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Someone didn’t mind their business, and thankfully, they were my saving grace.
Now, instead of being dead, I have two possible black eyes and a bunch of bruises, along with swelling everywhere, but because I’m pregnant, the ambulance is going to take me into the hospital to be fully checked out.
The police officer takes a step backward, his gaze lingering for just a moment. I think he’s going to say something else, but instead, he turns and walks away.
If this were six months ago, I would find a way to fuck him, bruises and swelling or not. I wouldn’t be able to help myself. I would need validation from him just because he’s a man. There would be no way I could not have him.
I’m not that person anymore. Agony has completely ruined that part of me. And maybe I should be upset about it, but I kind of like that I don’t have those urges anymore. It is exhausting to have the need to screw any and every man who comes your way.
However, it would be nice if that could come back, just for a short time, so I can fuck away the memories of Agony. So I could forget him. But I can’t. He’s there, always, and now, because I won’t tell him what’s going on, he isn’t here.
Thankfully, the ambulance ride is silent. I grip my phone in my hand and think about calling Kiplyn, but I know she would make Roadkill come and get me. I don’t want him to. Partially because I don’t want to be a burden but mainly because I don’t want to see Agony. And if I’m taken back to Casa Grande, there is no way I won’t see him.
Once I’m at the hospital, I wait for the doctor to come in. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long, and when I tell him what happened, he insists on a million tests. He wants to check on the baby, he wants to check on me, and it all sounds really expensive. I hope they don’t expect to get paid for any of this because I have nothing to give them.
“Your external injuries are very minimal, but I’m going to do an internal ultrasound to check on the baby and then go from there.”
“Okay,” I exhale.
“Do you have anyone you can call for support?” he asks.
Shaking my head, I let out a long sigh, wishing I could call the half a dozen people who would come here in an instant.
“I don’t. I’m okay,” I lie.
I’m not okay, and I want Kiplyn, the girls, but most of all, I want Agony here. I can’t have any of that because I fucked everything up.
Every damn thing.
The doctor gives me a concerned expression but thankfully doesn’t say anything else and continues with his business.
A few moments later, a machine is wheeled in by a nurse who stands beside it. The doctor has me lie on my back and slowly inserts the ultrasound wand… inside of me, all while explaining that this will be the most accurate reading, especially since I don’t know how far along I am.
I suck in a breath, holding it for a moment and pinching my eyes closed as I refuse to look at the screen.
If Douglas has killed this baby, I don’t want to see any part of it, not even as a black-and-white blob. Inhaling and exhaling slowly, I try to force myself to breathe, my eyes fluttering open as I stare at the ceiling and will the entire moment to pass quickly.
It doesn’t.
But when the doctor clears his throat and then hums, I hold my breath once more. “Look at the screen, Reese,” he murmurs.
Forcing myself to turn my head, I look at the screen and see nothing but a white blob. “See this?” the doctor asks as he points to something. I see it, but I have no idea what I’m looking at. “That is your baby’s heartbeat. We can’t hear it yet, but we can see it right here. You’re about six weeks and three days along.”
If he says anything else after telling me how far along I am, I don’t hear it. Because all I can do is stare at the little blob on the screen that is my baby… Agony’s baby. It’s alive.
My entire world changes in that moment. Not that it already hadn’t when I took the test, but this is different. This is real. I can see it with my eyes. It’s not just a thought. This is reality. I am truly pregnant.It’s real. My mind is spinning. The wordrealin various forms is all I can comprehend.
The doctor prints out some images and then hands them to me. “Congratulations, Mama. Everything looks good. Your body protects new life, and it’s done its job here. Whoever did this to you, just make sure they don’t do it again. Whatever help you need, we have resources.”
Instead of laughing in his face, I thank him and then begin to mentally prepare for my next mission. I need to ditch my crappy car first, then I need a new ride. I have to do all this quickly before Douglas gets released from jail. It’s time for me to be on my way.
ChapterFive
REESE
Leavingthe hospital after I’ve been released, my baby photos in hand, I find a bus that will take me back to the motel. I know that people looking at me judge me by my bruises and marks, but I don’t care. I can feel the stares and hear the whispers, but the only thing that concerns me right now is getting the hell out of here.
I don’t know which direction I’m going to go yet, but I need to do something different. I’ve been heading east since I started on this journey, but maybe I should go back to where I came from. Triphimup a bit. Not necessarily Casa Grande, but maybe I could go to Phoenix.
