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On the ground like an animal, I was defenseless. All I could do was look at the barrel that would give me the release of death. I’d lived my life fearlessly, but in that moment, all I felt was fear. There were no words to describe how it felt to have a gun pointed at me like that, to see the man’s hand not shake at all. “I did it to save my father…what else was I supposed to do?” I refused to cry or shake. My last moments on earth would be full of dignity…at least as much as I could possess with blood dripping down my face.
“Don’t care.”
“You would have done the same.”
“And I would have paid the price for it—and not begged for my life.” Cato was the stone-cold killer he was rumored to be. He’d fucked me and shared private moments with me over dinner, but none of that mattered now.
Now that I had nothing left to say, I said the only thing that might matter. I wasn’t completely sure it was the truth, but based on all my symptoms, I couldn’t find a more logical explanation. “I’m pregnant.”
The gun shook as he narrowed his eyes.
“Liar,” Bates barked. “And even if you aren’t, you think we give a damn? Two birds with one stone.”
The gun continued to shake in Cato’s hand. “I expected more out of you.”
“I’m not lying, Cato. You know I’ve been sick for over a week.”
“From the guilt—of being a lying bitch.”
I placed my hand over my stomach, like that would make a difference.
He still didn’t pull the trigger.
Bates stared at his brother, his arms over his chest. “Cato, kill her.”
Cato continued to hold the gun, but his resolve faded.
“She’s lying,” Bates said. “And even if she isn’t, who gives a shit? Kill her or I will.”
The rage remained in Cato’s eyes as he lowered the gun to the ground.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” Bates stepped in and snatched the gun out of his hand. He pointed at me and fired.
Cato managed to push the gun away from my direction at the right second. “What the fuck are you doing?” He snatched the gun.
“You’re too much of a pussy to kill her. So I’ll do it.”
Cato emptied the bullets out of the barrel. “We can’t.”
Bates stared at his brother furiously, his jaw tight and his head shaking slightly. “Who gives a shit, Cato? Even if she is pregnant, and even if it’s yours, it doesn’t fucking matter. Kill them both and be done with it.”
Cato lowered his voice so the men wouldn’t overhear his words. “Father left us. He turned his back on us because he was a coward. I’m not a coward. I’m not like him.”
Bates turned silent, and his eyes shifted back and forth as he looked at his brother. “It’s not the same—”
“It is the same. If she’s telling the truth, that’s my blood in there. That’s my family. You don’t turn your back on family.”
Bates sighed loudly, furious at the turn of events.
Cato nodded to one of his men. “Get her a pregnancy test.”
Now I really did hope I was pregnant. If I wasn’t…I would be dead.
Bates turned to me, a disgusted sneer on his face.
Cato approached me and squatted down so our faces were closer together. “Take the test. But if it’s negative, I will torture you before I kill you. So, if you’re lying, you might want to reconsider.”
I could either get a quick death now—or a painful one later. “I’ll take the test.”
He stepped back and didn’t help me to my feet. One of the men escorted me inside, put the box in my hand, and then stood outside the door while I did my business. Armed with rifles, the men would blow my brains out the second I stepped out of line.
“God…please be positive.” I peed on the stick and then waited for two minutes to pass. I always knew I wanted a family, but I didn’t expect that time to come so soon. I’d imagined I would be married to a man I loved for years before it happened. I’d never anticipated a moment like this, that being pregnant could save my life.
When the two minutes were up, I looked at the results.
Pregnant.
Thank fucking god.
I held the stick in my hand and felt the tears well up in my eyes. I’d been on birth control for years, but somehow this happened—a little miracle. My baby was about to save my life. I walked out with the stick held in my hand and was escorted to the front by the armed guards.
Cato snatched the stick from my grasp and read the results. He gave no reaction.
Bates came to his side and read it too. “Fuck.” He turned to me. “She did it on purpose.”
“I didn’t.” I spoke with a weak voice because my words didn’t seem to matter. It wasn’t on purpose, but of course, I looked guilty. I couldn’t blame either one of them for assuming that. “I know you don’t believe me, but I didn’t.”
