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"Jerry, please You know I love you I thought we’d gotten past this" I tried to pull him into the kitchen for a little privacy He letto tell Valdez to take this elsewhere, we’re obviously not past this A o somewhere, anywhere but here, to thrash this out

"I can’t just turn my back on this I was there, involved Can’t you see that?" I let go of his arm Honestly, I was the one who’d ot him tied to Alesa, didn’t that ?

"Gloriana, obviously the des Is still determined to manipulate all of us Don’t let her" Jerry put his hand on ain "I’ sorry for the poor bastard" He jerked his head toward Rafe

I heard a gru roo so sensible Before he’dat his chest, at the white cotton shirt that was unbuttoned just enough to make me want to finish the job I doubt if he’d done that deliberately, Jerry didn’t think that way But it worked just the same He looked sexy to e our relationship

"It’s Valdez’s problem, not yours" Jerry pulled me close "Stay out of it"

"Givenews" I felt Alesa and Rafe waiting and tugged Jerry back into the living room Rafe clearly wanted me to let Jerry take off Alesa wanted Rafe to herself I wasn’t about to go with either of those options

"Think about this It sounds like from what I heard just now that you were a victim That when Alesa possessed you it was part of the de is clear to me now Obviously you never really wanted Valdez; the demon worked her wiles to attract you to hirabbed onto this theory like a life raft that could save our relationship And it was teo with it But not the truth I knew the attraction had been alive and ithout Alesa along for the ride

Rafe had a wry look on his face when I glanced at hi to say you never wanted me, Glory? Go ahead Let Blade finally feel less threatened by the shifter he hired as your bodyguard"

"Threatened? By God, the day a shifter makes me shake in my boots is the day I walk into the sun" Jerry’s look was pure Highland arrogance

"Settle down, both of you" I sighed "Look, I can’t lie about it, even if it would make my life much less complicated" I rested my hand on Jerry’s sleeve "I’ before Alesa came on the scene I hate to hurt you like this, Jerry, but that’s the God’s honest truth Yes, Rafe and I are friends, but there were sparks between us, cheet that off ood Jerry could usually see through et scratching that itch, Glory St Clair Rafe is off lirowled and pushed into our circle, resting a claw on Rafe’s shoulder "We’re starting a family"

Rafe was on the other side of the room before any of us could blink "Yours?" He couldn’t have looked usted "I don’t knohat kind of kinky scenario you’ve worked up in your warped brain, but I’m not and never will be yours, Alesa Get it?" He shook his head "Da I need to get her out of here You don’t deserve to have her polluting your atmosphere"

"And do ith her, Rafe?" I stayed out of claw range "Alesa, have soirl Take this mythical baby bump and peddle your story so it"

Alesa’s eyes filled with tears that oozed, dark and slimy, down her face "It’s not o Rafael is the father" She glared at hiainst the door out to the hall "Obviously he plans to be a deadbeat dad No surprise there De?" She sniffed and wiped her nose on the back of her hand "Maybe I should go to your grandfather, Rafael What will he say when I lay this story on him?"

"You leave my family out of this" Rafe shoved away from the door He looked as scary as I’d ever seen him

"Calm down, Rafe I think we need more information" I juht with a pregnant woht Demon or not, you need to step up if the babe is yours" Jerry stared at Alesa’s stoh I can’t credit how it could be possible"

"Exactly It’s a da with his fist