Daniel stared at Rachel like she had personally betrayed him.
"…pregnant?"
Rachel immediately avoided eye contact.
Which honestly answered the question before anybody spoke.
"Oh my God."
Daniel dragged a hand down his face slowly.
"Oh my GOD."
Cassian looked deeply entertained again.
Lucien had fully given up pretending this situation was normal.
And Selene
Selene looked fascinated.
Raziel remained calm beside Rachel.
Too calm.
Like the chaos happening around them no longer mattered because Rachel was still standing beside him.
Still safe.
Still his.
Daniel pointed directly at Raziel.
"You got my sister pregnant?"
Raziel's expression didn't change.
"Yes."
The confidence in his voice made Rachel want to disappear into traffic.
Daniel looked genuinely speechless.
"…you answered that WAY too proudly."
Cassian burst out laughing.
"He absolutely did."
Rachel crossed her arms tightly.
"Can we maybe discuss this somewhere less… public?"
Considering there were armed guards, shattered concrete, and emotional trauma happening in an underground garage.
Selene sighed softly.
"My penthouse is nearby."
Silence.
Immediate silence.
Rachel blinked slowly.
"…your penthouse?"
Daniel looked suspicious instantly.
"No."
Selene looked offended.
"You think I'd let Rachel stand in a parking garage while half the city is hunting her?"
"She's not going anywhere with you."
Rachel pointed at Daniel immediately.
"Okay you're doing a lot right now."
Raziel finally spoke.
"We'll use my place."
Selene smirked slightly.
"Protective as always."
Rachel noticed something important.
Selene flirted naturally.
Smoothly.
But Raziel genuinely didn't care.
Not even slightly.
And weirdly—
That made Rachel feel better.
The convoy moved quickly after that.
Luxury black vehicles surrounding them as they left the underground level and disappeared into the city.
Rain had started falling lightly outside now, streaking across the windows while Lagos glowed endlessly beneath the night sky.
Rachel sat quietly in the backseat beside Raziel.
Daniel sat across from them still looking emotionally damaged.
Nobody spoke for several minutes.
Mostly because Daniel kept staring at Rachel's stomach like it had personally ruined his life.
Finally
"…you're really having a baby?"
Rachel exhaled softly.
"…apparently."
Daniel looked at Raziel immediately.
"You smile too much around this man."
Raziel looked completely calm.
"She smiled around me first."
Rachel blinked.
"Oh wow. We're competing now?"
"Yes," both men answered together.
Cassian nearly choked laughing from the front seat.
The city lights reflected softly across the car interior while rain tapped gently against the windows.
And for the first time in a long time
Rachel wasn't thinking about danger.
She was thinking about them.
About how strange her life had become.
A waitress.
Now sitting in a convoy beside one of the most powerful men in the city while carrying his child.
Absolutely insane.
She glanced toward Raziel quietly.
He was already looking at her.
Again.
Always.
"…what?"
His gaze moved slowly over her face.
Checking.
Studying.
Like he still couldn't fully relax after nearly losing her tonight.
"You're tired."
Rachel wanted to deny it.
But honestly?
Her body felt heavy now.
Emotionally and physically drained.
Raziel noticed her shifting slightly against the seat.
Without a word
He moved closer.
One arm sliding around her carefully before pulling her gently against his chest.
Natural.
Protective.
Like he'd done it a hundred times before.
Rachel froze slightly at first.
Mostly because Daniel was directly across from them.
Watching.
Judging.
Suffering.
"…seriously?" Daniel muttered.
Raziel ignored him completely.
Rachel tried not to melt a little from the warmth radiating off him.
Failed slightly.
His hand rested lightly against her stomach now.
Absentmindedly.
Protectively.
And the second Rachel noticed—
Her heartbeat softened unexpectedly.
Because somehow that tiny gesture felt more intimate than kissing.
Raziel looked down at her quietly.
"You should've told me you felt weak earlier."
Rachel blinked.
"I wasn't weak."
"Tired then."
"A little."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"You should've said something."
There it was again.
That terrifying concern.
Like her discomfort physically affected him.
Daniel noticed too.
His expression shifted slightly now.
Less hostile.
More thoughtful.
Because for all Raziel's intensity
One thing was becoming painfully obvious.
He loved Rachel openly.
Dangerously openly.
The convoy finally slowed near the waterfront district.
And Rachel's breath caught the second she saw the building ahead.
Glass.
Steel.
Luxury.
The skyscraper rose high above the city, lights glowing softly through massive windows while security gates opened instantly for their arrival.
Rachel sat up slightly.
"…you live THERE?"
Cassian looked offended.
"You say that like you expected less."
Rachel ignored him completely.
Because honestly
This looked less like an apartment building and more like the headquarters of rich people who made terrifying decisions for fun.
The cars pulled smoothly into the private underground entrance.
Security teams moved immediately around them the second they stepped out.
