“No. I’m sorry, Tink. This was all my fault. I should’ve never left you unprotected. You’re so small and the world is so big. I hate myself for not being in more control of your safety. I should’ve never left you. I should’ve stayed home when you asked me to. I should’ve stayed home every single day since the moment I met you. I’ll never make that mistake again. I’ll always choose you. I was only trying to protect you.”
I lean down to kiss her lips, but she pulls back and jumps off the counter. I watch her as she goes over to the toilet and start to throw up.
Panic starts to take over, because all I can think is I tried to kiss her and she started throwing up. I don’t know what Nico did to her, but my imagination runs wild. I shake myself out of my fog, and grab a washcloth. I run some cold water over it, go to Tink, and lay it on the back of her neck. I pull her hair away from her face, but it looks like she’s only dry heaving. I pull out my cell phone and send a quick text, while trying to do everything I can to help.
“I’ve got a doctor on the way, Tink. Just hold tight for a few more minutes and she’ll be here. Did Nico give you any drugs? How long has it been since you’ve eaten anything?”
She takes a deep breath and pulls herself away from the toilet and leans back against the bathroom wall. She pulls the washcloth from her neck and uses it to wipe her face off. “I don’t think he gave me any drugs, but he hit my head pretty hard when he took me.”
I feel so much hate at her words that I know I’ll make Nico pay for that. I clench my fists and kneel in front of her to see if I can spot any signs of concussion. “Be sure and tell the doctor that when she gets here so she can make sure you’re okay.”
“Honestly, Bray, I think it may just be more morning sickness.”
All of a sudden it feels like I’m in a tunnel and I can’t hear what she’s saying. I look down and see her hand over her round belly, and then what she just said hits me. “You’re pregnant?” I ask and it sounds like my voice is far away.
“Yes,” she whispers, and rubs her belly more. “I wanted to tell you before, but I didn’t know how.”
I blink, and then I’m in motion. I pick her up and carry her to the bed and lay her down so gently. “You stay right here and don’t move a muscle. The doctor will be here soon and I will take care of everything.”
I look down and seeing her laid out like this shows just how pregnant she is. I kneel beside the bed to get a closer look. I reach over and pull her shirt up a little to expose her baby bump, then I feel myself leaning in and I can’t help but place my lips on her tummy where our baby is. I feel the smile spread across my face from ear to ear and I look up to lock eyes with her.
“I love you.”
BECS
“Bray, please I need to take a shower,” I plead, trying to get up from the bed. When he said he loved me I just froze up. The only other person to have said those words to me before is my brother, and it’s only when he is trying to get something from me. I’m also terrified because I’m not sure if Bray is saying it to the baby or me. I can see the hurt on his face when I don’t acknowledge what he said. I want to say it, because I feel it, I’m just terrified of letting the words out of my mouth.
“Just stay in bed until the doctor can have a look at you,” Bray says, placing a hand on my shoulder and trying to push me back down onto the bed. Using his kneeling position to my advantage, I shove up harder causing him to fall on his ass. His suit jacket slips open and I see the gun he has tucked in his pants, reminding me that I really know nothing about this man.
When he burst into the room tonight it took me a minute to realize who it was. The surge of adrenaline rushed out of my body only to be filled with utter relief when I saw him. The look he had on his face is one I’ve never seen before. Deadly. Nothing like the man I’d gotten to know during the months I was staying with him. When I first saw him I thought his rage was directed at me.
I thought Nico had already called and told him about the baby. That he is pissed that I let myself fall into this position and endanger his child. I can’t blame him. I am dumb for not staying away after Sam didn’t come home that first night. I should’ve gotten myself a hotel room or something until I knew it was safe. I probably should’ve reached out to Bray, but I was scared.
Either way, I know Bray will never hurt me, and that was confirmed moments later when he lifted me into his arms. With him so close for the first time in months, the dam just broke. I couldn’t stop the sobs. In that moment it didn’t matter why he was there, to save me or the baby, I didn’t care. I just wanted to burrow into him and stay in his protective arms forever.
Before today I would’ve never thought to see him carry a gun. But what do I really know about him? Except that I’m in love with a man that I know nothing about.
When he sees my eyes on the gun he makes a motion to conceal it with his jacket. I roll my eyes at him before making my way to the bathroom. Like covering it up will take away the fact that I saw it. But this moment is a reminder. Something I need to draw me back to reality. It’s so easy to slip into the protective bubble Bray likes to put around this penthouse. He keeps me here like his little pet, only showing me a part of him. I don’t want pieces of Bray’s life, I want it all and I want him to want to give it all to me. To include me in it.
“Damn it, Tink, just wait. You can take a shower after the doctor checks you over, she should be here any minute, she actually lives in the building.”