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Rhia’s sad face mirrors mine. She gets off the bed and empties the paper bag onto the table. Four pregnancy tests fall out, and she picks one up and hands it to me.
“Let’s get this over with.”
“Rhi, it’s too early. This will be wasted.”
“I don’t care. Please, just do it. For me.”
“Fine,” I reluctantly agree and disappear into the bathroom. I pee on the stick and take it back with me to the living area.
As suspected, only one line shows—not pregnant.
Even though I know I have to retest again in a few days if my period doesn’t show, the relief I feel right now is immense.
I’m not pregnant. I’mnotpregnant.
My life is out of control as it is. I don’t need to complicate it further by growing the next crown prince of a crime empire in my womb.
My eyes go to Rhia as she picks up the test stick. “That’s a good sign,” she says as she taps it against her palm. “These tests are really sensitive these days. It would have told us.”
I widen my eyes at her. “Who are you trying to convince?”
“Both of us?”
She throws the test in the bin and comes over to where I am, hugging me tight.
“I don’t want to leave you,” she says into my hair.
“And I don’t want you to go.” I take in a deep breath, trying hard to control my emotions, before pulling away and taking Rhia’s face into my hands.
“I’m going to be okay.” I try to reassure her.
My best friend’s eyes glaze over, and I know she’s trying to hold it together just as much as I do.
“I know you will be,” she whispers. “And it won’t be long before I see you. And as soon as you get to Atlanta, you will ring me. Promise me. I need to know you’ve made it over all right.”
I nod as the first tear rolls down my cheek. The tightness in my chest grows, and my throat closes over. Rhia pulls me against her body once more and hugs me fiercely.
The door opens behind me, and I know it’s Lex.
Time to say goodbye.
I hold on tighter. The next moment, strong arms come around both Rhia and me, and I feel Lex against my back. As I stand in the middle of them, I’m completely engulfed in their love and care.
I squeeze my eyes shut and swallow the sob wanting to rise up. I don’t want to make this harder for Rhia than it already is.
Lex kisses the top of my head and mutters into my hair, “You’re gonna be all right, El. Once you get to America, he won’t be able to get to you.”
I turn my head to look at him and give him a sad smile. I’m sure he truly believes that. I, however, have my doubts. I don’t voice them though. What would be the point?
It’s only a matter of time before Tiero finds me. He vowed to follow me to the ends of the earth to get me back, and I believe him. He’ll stop at nothing. Sometimes I think I should have just accepted my fate. Now, I’ve put people I care about in danger. If anything happened to either of them, I couldn’t live with myself.
“Please be careful. Both of you. And please, Lex, don’t let Rhia out of your sight.”
He nods. “I won’t. You know she means everything to me.” He taps me on my nose and, with a last hug for me, holds the door open for Rhia.
I turn to my best friend. Her eyes are glassy. She’s barely holding it together.
“I’ll see you in a few weeks,” I say with as much confidence as I can muster.
