AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rio was halfway across the lobby. He turned and started back to us, frowning.
“I won’t chase you.” Nathan nodded at Rio. “I’ll go after the kid—and nothing says I have to leave him alive.”
My look of loathing should’ve fried him where he stood. “I’m not going to run, asshole. I mean, look at me. How far do you think I would get?”
I meant it. I was through running.
Even if I could escape Talon a second time—which was about as likely as me sprouting wings and soaring over the Empire State Building—I couldn’t live like this any longer. Looking over my shoulder. Wondering if this would be the day they’d catch me. Last night had been the best sleep I’d had in weeks.
Dr. Lopez was right. I needed to take better care of myself, not just for my sake, but for the baby’s, and that included a home and regular medical care.
For now, my best option—okay, my only option—was to return with Talon to Lilith Island and hope for the best.
“Just so we understand each other,” Nathan said, releasing me.
Rio was almost upon us now. “What’s up?”
His gaze moved between me and Nathan, a tiny groove between his brows.
“Nothing.” I conjured up a nothing to see here smile and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go spend some money.”
6
Talon
When I emerged from my bedroom that evening, Eden was kicked back on the living room couch, a silky black sweater slipping off her shoulder, watching Japanese anime on the big-screen TV mounted in a lacquer cabinet.
“Hey.” She turned off the TV and straightened, a smile pinned to her face.
She appeared relaxed, but I knew this woman. I saw the tension tightening the corners of her eyes, felt her apprehension—and knowing I was the source made me want to break something.
I’d wanted Eden back. Hell, I’d visualized her punishment in detail, starting with spanking that round ass of hers red. But now that she was here, completely in my power, I found myself at a loss. This wasn’t my Eden—a little sassy, a little jokey. Easy-going but not taking shit from anyone, including me.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t still angry at her, which left me confused and irritable.
I stopped a few feet from the couch. “Hey,” I said stiffly. “You get out today?”
“I did, yes. Nathan took me shopping.” She tipped her head at a trio of sleek gray bags next to the couch. “He said you told him to buy me some maternity clothes. We found a secondhand shop with some really pretty things.”
A perplexed line formed between my brows. “You didn’t want new clothes?”
She shook her head. “These are fine. It was an upscale shop. The clothes were like new, and trust me, they weren’t cheap.”
She said that like I cared how much she spent. “I can afford it. But I wanted you to have new—”
“I’m good,” she insisted. “I did buy new underwear.” A corner of her mouth hitched up. “I draw the line at used panties.”
And there was my Eden. A hint of her, anyway.
My anger melted around the edges, like her smile was heat applied to the iceberg in my chest. “I fucking hope so,” I returned gruffly. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” She rubbed her hands down her thighs. “But…don’t make Rio come. Please?”
“I’m not making Rio do anything. He wants to come. We’ll pay him triple what he was making bussing tables.”
She hunched her shoulders. “I wanted to help him, you know. Not drag him into this.”
I hardened my heart against her forlorn expression. Maybe I was using Rio to ensure her good behavior, but I was paying the guy, wasn’t I? I could’ve just kidnapped him. It’s not like anyone would notice he was missing.
