The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the living room as Piper sat on the couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The weight of her decision pressed down on her, but she knew she couldn’t delay any longer. Her secret was too big, too life-changing to carry alone.
Across the room, Gabriel was fixing a latch on the window, his ever-watchful demeanor unchanged even in moments of relative calm. Jasper lounged in the armchair, flipping through a magazine he wasn’t really reading, while Noah, pale but recovering, was propped up with pillows on the other couch, his laptop open as usual.
Piper cleared her throat, drawing their attention. Her heart pounded as their eyes turned toward her. “I need to talk to you,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.
Gabriel set down his screwdriver and straightened. Jasper raised an eyebrow, and Noah closed his laptop, his expression curious but concerned.
“This sounds serious,” Jasper said, breaking the silence.
“It is,” Piper admitted, her gaze flicking from one face to the next. “And I need you all to listen. No interruptions, no assumptions—just hear me out.”
Gabriel nodded, his stance firm and supportive. “Go ahead.”
Piper took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and charged. For a moment, the room was utterly still.
Jasper was the first to react. He sat up straighter, his usual smirk replaced by wide-eyed surprise. “You’re... pregnant?”
Piper nodded, her fingers tightening around each other.
Gabriel’s expression didn’t change, but his jaw tightened slightly as if bracing for the next revelation.
Noah, who had been resting against the couch cushions, struggled to sit up fully. “Wow. Okay. That’s... unexpected.”
“It is,” Piper said quickly. “And I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know who the father is, and honestly, that’s not the point right now.”
Jasper’s mouth opened as if to say something, but he hesitated, catching himself.
“I need you all to understand,” Piper continued, her voice gaining strength. “This child isn’t just mine—it’s ours. It’s part of this family we’ve built together. And I need to know that you’re with me, no matter what.”
Gabriel was the first to respond. He crossed the room and knelt in front of her, his hands covering hers. “You’ve never been alone in this, Piper. You won’t be now.”
Her eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back, grateful for his steadfastness.
Jasper leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It’s not going to be easy,” he said, his tone serious for once. “But you know me—I don’t back down from a challenge.”
Piper smiled faintly. “That’s what I was counting on.”
Noah, still pale but clearly moved, gave her a lopsided grin. “I’m not exactly in running shape right now, but you can count on me to be the cool uncle. Or, you know, whatever this situation calls for.”
The tension in Piper’s chest eased as a wave of relief washed over her. These men, flawed and complicated as they were, had become her family. And they were ready to face this together.
The conversation shifted naturally to practical matters: doctor’s appointments, preparing Lily for the news, and adjusting their already chaotic lives to accommodate another child.
But even as they talked and laughed, a shadow lingered at the edges of Piper’s mind. Marcus was still out there, a constant reminder that their safety was precarious.
As the evening wore on, Piper excused herself to check on Lily, who was playing quietly in her room. The sight of her daughter’s peaceful face brought a sense of calm, but it was fleeting.
Returning to the living room, she found Gabriel by the window, his gaze scanning the darkening street outside.
“Everything okay?” she asked softly.
He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “Just being cautious.”
Piper joined him, her shoulder brushing against his arm. “We can’t let fear rule our lives.”
“We won’t,” he said. “But we also can’t afford to be careless.”
His words proved prophetic moments later.
The first sound was a faint whistle, followed by a sharp crack that shattered the windowpane. Gabriel moved instinctively, pulling Piper to the floor as shards of glass rained down around them.
“Get down!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Jasper and Noah reacted instantly, taking cover behind the couch as another shot rang out.
“Sniper,” Jasper growled, his voice tense. “They’re taking potshots at us.”
Piper’s heart raced as she crawled toward Lily’s room, her only thought to protect her daughter. Gabriel was beside her, his gun drawn as he covered her movements.
“Stay low,” he ordered, his tone commanding but calm.
Reaching Lily’s room, Piper scooped her up, the little girl’s sleepy protests drowned out by the adrenaline pounding in her ears.
“Mama?” Lily murmured, rubbing her eyes.
“It’s okay, baby,” Piper said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her. “We’re just playing a game. Stay quiet, okay?”
Gabriel led them back to the others, who were already formulating a plan.
“They’ve got high ground,” Noah said, his laptop open as he accessed the house’s security cameras. “Roof across the street. One shooter, maybe two.”
“We need to draw them out,” Gabriel said.
“Or take them out,” Jasper added, his tone icy.
Piper tightened her grip on Lily, her mind racing. “We can’t stay here. It’s too exposed.”
Gabriel nodded. “Noah, keep an eye on the cameras. Jasper, cover the back entrance. Piper, take Lily to the safe room and lock the door.”
“No,” she said fiercely. “I’m not hiding while you risk your lives.”
“Piper,” Gabriel said, his voice soft but firm, “we need to know you and Lily are safe. Please.”
She hesitated, her fear warring with her pride, but ultimately nodded. “Be careful.”
The safe room was cold and silent, the reinforced walls a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Piper held Lily close, murmuring reassurances as her mind raced through every possible outcome.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of gunfire, distant but sharp. Her stomach churned, each shot a reminder of the danger Gabriel, Jasper, and Noah were facing.
The minutes stretched into what felt like hours before the door finally opened. Gabriel entered, his expression grim but relieved.
“It’s over,” he said, crouching beside her. “The shooter’s gone.”
“Gone?” Piper echoed, her voice trembling.
“They escaped before we could catch them,” Jasper said, appearing behind Gabriel. “But we’ll track them down.”
Piper’s relief was tinged with frustration, the unanswered questions gnawing at her. Who had sent the assassin? Marcus? Or someone else entirely?
________________