And once again Rachel was reminded:
Raziel's world was enormous.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
But the second she stepped out of the car
Raziel's hand immediately found the small of her back again.
Grounding her instantly.
Like no matter how overwhelming his world became
He'd always anchor her inside it.
Daniel noticed that too.
And this time
He didn't complain.
Interesting.
The private elevator opened directly into the penthouse.
Rachel stepped inside first
And immediately stopped walking.
Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the massive space, revealing the glittering city skyline beneath the rain.
Soft warm lighting reflected across marble floors.
Elegant furniture.
Modern art.
Luxury without trying too hard.
The entire place screamed old money and dangerous power.
Rachel slowly turned in a circle.
"…this is insane."
Cassian dropped onto one of the couches dramatically.
"You get used to it."
"I absolutely would not."
Daniel walked farther inside cautiously.
Still tense.
Still protective.
But Rachel could tell even he was impressed.
Selene moved toward the bar area calmly.
"I forgot how obnoxiously expensive your taste is."
Raziel removed his jacket slowly without looking at her.
"You stayed here before."
Rachel's eyes immediately narrowed.
Oh?
Interesting.
Selene smirked slightly.
Daniel sighed loudly.
"This story keeps getting worse."
Rachel moved toward the windows slowly, staring out at the city beneath the rain.
Everything felt surreal suddenly.
Too surreal.
Then she felt him behind her.
Close.
Warm.
Familiar already.
Raziel's hand settled gently against her waist again while his other hand brushed softly against her hair.
Not sexual.
Not forceful.
Just intimate.
"You're overthinking."
Rachel exhaled softly.
"…your ex-fiancée is drinking wine in your penthouse."
"She means nothing to me."
The answer came instantly.
Firm.
Certain.
Rachel turned slightly toward him.
"And if I still don't like her?"
Raziel looked down at her quietly.
Then
One corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"You're jealous."
Rachel gasped softly.
"I am NOT."
His hand tightened slightly against her waist.
"You are."
God.
That amused look on his face suddenly felt unfairly attractive.
Rachel pointed at him accusingly.
"You look entirely too pleased right now."
"I am."
"Oh my God."
Raziel leaned slightly closer.
Close enough for his voice to lower.
Close enough for Rachel to feel his breath near her ear.
"You should be jealous."
Her heartbeat stumbled instantly.
Because the way he said it
Low.
Calm.
Possessive
Made it sound less like teasing…
And more like a promise.
Rachel stared at him for a long second.
"…you're insane."
Raziel looked completely unbothered.
"And yet you're still here."
That irritated her mostly because
Again
He was right.
Behind them, Daniel made a disgusted sound.
"I hate rich people."
Cassian immediately corrected him.
"No. You hate emotionally intense rich people."
"Same thing."
Selene walked past them carrying a wine glass lazily.
"I'm starting to understand why he became impossible after meeting you."
Rachel crossed her arms.
"He was impossible before me too."
Selene pointed immediately.
"Oh, you're definitely keeping her."
Raziel's gaze never left Rachel.
"I know."
The certainty in his voice hit way too hard.
Rachel looked away first again.
Mostly because the way he kept staring at her was becoming dangerous for her mental stability.
Rain continued sliding softly against the massive windows while the city glittered beneath them.
The penthouse felt quieter now.
Warmer.
Less like a battlefield.
More like the beginning of something else.
Daniel eventually disappeared toward the guest rooms after threatening Raziel one last time "for safety purposes."
Cassian and Lucien followed shortly after, still arguing over who nearly got shot first earlier.
And finally
The penthouse became still.
Just Rachel.
Raziel.
And the sound of rain.
Rachel sat quietly on the edge of the massive couch, barefoot now, exhaustion slowly catching up to her.
She barely noticed Raziel approaching until his hand gently lifted her chin.
Careful.
Like she was something fragile.
"You should rest."
Rachel looked up at him softly.
"You say that like you're planning to stand guard outside the room."
"I am."
She blinked.
"…Raziel."
His thumb brushed lightly against her cheek.
"No one gets near you tonight."
God.
There it was again.
That terrifying devotion.
Rachel's voice softened without meaning to.
"You really love me that much?"
Silence.
Then slowly
Raziel crouched slightly in front of her.
Still holding her face gently.
And the look in his eyes almost ruined her completely.
"There's nothing in this world I wouldn't destroy for you."
Her breath caught instantly.
Not because he sounded dramatic.
Because he sounded honest.
Then his gaze lowered briefly toward her stomach.
And something vulnerable flickered across his face for the first time all night.
Small.
Quick.
Still there.
Rachel noticed immediately.
"You're scared."
Raziel went still.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
She reached for his hand slowly.
"You're scared something will happen to us."
His jaw tightened slightly.
And that silence alone answered her.
Rachel's chest softened painfully.
Because suddenly
The feared billionaire mafia boss looked less dangerous and more like a man terrified of losing the only thing he truly loved.
So she pulled him closer.
And for once
Raziel Benedict let someone hold him together.