Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59120 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59120 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“I love you,” I whisper.
“As much as I love you, I hope.”
“Probably more.”
He laughs, laying back down beside me.
After a moment, I whisper into the darkness. “We made a baby, rockstar.”
“Yeah,” he murmurs, then laughs. “We fuckin’ did.”
17
I push open the back door into the sunlit kitchen. Mom is standing by the counter, humming while sorting through mail. She looks up as I step inside.
“Hi, honey,” she smiles, turning and hugging me.
I take a deep breath and say, “Mom, I need to tell you something.”
“Oh gosh, this sounds bad.”
“It isn’t,” I laugh. “I just... well, here goes. I’m pregnant.”
“What?” she cries out, eyes wide, voice pitching high.
I take a deep breath. “I found out the other day,” I tell her, my voice trembling with excitement, “but I didn’t tell you because I knew you were already worried about Dad.”
“A baby?” Mom’s hand flies to her mouth. “My baby is going to have a baby?”
“Yep.” I grin, nodding.
She grabs my arms and starts spinning me around. She’s laughing and crying all at once.
“What’s going on down there?” Chief calls from the bedroom.
Mom half collapses into me, tears of joy slipping down her cheeks before she bellows loudly, “Our baby... Caden, our baby is pregnant!”
Silence falls.
I meet Mom’s gaze. She gives me an “uh-oh” look. Together, we sneak up the stairs and peer around the doorway. Chief is out of bed, holding onto a cane for balance, his face a mix of shock and confusion.
“Dad?” I say, not sure how he’s going to react.
His face shifts, confusion melting into pure joy. A huge grin spreads across his face. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he rumbles. “A baby?”
I can’t contain it; I let out a little whoop.
“Get over here!” he booms, and I rush over. He sweeps me into a bear hug. “I’m too young to be an old grandpa.” He ruffles my hair. “But hell, I’m the happiest old man around.”
Mom claps her hands together. “We need a crib, a bassinet, bedding, clothes... oh, and a changing table! And a highchair!” She begins pacing the room, rattling off her mental inventory.
Chief and I exchange amused glances and roll our eyes, but we let her go. She’s never been more radiant.
I finally manage to slip away, heart still racing, and head to work. At the office, Travis is stuck in a meeting, so I make my way to my own office and settle into my chair, booting up my computer. About twenty minutes later, an email notification pops up from an address I don’t recognize. The subject line is simple: Back off!
Confused, I open it.
Violet,
If you don’t back off, I’ll make you regret it. I warned you already—and now you’re pregnant. Wouldn’t it be a shame if something happened to you and your baby? Walk away. If you value your life, and your child’s life, leave him now. This isn’t a request. If you don’t, you will pay. That’s a promise.
–TravsAngel
I stare at the screen, heart pounding. How the hell does whoever this is know I am pregnant? How is that even possible? My fingers hover over the mouse before I stand and walk out of my office. I head to reception. Janice is on the phone, her lips split and her cheek bruised. She motions for me to wait, finishes her call, then forces a polite smile.
“How can I help you, Violet?” she says.
“Do you know where Travis is?” I ask, trying to sound casual.
She tilts her head. “He’s in a meeting.”
“Right. How’s your boyfriend?” I ask bluntly.
She stiffens. “The police are handling that. Thanks to Travis, he’s too frightened to show his face around here.”
“Glad to hear it,” I say, offering the fakest smile I have ever given.
“Is something wrong?” she goes on.
“No. I just need to speak with Travis. It’s important.”
She crosses her arms. “Well, he will be in a meeting for a while, sorry.”
I nod and return to my office. I sit and wait, drumming my fingers on the desk until finally the door opens and Travis steps in, eyes bright when he sees me. He bends down and kisses me long and soft, before running a hand over my belly. When he pulls back, his eyes narrow. “You look worried, what’s going on?”
I show him the email and his smile vanishes, replaced by a hard edge I’ve only seen when he’s furious.
“This is fucked,” he mutters. He taps “forward” and says, “I’m calling the cops.”
I swallow. “Do you think I’m in danger? She knew about the baby. How the hell would anyone know about the baby?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know, but until I do, we’ll get you rides to and from work. I want someone with you whenever I can’t be there. This just got real.”
I nod, but my stomach twists. “What about tracking the email?”
“I’ll see what I can do.”