Free Deadly Addition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 9) by Lily Harper Hart

you?”
    “No,” Emma said. “I expected you to stay, even if you didn’t want to.”
    “Didn’t want to? Emma, what are you even saying?”
    “I don’t want you staying because you think you have to,” Emma said. “That’s not what I want.”
    “Dammit, Emma!” Finn exploded. “I thought you were cheating on me! I drove myself crazy because I saw you pulling away.”
    Mandy took a step between Finn and Emma, sheltering the sobbing woman from Finn’s anger. “Don’t yell at her.”
    “Don’t get involved in this, Mandy,” Finn seethed.
    “Don’t talk to my wife that way,” James warned. “She’s trying to help.”
    “Help?” Finn swiveled, fixing James with a dark look. “You knew this was going on and you didn’t tell me. How long have you known?”
    “Since Saturday,” James said. “I only found out by accident.”
    “Saturday?” Finn wracked his brain. “That’s when you were all up in the bedroom acting weird.”
    “Ally went out and picked up a pregnancy test,” James explained. “I found it in the garbage that night. I thought it was Mandy. She told me then, and she made me promise to give Emma time to tell you herself.”
    “You’re my brother,” Finn said.
    “And Emma is the one who is pregnant,” James replied, forcing himself to remain calm. “She wanted to tell you.”
    “She didn’t tell me,” Finn said. “I found out. No thanks to any of you.”
    “Don’t yell at him,” Mandy said. “I made him promise.”
    “I’m his brother,” Finn said.
    “And I’m his wife,” Mandy shot back. “I used that to my advantage. I was trying to protect Emma.”
    “From me?” Finn was incensed.
    “From the crazy man who stormed into a woman’s health clinic and made a scene,” Mandy said. “What were you thinking? Who comes to a clinic to have an affair?”
    Finn faltered. “I … how did this become my fault? I’m the one who was lied to.”
    “Oh, grow up,” Mandy snapped, turning back to Emma. “You need to sit down. The doctor was very clear. You need to keep up your strength, which means you need more iron in your diet. I know you don’t want to eat meat, but I could use a big hamburger right now. How about I take you out to dinner?”
    “Did you just swallow a big handful of crazy pills?” Finn asked. “She’s going home with me. We have things to talk about.”
    “Not when you’re acting like this,” Mandy said.
    “And how am I acting?”
    “Like a jackass.”
    Finn took a step forward. James grabbed him by the arm to stop him. “Don’t go over there.”
    “I’m not going to hurt your wife,” Finn said.
    “I know you’re not,” James said. “You need to stop yelling at them. The more you yell, the more belligerent Mandy is going to get. Look at Emma, for crying out loud. She’s shaking. That can’t be good for her … or the baby.”
    Finn stared down at his feet. “You’re right.”
    “I know I am,” James said. “Let’s … everyone just needs to chill.”
    “I am chill,” Mandy said.
    “You’re making things worse,” James countered. “I know you’re trying to protect Emma, and I love you for it, but Finn would never hurt her.”
    “The doctor said Emma is weak,” Mandy said. “She doesn’t take in enough calories in a day, and she’s anemic. She needs rest and to bulk up. Emotional unrest is not going to help her bulk up. Between the morning sickness and all of this … crap … she’s going to fall over or something.”
    “The doctor didn’t say that,” Emma argued.
    “Yes, she did,” Mandy said. “You were too busy freaking out about how you were going to tell Finn to listen. I listened. I bought the book. I’m in charge.”
    Despite the surreal – and tense – situation, James wanted to laugh. When Mandy took charge, she meant business. “Everyone is calm, baby,” he said. “You’re the only one still freaking out.”
    “I am not freaking out,” Mandy said. “I am … okay, I’m freaking out a