Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
I lift the gun, aiming for his head. “Tell Fran I said hello.” I squeeze the trigger and silence him permanently.
Chapter 44
One Wish
Sidney
Three months later…
“My boys are pissed at me,” Clooney Hennessy walks up beside me to say.
I have my forehead pressed to the cool glass window in his study. I slipped in here to collect myself. I haven’t told Clay that I’m pregnant. I don’t know why I’m so afraid.
“Give them time,” I say in a whisper.
He reaches to rub my back. “Becoming a father is one of the greatest gifts in the world. Have you told him yet?”
“No, he still has so much on his plate,” I answer.
“The world could be on his shoulders, but this would be the one thing to make it all right in his world. Tell him, Sid,” he croons gently.
I inhale and turn to him. My eyes search my father-in-law’s face. I can see what I know written all over it.
“Will you tell him you’re dying?” I ask softly.
Surprise crosses his face before he erases all emotions. He looks down into his glass. My heart aches for him.
“How do you know?”
“I sort of overheard you and Wade talking. They’re only going to be angrier if you don’t tell them,” I respond. I hadn’t known it was Wade at the time, I figured that out after Clay told me he found out Wade is his brother.
“I have grandchildren now, my sons are finding their way as men, and this new treatment is promising. I’m not going to lie down easily. This isn’t over until I say so,” he says firmly.
I smile. “You Hennessy men would defy death and succeed.”
“You’re damn right. I still have years in me. I’ve been through worse. I’m not going to let some snot-nosed, wet-behind-the-ears doctor tell me my time is up,” he huffs.
I cup my father-in-law’s face. “You better be around. You’re the only grandpa our little one has.”
“Still keeping secrets, old man?” Clay’s voice startles me. “And now you have my wife doing the same.”
I turn to find Clayton, Gregor, and Cane all standing with their arms across their chests and scowls on their faces. Clooney made some gorgeous boys, that asshole Wade included.
Clooney takes my hand and kisses the back of it. “I will not speak life into that bullshit those doctors are trying to sell me. And I was just telling my daughter here it’s time she shares with my favorite son that he’ll be a father,” he says the last part with humor in his voice.
“I knew it,” Cane huffs.
“He told me the same thing last week. We’re all his favorite when it’s time to save his ass,” Gregor grumbles.
“Come,” Clay says, ignoring everyone else.
I move to him, feeling his strength from across the room. He wraps his arms around me as soon as I get close to him. I place my forehead on his chest. He gently caresses my back with his warm hands.
“I’ve been waiting to see how long it would take you to tell me,” he whispers.
I look up at him with wide eyes. I part my lips, but I don’t know what to say. I had no idea he knew.
“I know your body better than I know myself. I noticed weeks ago.” He flashes a sexy smile down at me.
“Oh,” is all I push out, drawing laughs from everyone around us.
“Let’s celebrate,” my father-in-law croons out.
“We’re still going to talk,” Gregor says firmly.
Clooney just waves him off and strolls out of the room. I laugh and go to follow, but Clayton holds me back. He watches until his brothers and father are out of the room, before he crushes my lips in a heated kiss.
“I love you,” he says when he breaks the kiss, his hand splayed on my just-growing belly.
“I love you too,” I purr back at him.
His eyes light up. He takes a pass over my lips with his thumb. A loving silence passes through us.
“Come on, the chest board is ready. I want to win my pride back.” He chuckles.
“Good luck with that,” I tease and wink at him.
He throws his head back and laughs. It’s such a gorgeous sight. It all hits me. It truly sets in.
I’m married to Clayton Hennessy. I’m happy and having my own little family. I’ll never let them go.
Epilogue
Revealing Thoughts
Clayton
“Did you see this coming?” Gregor murmurs behind his drink, nodding out toward the bride and groom.
“Not at all,” I reply.
“So he had a hand in it all?” Gregor shakes his head.
“Yup.” I shake mine as we stand in the midst of another wedding.
“I didn’t think the old bastard had it in him.” He chuckles in disbelief. “Goes to show not everything is what it seems.”
“You can say that again,” I grunt. “It’s the only reason I allowed Sid to talk me out of strangling him.”