Page 21 of Unmasked

“What happened?” Everleigh pushed herself to a sitting position and winced at the pain that speared through her lower abdomen.

The nurse moved to her bedside. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just…” Everleigh pressed one hand to her belly. “It just hurt for a second.”

The nurse nodded a little, a sympathetic look on her face. “Everleigh, were you aware of your pregnancy?”

Everleigh didn’t dare look at her parents as she nodded. “Your mother said you complained that your stomach hurt before you were brought in. Is that right?”

She nodded again, and the nurse offered her another gentle smile. “Those cramps you felt were caused by what’s called an ectopic pregnancy. Do you know what that is?”

Everleigh shook her head and curled her fingers into the blanket covering her lap. “No.”

“It's when the egg is fertilized outside of the uterus. As the embryo starts to grow, it puts strain on your body and sometimes results in severe cramps, like the ones you had.”

“Is the baby okay?” Her heart thundered in her chest, banging against her ribs as her breathing turned shallow. “I…”

The nurse gave a little sigh. “I’m sorry to tell you this, Everleigh, but you’ve miscarried.”

Tears filled Everleigh’s eyes and slid silently down her cheeks as the nurse continued.

“We do offer grief counseling for circumstances like this,” the nurse offered. “If that’s something you would be interested in, please let me know.”

Everleigh couldn't bring herself to look at her, her gaze fixed on her lap. What would she tell Knox? Would he be devastated or relieved?

The nurse left the room and Everleigh’s father cleared his throat. “I'd like to speak with Everleigh alone.”

Everleigh’s gaze darted to her mother who nodded meekly then slipped away, closing the door behind her. For several minutes, Everleigh’s father didn't say a single word. He stood there, staring out the window before finally turning to face her. “When were you going to tell us?”

“I was scared.” Everleigh tangled her fingers together nervously. “I knew you guys would be upset.”

“You're right,” her father agreed. “I'm extremely disappointed in you. I assume this is that Castillo boy’s fault.”

“It's not Knox's fault.” Her father sliced an angry glare her way, and she recoiled but pushed on. “It was my fault, too. I’m just as responsible as he is,” she said defiantly.

“And just how did you think you were going to take care of this?” he asked. “You're only seventeen. You have no business having sex, let alone raising a baby.”

“Knox is going into the Marines after graduation. We're going to get married, and we would have taken care of the baby and Vivi.”

“Ah, yes. Vivi,” he repeated, stressing her name. “She's so young. Only nine, right? So the authorities know her brother is still caring for her? I wonder what would happen if he went to jail.”

Fear seized Everleigh. “For what?”

“Raping a seventeen-year-old girl.”

Raping…? It took Everleigh a second to make the connection. He was talking about her. “No.” She shook her head. “He didn't⁠—”

Her father’s eyes turned cold as he stared down at her. “The police won't look at it that way.”

Oh, God. Was he right? “Please don't do this,” she whispered.

He took another step forward, pausing by the foot of the bed. “Let me make myself extremely clear. You're no longer pregnant, so there's no reason to marry now. You will never see him again. If I catch wind of you meeting up with the Castillo boy again, I will have him charged with statutory rape.”

Ice trickled down Everleigh’s spine. “You can't⁠—”

“I can, and I will,” he said fiercely. “You're my daughter and it's my duty to take care of you. I've obviously failed up to this point. As long as you live under my roof, you'll follow my rules without question. Until further notice, you will go nowhere without your mother or myself. You are never to go near that boy again.”

Everleigh’s heart constricted. “But⁠—“