Page 25 of Unmasked

Mr. Beaumont lifted his gaze to Knox’s, and the truth in his eyes sent agony spearing through Knox like a knife. “She’s at home recovering right now,” he said. “She wasn’t sure how to tell you, so I offered to come instead. I’m sure you understand.”

Knox nodded, but his mind felt like it was in a fog as silence descended like a curtain. Several seconds passed, and Beaumont shifted on his feet before he cleared his throat. “I commend you on wanting to do the right thing, but now there’s no need. You’ve got your sister to take care of already; that’s enough.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the ground. “I’m sorry, son.”

With that, he turned to leave, and Knox watched for what felt like forever as he climbed into the car and drove away. Knox felt strangely numb. He didn't trust Beaumont, but the way he'd looked at him... He had to talk to Everleigh.

Five days passed before Knox had a chance to see her again. She wasn't outside at all, and he couldn't get close enough to her house to talk to her. He was driving down Main Street when he saw her climbing the steps of the country club. He quickly pulled over and parked on the side of the road, then vaulted from the car.

“Everleigh!”

She whipped toward him, an array of emotions flashing across her beautiful face. He sprinted up to her, not caring in the least who might see. “Are you okay? I've been so worried about you.”

“I'm fine, I…”

“Is everything okay with… everything?” He dropped his gaze meaningfully toward her stomach before meeting her eyes again.

Tears glazed the pretty blue orbs as anguish filled her eyes. “Knox…”

Oh, God. It was true. He reeled back, a cold numbness spreading through his body and settling deep in the marrow of his bones.

“It's not what you think,” she cried. “Knox, you don't understand... I didn’t have a choice.”

He felt like he was splintering apart inside. He met her eyes again. “Everleigh, this is your one chance,” he said quietly, barely managing to rein in the anger that threatened to take over. “Tell me the truth. I need to know. Did you get rid of our baby?”

“It wasn't...” Her gaze darted over his shoulder before meeting his eyes again, and a tear slid down her cheek. She nodded slowly. “The baby’s gone.”

The anger he had been carrying around for the last several days spread outward into his limbs, and ice seeped into his heart, freezing it in place. He stared at her, unable to believe she’d done this. She didn't say a single word to defend herself, didn't even explain why. She just stood there, staring at him, tears sliding down her pretty face.

Tears of sadness. Tears of guilt.

Something inside him broke at that moment. He took a tiny step forward until his face was just inches away, his eyes locked on hers. “I would've loved you forever. Now I never want to see you again.”

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

PRESENT

It was as if the past and present collided in the blink of an eye, freezing him in his tracks, halting his heart and stealing his breath. Twenty feet away, Everleigh stood in the circle of women, a toddler on her hip. Even though deep down he knew it was Jaxon's little girl Jaclyn, his initial thought was that the baby looked just like Everleigh. It was an image of everything he could've had and lost.

Her gaze flicked upward and met his, and he swore the world shifted beneath his feet. Noah was there a second later, rescuing the tray of ribs he had balanced on one hand.

“You good, boss?”

Knox tore his gaze from Everleigh and looked at his new hire. “Yeah, sorry.”

Noah looked at the group of women before turning back to him with a rueful smile. “I got distracted by that, too.”

He risked a glance toward Everleigh again, but she had turned back to the other women. Thank God.

“Any rules against dating clients?” Noah asked from his right.

“What?” It took his brain a second to process the question. “No. No rules.”

It was almost comical how several of his men had ended up with their charges. Hannah and Luke, Roman and Irina.

“So she's available?”