Page 243 of Maddening Fixation

When he finally pulled his hand away, his knuckles were split and bleeding.

But he didn’t seem to notice.

“I know women like you.” His voice was filled with venom. “You think a pregnancy gives you power.”

My stomach twisted.

“You think a child can force a man to stay.” His eyes narrowed. “Women like that are nothing but manipulators.”

Each word became crueler.

My breath caught.

“What part of ‘I do not love you’ do you still not understand?”

He stepped closer. “I never will.”

The tears burning in my eyes threatened to fall.

“Why didn’t you tell Keegan when you first suspected?” His voice hardened. “So he could have handled it immediately?”

The meaning behind his words made my blood run cold.

“Handled it?”

I stared at him.

“You mean gotten rid of my baby?”

The silence that followed was heavy.

“Keegan comes here once a week,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “Once a week to check on me like I’m some animal trapped in a cage.”

I wiped at my cheek angrily.

“Do you know what’s worse?” My voice cracked. “Even animals are treated better.”

I looked down. “And in the beginning, I wasn’t even sure.”

My fingers curled. “I thought I was sick. I thought the stress, the isolation... maybe it was all affecting my body.”

A voice interrupted from behind the door.

“Boss...”

Keegan’s tone was urgent.

“This is important.”

Romeo’s expression darkened.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

Keegan stepped inside, his eyes briefly moving between us before settling on Romeo.

“We found her father.”