But everything was different now.
I was finally so close to putting a life of loneliness and fear behind me. I was right on the verge of building something real, and my own family, with the man I’d loved for so long.
I made my way through the downtown area from the maternity store, carrying several bags with purchases I was both happy and relieved with, given that I was starting to show now and most of my clothes had become far too tight and uncomfortable. I spotted Java Joint a few blocks away and my mouth began to water. I’d developed a craving for those apple tarts after trying my first one several days ago. Now I wanted one morning, noon, and night.
Cravings coming out of nowhere was just one of the way too many unsettling things about being pregnant. There just seemed to be so much that I didn’t have any control over. By far, even beyond the whole vomiting thing, was my emotions flipping on a dime. I hated that. With the work I did, I always had to remain levelheaded. Even though I’d agreed with Cole to drop my more illegitimate clients, I still had many clients on the go who were completely above board, so I still needed to be at my best, or at least, seem like I was at my best.
Urgh. I hated the lack of control with it all, with everything at the moment.
I just had to hold on a little longer, though, because once the mission against Nik was over and done with, I could get my life back, and everything would be different. The club would relax and Cole, by extension. I wouldn’t have to look over my shoulder anymore with Nik out of the picture. And I wouldn’t be in the anxiety-inducing situation I was now… basically a prisoner on Steel Titans territory. They called it lockdown, apparently. According to Cole, it wasn’t a hardcore lockdown, because I was allowed out of the clubhouse and around town. But I was still being watched, my movements still restricted. All to protect me, their human asset.
The sound of my phone beeping, alerting me to a text message, pulled me from my unsettling thoughts. Easing my bags down onto the sidewalk, I pulled it from the inside pocket of my suede jacket.
Swiping it open, a rush of adrenaline shot through me when I saw who the sender was.
Nik Stone.
Shit. Slade had been right. He’d told me to sit tight and wait, predicting that Nik would make contact exceedingly quickly. He’d said he wouldn’t be able to leave it knowing the woman he considered his was on the territory of his mortal enemy.
I braced myself and opened the message.
Stop changing your number. It’s pissing me off. Tryin’ to keep an eye on you, protect my woman and you ain’t making it easy with ‘em burners of yours.
The fact that he’d still managed to get my number even with all the precautions I’d taken was as astounding as it was unsettling. I knew Nik had extensive resources and a formidable reach, but this was something else.
Remembering what me and Slade had discussed, I followed the plan and typed back:
It was necessary to keep others off my back.
His response after that was swift: Titans, you mean?
Yes.
You ain’t with that enforcer shit then?
Ancient history.
That ain’t what Ricky was saying.
I had to make it look convincing. You know his temper.
Yeah? Why’d you run that job for me when I threatened him?
I was trying to get Titans off my back. Wasn’t about him, just my survival.
I waited with bated breath to see if he’d buy it. He knew about my survival instinct, he’d seen it up close and personal a couple of times over the years. I’d done absolutely anything that I could to protect myself back then. Although I’d changed now, he had no way of knowing that. I’d busted my ass to keep off his radar for a long time. Unfortunately, as was the case with a lot of things that you tried to bury in the past, it had come right back to bite me in the ass with a vengeance. I knew there was a good chance of him buying it. I was playing into what I knew he’d wanted for a long time. Me finally giving up the fight and becoming his, his fucking property. If he believed what I was saying, there was no way he’d be able to pass it up. It was a weakness, one that Slade and I were prepared to use for all it was worth.
He finally texted back and relief filled me. He was close to buying it, just wanting more reassurance first. He took you then? You ain’t with them of your own free will?
They don’t want you pulling any more shit on them. Taking me out of the picture helps with that in more ways than one.
Another long delay. And then another message came in.
Slade wants to make a trade.
Wow. He’d put that together incredibly fast. Then again, the two of them had once been inseparable and known each other inside out.
He’ll be hearing from me real soon.
There were no further messages after that majorly ominous one.
The whole situation, the proposed mission, everything I’d discussed with Slade… it suddenly became more real than ever. It was coming up fast, too fast. The full force of the insanity, violence and brutality was going to hit me head-on any day now.
The thought of it, the burden of everything suddenly felt far too heavy.
My heart began hammering in my chest.
I couldn’t draw
