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I kissed him again, suddenly afraid that if I didn’t hear what I wanted at the gynecologist’s office I might end up losing him.The last thing I wanted was for him to think I did this on purpose, to trap him.Wasn’t that what every man who fathered an unplanned pregnancy thought at some point?
“Be safe,” Colt hollered at me before I left.
I didn’t say anything, my mind on other matters, just stalked out of the house like I’d seen a ghost.
It was a forty minute drive, so taking the highway would make the most sense, but, like I told Colt, I could use the alone time, so I opted against that, driving through the city instead.I took a deep breath before putting the radio on to help calm my frayed nerves.
It wasn’t as though I hadn’t thought of having a baby with Colt, building a family.Frankly, it was only natural with how close we’d grown.In a way, since Brandon’s funeral, he’d become my family.And as much as I didn’t want to scare him, all I wanted was to be with him.
It was funny since the last thing I wanted was to build a family with a man who was in the military.I didn’t want to go through what I’d gone through with Brandon ever again.As much as I knew I had to let Brandon make his own choice, I didn’t know if I’d be able to be as respectful if it was Colt who was looking to go back.And we’d talked about children—we both wanted them, that much was clear.But I’d never even thought to ask him if this Ryder tradition where all the men join the Army was something he expected of his own sons.I knew where he stood when he was a teenager, how he didn’t want to go but did it out of obligation.However, would he feel the same way if it was his own son, or would he feel obligated again to make sure he did what a Ryder would do, what they did do?
Letting Whitney Houston’s beautiful voice wash over me, I shook my head.If I was pregnant, we’d talk about it and cross that bridge when we got to it.I trusted Colt.I loved him.Everything was going to be okay.
My phone ringing on the console startled me.Spoke too soon, I thought, as I saw the unknown caller ID on my phone.“Please, dear God, don’t let this be anything bad.”Maybe I shouldn’t answer.
But it was a fleeting thought and the next thing I knew I was answering it.“Hello?”
I knew the voice immediately and it sent chills down my spine when he uttered my name.Luckily, I could hang up, but right before I did he begged me not to.“What do you want, Nick?”I asked through gritted teeth.
He was really starting to piss me off.
He was rambling on like a lunatic, but then started to speak more clearly, though nothing of what he said meant anything to me.“I didn’t know he’d take it this far.But thank God it’s not too late.You need to know I really did love you.I should’ve known he would do something like this.Please, just get off the road.”
“What?”Panic washed over me.“Nick, what are you saying?”
“Your phone is bugged.He knows every move you make.There’s a car following you right now.And another—”
I cut him off but could hardly find the words.I had a feeling I knew exactly what Nick was trying to tell me—that I was in danger.Of course, I was.I should’ve known they wouldn’t let this go.Maybe Nick, but Rafe, no, he wasn’t going to let this go.Why did I ever think he would?“I need you to tell me everything.I’m going to pull into the next store parking lot I see, okay?”
“Scarlet, please be careful.I’m sorry for, for everything.”I could hear all the sorrow in his voice.He was truly apologetic, I knew that.
I wasn’t letting him off the hook, though.“Nick, tell me what’s going on.”
I was stuck at a red light, and he was right the car behind me had been there from the very beginning.He’d switched lanes a few times but always landed right behind me again.Why was I so stupid?Why didn’t I notice that before?
I listened to Nick talk to me about how Rafe has been watching me, everything I’ve been doing.He must have known about the security cameras Colt installed, though, and avoided them.I guess it was only a matter of time before Rafe figured a way around his safety measures.
At the next light was a gas station and I could easily stop in there.Then I would call Colt, I thought to myself.I hit the gas when the light turned green and only had one thing on my mind when I saw the car blowing the red light to the left of me—Colt.I tried to swerve, but the car was going too fast and the next thing I knew his car collided with mine, my airbag went off and everything went black.
Chapter Fourteen
Colton
Every single time Damon and I got pizza, I ordered extra pepperoni and he ordered meat lovers.“You mind telling me how the hell they mixed up pepperoni with mushrooms?”I asked Damon, who just gave me a silly grin.
“Damon,” I warned.I picked one of the mushrooms off and tossed it at him.
He flicked it off his pants where it landed and laughed.“Dude, you hate mushrooms so much, I just thought it would beextrafunny.”
I gave him a straight face.“See, now that’s funny, because you orderedextramushrooms.I get it.”
Damon couldn’t stop laughing.“Lighten up, Colt.”
I snagged a slice of his pie and took a bite.“See, now that’s funny, because you have to split your pie with me.”I chuckled.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” he replied.“You ready for your job interview?”
I wiped my mouth with a napkin and answered, “Actually, yes.I’m ready to get a job and really start living my life.”I just heard how that sounded and immediately added, “You know what I mean.”
