I have a twenty-dollar bill crumbled inside it. I don’t know how long it’s been there. I don’t tend to use cash. I glance at the price and my eyes widen. Fifteen dollars for a stick I’m going to pee on and probably throw away? Unless it’s positive, then do I keep it as something special?
I don’t know how anything like this works. I’m not ready to be a mother! I’ve thought about having kids, but it was supposed to be a decade down the line.
I put the cash on the counter. “Keep the change. I need the key to the restroom.”
The old woman behind the plexiglass looks at the box in my hand and reaches behind her for a key attached to a stick. “Don’t steal it.” She shoves it through the small opening and I take it. I sprint for the bathroom.
My hands shake as I lock the door behind me and shove down my jeans and underwear, taking a seat on the toilet. I turn the box over and read the back. It says it’s best to be done in the morning with your first pee, but I’m not sitting withwhat ifthoughts all day, I’ll go crazy. If I am pregnant, I’ll be two weeks along. Is that right? I don’t think it is. See, I don’t even know how to tell how far along I should be. There’s no way I’m ready to be a mom. Either way, I should be far enough along for a test to pick up on it or not.
“Pull off the cap, place the tab under the pee stream, and pee for at least ten seconds. Return cap and wait four minutes.”
It sounds simple, but also like the most complicated thing I’ve ever done in my life. I let out a breath to steady my hands. I won’t be able to pee on the damn thing if I can’t get my hands to stay still.
After a moment, I think I can do it and shove the thing between my legs and crane my neck to see if it’s in place. I pee on the darn thing and put the cap back on. I set a timer on my phone, but I swear the seconds are ticking up, not down.
I stare at the cracked sink in front of me. How will Cason react if I am? I would want him to be happy, but what if he isn’t? We never got around to talking about if he wanted kids. I don’t want my kids to grow up to be hitmen or be forced into it.
I’m not going to abort it. He and I will just have to come to an understanding, the kid will decide what they want to be when the time comes and it can’t be before they’re eighteen. No, it can’t be until after they finish college. And they won’t learn what dad does until then either.
The timer beeps and I hurry to shut it off. I look at the test and then to the box. Two lines mean pregnant, and I have both clear as day. There’s no faint maybe, they’re bold and pink.
“Shit.”
Chapter Nineteen
Cason
I whistleas I pull my Lambo up to the parking spot along the curb in front of Kotov’s Bakery. Old Lucky will have to stay home until I need him for getting intel. Sports cars are a cover. I get out and lock it up before heading inside. It was a long flight from Italy. I haven’t slept but maybe three hours.
I want to see my girl. I haven’t stopped thinking about her. I want to take her with me to see her father. I hope she’ll be able to get off work. I chuckle at myself. She’s a badass boss lady, she can get off work whenever she wants.
Stepping inside the shop, I instantly spot two men sitting on opposite sides of the floor. They wear sunglasses, but they don’t have food, drink, or work in front of them. They have to be her new guards. I guess Michail got her two now. I hope these two aren’t undercover cops as well.
I look toward the front but don’t find her there with a smile waiting for me. I take off my shades and make my way up to the counter.
A redhead smiles at me. “Welcome to Kotov Bakery. Where we strive to make your day brighter. What can I get for you today?” I blink at her. I’ve never seen her here before. “Um, is Josie in?”
Her smile falls a bit. “She’s in the back, but I can take your order, sir.”
I look over to Shannon who smiles at me. “Go on back, Cason. I’m sure she’ll be over the moon to see you.”
The two men I spotted as guards stand up and I look at them. “Don’t even think about it. I’m Cason Bancroft, a close friend of the Kotov’s.”
They look at each other before one nods. “I remember him being on the list of safe people.”
I don’t wait for the other one’s brain cell to catch up and go through the swinging doors to the kitchen in the back. I frown as I don’t spot her. If she had left, I’m sure her guards would be with her.
“Josie?” I call.
“Right here!” She comes out of the back. I take in her flushed cheeks and heaving chest. She’s tying her apron.
I frown. I don’t think she was in the store until a few seconds ago, and yet her guards didn’t notice.
Her baby blues widen as she sees me. “Cason! Oh my god!”
She runs toward me and jumps into my arms. Both her arms and legs wrap around me and my hands go to her thighs to hold her in place. I can tell she wants to kiss me but holds off. She cries into my ear. “I missed you so much, and your timing, you have no idea.”
I chuckle and try not to get an erection at what having her body wrapped around mine is doing to me. Slowly, I ease her down onto the floor. She looks toward the front, the guards still have their eyes trained outside.
