that’s some big decisions you’ve just made,” I tease.

We get back to the club and I find Blade outside smoking a cigarette. His eyes burn into me. I’m guessing he’s still mad about before. “You have a visitor,” he mutters, flicking the nub to the ground and heading back inside.

“He looked pissed,” says Sara.

“We argued . . . again,” I mutter. But when I see my visitor is Ethan, I realise it’s probably that, that he’s angry about.

Ethan stands when I enter. “Matilda,” he says, smiling. Blade is leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed firmly on Ethan and the cop beside him.

“Hey,” I say.

“Is there somewhere we can go talk?” he asks, and my eyes automatically flick to Blade, who shakes his head. I frown. I don’t need permission, so I ignore him and nod, leading Ethan back outside.

“Sunshine,” Blade shouts after me but I pay no attention.

“I heard about the shop,” says Ethan, moving us out of earshot of his cop friend.

“Yes, it was sad, but I’m moving on. Nan can’t afford to keep it running, and honestly, I don’t think she wants to.”

“Did you find out who did it?” he asks.

“Isn’t that your job?” I ask, smiling.

Blade steps out and