“She never told me that, Mom.”
“I thought it was strange, too. She seemed so happy with Callan. Happier than I’ve seen her in a long time. I was rooting for those two. I must say Misty and John are happy they’re together again, though.”
“When did you hear from her?” she asks.
“Oh, around dinner time. We were eating at the club when she called. Brad was with her.”
“Did they say where they were going?”
“They were at her place, but Brad had something special planned for them.” She stares at me, and her mom’s voice pulls me back. “Amanda, is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything is fine,” she says. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“One more thing. She said she was going to call me when they reached their destination, but I haven’t heard from her.”
Amanda briefly closes her eyes to pull herself together. “I’m sure you’ll hear from her soon enough.”
“I’ll let you know.”
“Yes, please do. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, dear.”
She ends the call and when we come to a road that looks like it’s lined with cottages, I slow to a stop and gesture to the computer. “Anything?”
She nods. “We should get out and walk.”
“You’re right.”
We step from the car, and instantly hear pounding on a door.
“Callan,” Amanda says her voice bordering on hysteria. “We have to do something.”
“Get back in the car and call 911.”
“I don’t want to leave you out here. Brad’s a cop. He has a gun.”
“I know.” I give her shoulders a squeeze and turn her to the car. My pulse is battering my throat as I walk toward the pounding noise and find Brad outside a cottage.
“Open up,” he demands, his fist battering the door. “I just want to talk.”
I exhale, and quickly figure out that Gemma is inside, and she must be safe.
“What’s going on, Brad?” I ask and he spins so fast, he nearly falls off the top step.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he asks.
“I could ask you the same question.”
“Gemma and I are back together.”
“Doesn’t seem like that to me.” Just then I catch sight of Gemma peeking out the window. I don’t let on I see her, but I’m so goddamn happy she’s okay, I can hardly breathe.
“We have some things to work out,” Brad says.
I take a combative stance. “Why don’t you work them out with me instead?”
He scoffs. “Get real, Callan. I’m a fucking cop.”
“I don’t care what you are. Come on down here,” I say wanting to get him away from the door. He hesitates for a second. “Oh, I get it, you only like picking on people who can’t fight back.”
“Fuck off, Callan. This isn’t your business.”
“I love that woman in there and she’s pregnant with my baby. So yeah, it’s my fucking business.”
“She’s what?” he says through clenched teeth as I provoke his anger.
“You heard me.”
“You’re full of shit.”
“Come find out.”
With fight or flight kicking in, and I damn well plan to fight, adrenaline floods my body. Brad stomps down the steps and the second he’s close enough, I hit him with every fucking ounce of anger in me, and he falters backward, dropping to his knees. Rage fuels me and I take a step toward him when the front door to the cottage opens, and in that split second of inattention, Brad goes for my legs, knocking me on my back. I go down with an oomph, and he climbs on top of me.
“You dumb fuck. Do you have any idea what’s going to happen to you for hitting an officer?”
“Do you have any idea what’s going to happen to you for kidnapping the woman I love?”
He pulls his arm back and I block his punch. I jerk him off me and we roll on the hard ground. As we struggle, he manages to pin me again, and I’m seconds from flipping him over when a crack reverberates in the air.
I look past his shoulders and find Gemma there, a big motherfucking tree branch in her hands. Brad slumps over me and as I push him off, sirens sound in the distance, and I’m not certain how they got here so fast.
Amanda comes running to us. “They were already on their way,” she says and breaks into tears when she sees Gemma standing over me.
“Thanks, babe,” I say, and Gemma laughs, an almost overwhelmed, hysterical laugh. She turns to hug her sister, and I jump to my feet and pull her to me when they break apart. “You’re safe, Gemma. You’re safe. I’m so fucking sorry this happened.”
She pulls back and the strong woman that she is, she glares at me. “Don’t for one minute blame yourself for this, Callan.”
“I know. I won’t.”
“Good, because he was getting ready to break down that door and there could have been a very different outcome if you hadn’t showed up.” Police cars surround us, and an elderly man and woman come from the cottage and start giving all the details.
“We’re going to need to take your statements,” an officer says to Gemma as they cuff Brad and put him in the car.
“Can you give us a minute?” I ask. “She’s been through a lot.”
The officer nods and I step away with Gemma.
I pull her to me and kiss her head. “Gemma, my God. Are you okay?”
“Just shaken,” she says, and hugs me so tight I can barely breathe.
“I was terrified,” I admit. “Terrified something bad happened to you. I loved and lost once, and I was so scared it was going to happen again.”
Her head lifts and she inches back. “Are you saying…”
“I’m saying I love you.”
A sob catches in her throat. “Callan, I have to tell you something.”
“Before you do, I need you to know that you never have to be afraid of me, afraid of telling me anything. I’d never hurt you.”
“I know that. You’re the best guy I know.” She glances down. “But I’m…”
“Pregnant. I know.”
Her head jerks up, her eyes wide.
“How…wait. Amanda, right?”
“Yeah, she
