Page 42 of Omega’s Oath

Harlan slammed the door, making her jump, and got in beside her, offering her what she used to consider a charming smile but now saw it for what it was; evil. “Where are we going?”

He’d been on the road for ten minutes and the silence in the cab was killing her. She had to try and work him out and find out his plan for her. Decide how she was going to play this.

“Not too far. I have a beautiful house set up for us. Jude can have his own room and when we have more kids, there’ll still be plenty of room and a great yard in a good school district too.”

Rose was lost for words, his fantastical plans shocking to her. He thought they were just going to play happy families now. Twenty minutes later he pulled up outside a house that had a for sale sign on it. It was exactly as he’d said with a double car garage, two-story home with mature trees and hedging around the perimeter. It looked like a typical family home in a family neighborhood. Harlan got out, his gun still in his hand but he held it more discreetly now in case anyone was watching as there were a few people in the front driveways.

“Get Jude.”

Rose did as asked, noting her son was sleeping soundly and vowing she’d get them out of this if it was the last thing she did.

Harlan led her to the door as she looked back over her shoulder, knowing he’d shoot her before she could get away. She had to bide her time, be clever, and keep her son safe.

The inside was bare, with just a couch and nothing more. Harlan smiled as he led her around the property by her elbow, at least he was letting her hold her son in his carrier now.

“It has three bedrooms.” He opened a bedroom door with a flourish and she saw it was a nursery with a pack and play set up. “This one is for Jude.” He moved to the next room and opened that. “This is our room so we can hear him when he cries at night. I’m a light sleeper but I know you aren’t and I can help out with that.”

Rose glanced up at Harlan, dressed in gray pants and a white shirt, with a sports jacket. He looked so familiar and yet not. He was a stranger, and perhaps had always been. She couldn’t understand how she’d missed it.

“What?”

He’d caught her looking at him and she froze at the obsessive love she saw in his eyes. “Nothing. I’m just taking it all in, that’s all. It’s a beautiful house, Harlan.”

He lifted a hand and cupped her cheek, and she fought the shudder his touch brought to her body. “We’re going to be so happy, Rosie.” He glanced down at Jude who was shifting in his carrier. “I can’t believe we have a son together after all this time. Let’s head back downstairs and I can show you the yard out back.”

Rose followed him, noting he held the gun loosely in his hand at his side, almost as an afterthought but knew she still couldn’t risk her son being shot.

The yard was completely surrounded by high bushes and trees. “See Texas sage, your favorite.”

Rose pasted a fake smile on her face and nodded, feeling her stomach roll as she realized Harlan had been stalking her all along. He followed her back inside and motioned her to the couch. “Take a seat. I’m sure you have questions.”

He took Jude from her and she wanted to snatch him back, he undid the carrier and lifted her son into his arms, holding him in the crook of his elbow. Rose wanted to grab her son and run from this madman, to fight him and tell him to stay the hell away but she needed to be calm, no matter how sick she felt seeing her Jude in Harlan’s arms.

He waved the gun in the air nonchalantly. “Ask me whatever you want.”

“How long have you had these feelings for me?”

“Since I met you. I knew we’d be special together. After my initial advances were rebuffed, I waited. I gave you time and married Rita. She was fun for a while but she wasn’t you, so she had to go. I discovered your sister was working for a company that Pharmacorp owned and paid her to keep tabs on you.”

“She did that?” Rose pushed down the feeling of betrayal at her sister’s duplicity.

Harlan sneered. “She’s a bad person. She betrayed you.”

Rose wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the comment but feared he’d fly into a rage. She knew he was a very sick man and was on a very finely balanced rope right now that could go either way. “Yes, she did. You keep calling Jude your son. You know he was a donor baby, right?”

Harlan seemed excited at her words and her belly roiled knowing she wouldn’t like what happened next.

“But he is my son. I got Cheryl to swap the samples you used with mine, so when we ended up together there wouldn’t be a cuckoo in the nest.”

Her hand flew to her mouth to stop the vomit as revulsion took over. The thought that he’d tricked her and she’d used his sperm made her physically ill. Only the sight of her son kept her from falling apart.

“It’s the best news, isn’t it? Although he doesn’t look like me yet, he will.”

Jude started to wriggle and fidget, his head turning as his eyes opened in that familiar way as he looked for food. “Harlan, he needs a feed. Give him to me.”

“He’s okay for a minute, stop fussing. You and that idiot have had your time. It’s my time now.”

He stood and began to pace, jockeying Jude to try and stop the whimpers that were about to become full-on cries. Her son was placid but when it came to food, he was impatient. When he wanted his food, he wanted it immediately.