One of the twins calls every day to check in. I’m not sure why considering I know they talk to Carl and he tells them all of the same things. Which is why I don’t give him any time to even say hello. I already know what he will ask.
I don’t want to drag the conversation out any further than we need to either. After Teddy’s funeral, if you can even call it that, we fell back into the same patterns. He would hold me, and I would cry. I tried to get through shit on my own, to really mourn and face the reality, but it was hard. Lucas was willing to help, but we both know where it will lead.
“I’m coming over in a few,” he responds.
Suddenly, my heart starts to beat faster. I may talk to him almost every day, but I haven’t seen him in a good week.
“Why? Is everything okay?” He stays silent for a beat, and it does nothing to help calm my anxiety.
Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve felt like a sitting duck. Cameron is nowhere to be found, and the boys haven’t let me do anything involving the family. I’ve literally just gone to doctor appointments and sat at home, being as useless as ever. It doesn’t help that there has been almost nothing from Emil too.
He finally breaks the silence. “Everything is fine. I just want to check in and really see you’re okay, maybe talk about a few things too.”
I sag against the counter and press my hand to my stomach, letting a flood of relief wash over me. “Okay,” I sigh. “I’ll see you soon.”
I stand in front of the door for a moment before turning the knob and walking inside. Charlie is slumped over the counter, scrolling on her phone, hiding what I really want to see.
“What have I told you about locking the door, Flower? Shit still isn’t safe.”
She rolls her eyes, then sets down her phone before rounding the counter. “Carl barely just left. It’s fine.”
I glance at Julius as he closes the door, then back to her. I can tell she’s trying to hide her figure in the oversized sweater she’s wearing, but I can still see the outline of her tiny bump when she pulls the fabric tight unintentionally, putting her hands on her sides. I know the sight of her stomach shouldn’t excite me, but it does.
Maybe I’m a sick fuck because I like to imagine the baby she is carrying is mine instead of the man who broke her. But oh well. When I go to hell, I’ll be in good company.
“It isn’t fine. What if it wasn’t us coming in here?”
She lets out a weak laugh, then reaches inside her bag on the counter quickly. When her hand comes out, the Kimber Teddy got her is gripped in her palm. She swiftly pulls the hammer back, letting the click sound out around us, then points it at me.
“If it wasn’t you, then I’d be prepared to shoot. Just because I’m pregnant and you won’t allow me to do anything doesn’t mean I’ve lost my abilities.” She slowly holds the hammer and pulls the trigger, uncocking the gun, then slips it back into her purse.
I try to hide my smile, but it’s useless. I haven’t seen her seem so confident in weeks. It’s a welcomed change. “Still a badass, I get it.”
“When can I come home?” She wastes no time asking, completely ignoring the conversation at hand.
The question shouldn’t catch me off guard since she asks it almost every time I check in, but it does. Maybe it’s because I know why she wants to go home so badly. She wants to be close to Teddy in some way. Sleep in his bed, wear his clothes.
The thought makes my blood boil, so I try to push it away. “That’s what we came to talk about.” I shove my hands into my pockets and look at Julius, but he doesn’t speak. “We need a plan.”
“What kind of plan?” Charlie finally asks.
“Emil has been too quiet. I don’t know if he’s planning something or what, but I don’t like it. I know he’s pissed Desi is in jail, and I have a feeling he’s been lying low until he can retaliate.”
“We’ve had the chief keep an eye on the house. Hasn’t noted anything suspicious yet, so we could be wrong,” Julius adds, “but that’s a gamble we can’t take.”
“Exactly. We need to figure something out soon. Hopefully hit him before he can hit us,” I finish.
I glance behind her to the counter and notice an open takeout box, completely interrupting my train of thought. I walk beside her, brushing my arm against hers, then look closer at the box. It’s full of uneaten chicken.
“Have you eaten today?”
She turns to me and tips her head. “Breakfast and lunch. Thanks, Dad.” She salutes me sarcastically.
I ignore her sassy remark. “Dinner?”
“I got food, but they put eggs in the rice. Made me lose my appetite, but Carl is getting me a replacement now. I doubt I’ll even eat it though.” She waves her hand around like it’s no big deal.
“Here we fucking go,” Julius remarks under his breath. I liked him a lot more when he didn’t talk as much.
I give him a sharp look, then turn back to Charlie. I’ve always worried about her, always cared about her, but now that she’s carrying a child, I feel the need to protect her even more.
“Charlotte, you’re supposed to be eating more now that you’re in the second trimester.”
She huffs. “The doctor said I’m fine, Lucas. I’m gaining all the weight I should be, and the baby looks fine.”
“Well, I couldn’t give a fuck less what he
