Page 19 of Jonas

“Derrika, what?” I asked sharply.

Too sharply, but she saw too much, which in turn made me feel something I’d never felt in my life—seen. And that scared the fuck out of me because not even Cash’s ability to read me made me feel that way. He was a brother, I could—and had—talk to him about anything. He knew my secrets, he knew my past, and never had he looked at me with anything other than camaraderie. He couldn’t know what it felt like to have parents like mine because he’d never had any, but he had a great understanding of my need to erase the past. But Derrika staring at me, easily seeing what I didn’t want anyone to see, her knowing I’d gone somewhere unpleasant and gently attempting to guide me back, had my shields slamming into place.

“Kira asked if you’ve told me about the Wentworth connection,” Derrika told me through gritted teeth and squinty eyes.

Shit.

“Not yet,” I belatedly answered Kira. “We just got to work when you called.”

“Who’s Wentworth?” Derrika inquired.

“Austin Wentworth is the Bolin Chen connection to Maddon,” I told her. “But before we go down that rabbit hole, let’s concentrate on the immediate threat—Barnes.”

Those squinty eyes still aimed at me turned to slits.

“I can multitask,” she grumbled.

“No doubt. But getting Cash and team intel on Barnes is more important,” I reminded her.

With one last filthy look, Derrika pushed off the couch and skirted the table. When she disappeared around the corner that I assumed led to her bedroom, I refocused on Kira.

“Why did Zane call to give me an update and not Layla?” I asked.

“She’s still not feeling well.”

The thought of having children sent a shiver through me, but I was seriously hoping that Layla not feeling well was because she was knocked up, or better, the flu and not something more serious.

“You’re sure there’s nothing wrong with her?”

There was a beat of silence before Kira softly said, “Yeah.”

That momentary pause didn’t give me the warm and fuzzies.

“Why’d you pause?”

“Because I was trying to figure out if you’re worried about Layla because she’s our team leader and good friend or if there’s something I’m missing.”

I exhaled, though it didn’t loosen the knot.

“Just worried about a friend.”

“She’s pregnant, Jonas.”

Kira sounded positive that was the issue.

“Then why is she hiding it?”

“Because she’s Layla and she’s a worrier. Women don’t usually announce their pregnancy until they’re past the first trimester. But she also is being shady about this because she knows she’ll have fifty overprotective men in her face about taking it easy. She’ll also be benched, and you know Layla doesn’t mind an office but she’d rather be out of the office with Kevin.”

Kira was only slightly exaggerating. “There are only twenty of us and if she’s pregnant she shouldn’t be out of the office.”

“Amen to that, brother,” Cooper smoothly put in.

“Don’t get any bright ideas, Cooper Cain,” Kira snapped.

“About knocking you up or chaining you to your desk when I do?”

Derrika came back into the room holding a red laptop but came to a stop after hearing Coop’s question.