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I didn’t get pregnant on purpose, but I wasn’t exactly upset when I found out I was. I’d had such a deep-rooted obsession with Vincent Chilton for so long, it seemed kismet to have his child.
It proves just how immature and unprepared I was because being a single parent is beyond difficult. There have been times I’ve wanted to reach out to him, but I knew I couldn’t. That confession would come with the disappointment I keep seeing in his eyes.
It’s more than time to get over whatever crush that may still linger. Getting my hopes up about how this transition to New Mexico will go will only end in more disappointment. Vincent and I were never meant to end up together.
I take Sutton from Vincent, laughing when he breathes a sigh of relief, like just holding her was biting off more than he could chew.
“I have to go back to my apartment.”
“That’s not advisable.”
“There are things we’ll need before we can leave town,” I say, standing my ground.
He’s going to be in control of every damn aspect of our lives very soon. I need to hold on to some of my independence for just a little while longer.
Instead of going to the address I’ve given him, he heads deeper into downtown, pulling the SUV into an undercover parking garage and using a code to make the gate lift for us to enter.
My jaw hangs open at the sight of the men standing in a small group as we approach.
I recognize more than one of them from some viral stories on social media a few years back. Deacon Black, the man standing a little ahead of the group, is the owner of Blackbridge Security. His team has to be the hottest group of guys I’ve ever seen despite them being in casual clothing rather than the business suits they wear in their online portfolios.
“Why are we meeting with Blackbridge Security?” I ask.
As the SUV coasts to a stop, I feel Vincent’s eyes on the side of my head, but I keep my eyes locked on the men outside.
“We can talk about how you know these guys later, but I told you that I’d use everything in my power to keep you and the kids safe.”
I swear I hear a hint of jealousy in his tone.
“We’re in danger?” Jace asks from the third-row seat, the fear in his voice making me think that he’s been wondering about this for a while.
I don’t know how I would’ve handled telling the boys what happened to their parents, but the staff at the awful school Jace was going to didn’t whisper while discussing the incident in his presence.
He knows that bad people hurt his parents, but other than that, I’m hoping he doesn’t ever find out the full truth. Children don’t need that kind of stuff in their heads.
“These guys are here to make sure we make it to New Mexico safely,” Vincent says to him, turning in his seat to face the older boy.
He wasn’t exactly thrilled to be moving, but he was happy when he found out he didn’t have to go back to his old school after spring break was over.
Vincent rolls down his window when Deacon Black approaches.
I swear the man is better looking than he was in the online stories.
“She needs to go back to her apartment,” Vincent says in a way that makes me think he’s hoping Deacon will refuse.
“That’s fine,” the man says, looking past Vincent at me with a gentle smile on his face. “We’re prepared for just about anything.”
Vincent nods, rolling the window back up when Deacon walks away. We wait while six men file into three SUVs very similar to the one we’re in now. We follow them from the underground parking garage.
For some reason, I trust these guys with the kids. So, when we get back to the apartment complex, I run up the stairs to my second-story apartment, using the keys Vincent finally returned after we left the hotel to get inside. I don’t know why I thought I’d come home to the entire place ransacked, but it’s just as I left it yesterday before meeting Vincent.
I gather up as many things as I can fit in the last large suitcase I have and end up having to shove more things into a couple of trash bags. I know I’m leaving this place, and more than likely will not make it back, so I try to grab all the things I’d consider sentimental while also balancing grabbing the things we’ll need.
I hate how many of Sutton’s toys I’m leaving behind, but I don’t have all day to pack and sort through things.
I make sure to grab the tear-free shampoo because I made a promise to a little boy that has seen his fair share of disappointment. The last thing I want to do is to be added to the long list of adults who have let him down.
I stand in the small living room of the apartment and look around. I know this apartment will be cleaned out and rented to another person before I can make it back. If Keres wants payments every month for the money they feel they’re owed by Carlen and Janet, I imagine it will be a very long time, if ever, before they give up on trying to collect that debt.
