Chapter 2

2

TYRONE

J ulian followed Scarlet to her room, and my jaw clenched tight. She was right. We'd all been reckless with how we'd fucked her. But I'd known about her IUD, and I'd only finally climaxed inside her when I couldn't control myself. So much for all my composure. I was getting complacent, and I knew it.

She just had a way of getting under my skin more and more every day, but this development was too much. Cristian had done a horrible thing, something I wanted to beat him senseless for, but I knew it was pointless. What was done was done, and I'd deal with him later. For now, Scarlet was my main concern with what we did moving forward.

I paced the dining room, my mind racing as I downed the last of my whiskey, heading to the kitchen for a refill. This situation was a powder keg, and one wrong move could blow everything apart. Cristian had really fucked up now. He'd broken not just whatever fragile trust he'd built with her, but he'd broken ours. This was not just a decision he'd made for himself. He knew we all were with her, using her.

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath. The silence of the room pressed in on me, reminding me of how fragile this entire dynamic was. She had been our captive, and we'd allowed it to manifest into something more, flourish and bloom. Not that we'd had all that much control. As much as I wanted to believe I could've continued keeping her at arm's length, it had become obvious that was impossible.

I always had a plan, always strived to be one step ahead, but of course, Cristian, in all his chaotic wisdom, had hurled that into oblivion. Fuck, he'd be lucky if I didn't break his nose for this the next time I saw him. Not that the violence would fix anything, but it would make me feel slightly better for dishing out punishment for this heinous act.

I sighed heavily and ran a hand through my hair, frustration and an unexpected thrill coursing through me. Scarlet's refusal of the morning after pill was understandable if she was indeed pregnant, but it also meant the likelihood of her choosing to abort was slim to none. Why did the thought of her carrying one of our children oddly excite me? It was a dangerous sentiment, one I hadn't anticipated feeling. She was a wild woman, forged in the fires of her own personal hell, emerging stronger and more resilient. If anyone was worthy of bearing a child of ours, it was her.

But was she truly prepared to immerse herself in our world? That would be the inescapable cost if she chose to keep the child. There would be no turning back. She couldn't leave - it would be entirely out of the question. The thought sent a possessive thrill through me. She'd be ours, forever. Our woman, bound to us by blood and circumstance. The idea was intoxicating, despite the complications it would undoubtedly bring. I found myself hoping, against all better judgment, that she would choose to stay, to become an integral part of our twisted family dynamic. The idea sent a thrill through me, one I hadn't expected. I'd always prided myself on my control, on keeping everyone at arm's length. But Scarlet had found her way into my walls, into a place I didn't even know existed.

I poured another glass of whiskey, letting the burn of it ground me. This situation was a mess, but it was also an opportunity. If she was pregnant, if she kept the child, it would bind her to us in a way nothing else could. No more uncertainty, no more wondering if she'd leave when her month was up, something that had been bothering me a little at night.

But it wasn't just about keeping her here. The thought of her swollen with my child - or one of my brothers' - stirred something primal in me. She was strong, fierce, a survivor. Any child of hers would be a force to be reckoned with.

I shook my head, trying to clear these thoughts. It was too soon to be thinking like this. We didn't even know if she was pregnant yet. But the possibility hung in the air, heavy with potential.

I moved to the window and looked over the city, the sprawling expanse of lights and shadows stretching out before me. The whiskey glass was cool against my palm as I stood there, dwelling on everything. Julian had gone to comfort her, and I knew he'd softened immensely for Scarlet. It was a change I'd never expected to see in any of us.

The Russos' interference had changed everything. Their attempt to take her from us had backfired spectacularly, making her mean so much more to us than we'd ever anticipated. It proved her nature to us, her fierce determination and unexpected strength. Her importance had become undeniable, as much as I hated to admit it. It was a weakness, one thing I couldn't afford to have, but I no longer had a choice.

The morning we'd rescued her from those bastards had been a nightmare, the situation shifting so quickly with the van getting hit and then my brothers and her being taken before the firing squad. I'd stepped in, having been getting ready to take shots from afar anyway, and everything had changed. She wasn't just a captive anymore; she'd become something else entirely. She'd taken on a Russo and dismembered his dick, and she'd killed before. She was more like us than she'd care to admit, willing to protect those she loved at all costs. A perfect woman for our family. Except Cristian had to go about it in such a wrong fucking way. Coming back from this was going to be no easy task, and I was apprehensive about her ever being able to forgive him. I wouldn't, not any time soon, but I also understood his brain was fucked up, his line of thinking was skewed. What had he been thinking?

I shook my head, knowing trying to understand him was like trying to wrestle with a rabid bear. Futile.

The city below buzzed with life, oblivious to the turmoil in our little world. I took another sip of whiskey, knowing that I had to shelve this issue and deal with the Russo situation.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling through the messages that had been flooding in. The Russos had finally caught wind of Angelo's death, and they were not about to take it lying down. Fuck. This was the last thing we needed right now.

I dialed one of my trusted men, ordering him to organize a meeting for me with all the important members of the family and our security. We needed to get on top of this and clean up our mess. Going after Angelo had been an impulsive move, but it was also time for the Russos to be wiped off the board. They were not ones to obey or compromise, and I was over making space for them. They just weren't learning their place. So now, I'd remove it completely.

But I would have to be grateful for one thing. The Russos had inadvertently given us a gift - they'd shown us Scarlet's true worth. Now, with this potential pregnancy looming over us, her importance had reached a new level.