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“I got you, baby,” she murmurs while sobbing.
I nod, unable to form words, just relieved to be able to touch her.
Chapter
Forty-One
My mother and I go to the Secret Cafe after doing a little shopping in the boutique stores. It is up a small side street filled with little boutique stores and away from the main areas, hence the name.
We have just finished eating, and my mother is going through the bag of goodies she bought the twins. Luke tells me all about school and how much he’s missed me, and Mom tells me how Dad is struggling without my help.
She tells me he didn’t realize how much of the business and pack I ran. I am glad he is feeling my absence. Though it should probably sadden me that the pack is suffering, yet Lexa believes the same. He’s made his bed. He can now sleep in it.
“So, how much longer have you got now?” Mom asks as the waitress brings out a pot of tea.
“About a month to go,” I tell her, smoothing my hand over my belly.
I thank the waitress, lifting my head and offering the girl a smile when my eyes go to the rest of them inside, all peering out at us in the patio area. My brows pinch. Not thinking much of it, I watch the waitress pour tea into my cup. Her hands tremble when my mother reaches out to grip her hand.
“Are you okay, dear?” she whispers.
We are on neutral territory, yes. Mom technically snuck into Axton’s territory, but we left quickly and weren’t doing anything wrong. Besides, he let me speak with my mother on the phone a few times.
“They are looking for you,” she whispers, barely moving her lips.
My mother jerks her hand back and glances around. Luke also glimpses his surroundings at her words.
“Axton?” I whisper, and she nods subtly.
I peer back to see the terror on the other servers’ faces through the tinted glass.
“And your father,” she breathes out, pouring my mother’s tea.
I swallow, looking at my mother, who drops her head.
“Even if they find the car we parked down the road, they won’t find us here,” my mother whispers, yet I hear the tremble in her voice before a whimper abruptly leaves her lips.
Hands drop onto my shoulders, and I stiffen while Luke’s eyes widen in horror, and I know who it is instantly by his scent.
My breathing hitches as he leans his head down beside mine. “I wouldn’t bet on that,” Axton whispers, squeezing my shoulders.
“We aren’t doing anything wrong,” my mother is quick to defend when I hear footsteps coming up the small alleyway.
Axton doesn’t let go, yet I am frozen in fear. I knew I would be caught. I’d had some small sliver of hope that he wouldn’t notice I was gone and that I could return and no harm done. But I knew it was unavoidable.
Even Lexa is surprised. Though he remains quiet when the footsteps grow closer. Luke places his milkshake down, his hand making the glass shake and clang on the table.
“Now!”
One word, but I would recognize my father’s voice anywhere. My mother drops her head only for a second. A look of defeat crosses her features, almost like she’s switched off. She straightens herself out, slipping a mask of indifference on her face. She pulls money out of her purse when Axton speaks.
“Leave it. I will handle it,” he tells her.
She nods once, standing and chucking her handbag over her shoulder. She holds her hand out to Luke.
“Come, Luke, time to go home,” she says, her voice almost monotone as he takes her hand.
Worry makes me tense as she looks at me. So much and so little is on her face. She is petrified to face my father, yet Axton is not someone she fears by any measure.
