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“I’m not certain why they would bring you here just to treat you that way. That’s insane,” Lance said. “There has to be something we can do. Report them? I don’t know.” He looked at his dad, hoping he’d have an answer.
“When he invited me here he wasn’t like this. Something changed,” I said. “But I don’t claim to understand his crazy motivations.”
“There definitely has to be more to this story. I think I’m going to do my own digging once this is all said and done. Will you be going to the ceremony later? You already missed the networking event, or the bulk of it, but they are announcing winners tonight and giving out prizes.”
“Oh, we’re going,” I said. “I want to see this through.”
“Good for you,” he said as he sipped his coffee. “I trust everything is alright?”
The secret was on the tip of my tongue and I needed to get it out. I wanted Calvin to know what was happening. I glanced at Lance and he gave me an encouraging smile, reading me like a book.
“Okay, now I’m a bit worried,” Calvin joked as he glanced uneasily from me to his son and back again.
“I’m pregnant.” The words burst out of me far more forcefully than I intended. What I wasn’t expecting was the bark of laughter that Calvin gave, before standing up and pulling me into a hug. It was surprisingly gentle for how excited he was. Then he was letting go and pulling his son in for one, clapping him on the back.
“That’s wonderful news,” he said.
“But,” I started to protest until he held up a finger.
“I’m not an idiot, I know it’s not technically Lance’s. But once you’re in a group, that baby iseveryone’sbaby and I know my son is a respectful and responsible man and would think no differently.” The pride in his voice was just a reminder of how close this family was. I wanted the same thing for our group. Calvin would have had every right to say this baby meant nothing to them but he wasn’t that type of man.
“You know I’m excited,” Lance said. “Just wait until I tell mom the news.” Both men laughed and I couldn’t feel anything but grateful. My baby was already surrounded by love. My hands went to my stomach and I couldn’t help but already feel attached to the tiny baby already growing inside of me.
When I let out a long yawn, his dad looked concerned. “You might need to rest up before this award ceremony. I’ll send the team to come get you guys when it’s time.”
“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” I agreed. Lance took my hand and led me from the apartment. I had a feeling that his dad was going to call his mom right away but I wasn’t upset. Our baby didn’t need to be a secret; we’d both had enough of those in our lives.
Neither of us talked as we headed back for the room. Lance was looking equally as tired.
The moment we pushed open the door to the room, a sick feeling settled back in my stomach. It was cold, the balcony open, and the pastry I’d eaten was not settling well; overall I just felt worse by the second. If this was morning sickness I wanted no part of this every day. Once was enough.
Lance seemed to sense how I felt and took my hand, gently leading me to the bed when the latch clicked behind us. I turned, expecting one of the guys but was met with the barrel of a gun instead.
The unfamiliar woman cocked it before pointing it down at my stomach. My hands dropped to protect it, as if that would stop the psychopath from shooting me. I’d just found out yet I was terrified for my baby.
“Who are you, what are you doing in my room?”
Lacey stepped out of the bathroom with a deviant grin on her face, holding up one of my pregnancy tests. Why anyone would touch another person’s pee stick was beyond me.
I felt it best not to mention it with the gun still pointed at me.
“How did you get through?” Lance demanded. He was angry now, moving forward until he was shielding me with his own body. But he sounded scared, not surprised. “Why are you doing all this?”
“You know why,” she said with a glare. The disgust and anger there held no hint of care for the man who meant the world to me. She wanted him simply for his perceived worth. He was right, he’d be disposed of when his luck ran out. No matter what happened, she couldn't leave here with my mate.
I needed a distraction. Maybe that would be enough time for someone to come rescue us. The gun directed at us left us with little options for escape.
“Let me guess, Lacey is your mate?” I asked, giving the woman in question a glare.
“Of course, she is,” the mystery woman laughed, turning her head to look at Lacey but not letting the gun drop. Lacey stepped forward and pressed a kiss to her mate’s lips, leaving red lipstick behind.
That was when all of the pieces fell together.
I knew exactly who these women truly were. It took one glance to see that she was a snake. Lacey I’d never paid attention to, but she was as well. She was far too conniving and vile to be anything else. That might be a generalization, but thanks to the gang, they’d ruined the reputation of every snake in the country.
And their presence here only meant one thing.
The Snake Eyes had come to collect their lost captive.
