Renee’s POVBack home, I send Debbie upstairs to play and get out of her pink dress while I try to wash out the dirt.I lock myself in the laundry room, close my eyes, and rest my head against the door. My pride got the best of me. I stubbornly agreed to a physical exam just to prove to Eric that I
I can hear the laughter and ringing of gaming stands when someone wins a prize. “Cmon!” Debbie says pulling at my hand.“I’m going!” I tell her, she’s really excited to get inside. When I look back up, I stop moving causing Debbie to nearly trip over her feet.Eric is casually leaning up against the
Renee’s POV Eric and Debbie assume their positions on the field. Eric is offense and Debbie is center, the only position in soccer other than goalkeeper that requires the least amount of running. For the sake of her health, I’m grateful for this.I’m also grateful for the opportunity to stand back
“I’m going to sit this one out,” I say, needing a break. I expect Eric to say the same thing as shuts his eyes and he rubs his temples. I brace myself for his attitude.“I’ll go with you,” he says instead and I shake my head. Did I just hear him correctly? He clearly looks like he’s had his brain ra
Renee’s POV I stare back at Debbie in shock. What did she just say? I flash my eyes to Eric. What did he say? Maybe Eric knows more than he’s letting on. The idea quickly takes root and realizations begin sprouting. That would explain why he’s being so nice to Debbie.But, it doesn’t explain why he
I swallow the lump in my throat. It takes me a minute to muster a reply under Eric’s harsh gaze.He doesn’t know anything, I repeat to myself several times until I’m forced to believe it.“I am not your ex-wife,” I tell him as flatly as I can, despite the slight tenor running through my body.“I’ve
Renee’s POV Anger builds up in Eric. His eyes blaze a fiery red, an indication of his pending rage.He’s probably used to giving people this look and having them buckle at their knees, but I don’t.I lift my chin and meet his stare, keeping my gaze cold and unbothered.Eric’s lips curl into a smirk
A few people clap and murmur agreements that Mia should have lead on this line. I look at Kelly who’s lips are pressed together like she’s holding back from saying anything.Now I do laugh because I can’t believe I didn’t realize this before. Mia has been stealing all the projects that I submit a re
I was just hoping it would all be later. Eric and I have been shielding her from the t.v and the news. When the time is right, we want to be the ones to give the full story not whatever dramatized way the media is spinning it.Eric helps me out of the rocking chair and we walk to the living room whe
Renee’s POV A couple days later, I’m discharged from the hospital. Eric, Debbie, myself, and Liam are home.I looked it up, Liam means protector which exactly what he was doing while I was held hostage. He was the reason Mark didn’t kill me. The name also means strong, and despite him being born pr
“Well I’m okay,” I tell him. He lets out a shaky breath and brings my hand up to his warm lips.“I love you,” he tells me.“I love you too,” I reply. Then I shift gears. “What about everyone else? Emily? Jasper? How are they?”Eric nods. “Everyone is okay. A broken arm and some cuts but nothing they
Renee’s POV I suck in a sharp breath of air as my life force hits me like a truck. My eyes whip open but I don’t see anything except blinding light. I snap my eyes shut and sink my head back into something squishy.I try to move my body into a protective stance and instantly regret it. Pain shoots
Renee’s POV Another harsh jab of pain takes my breath away. I clutch to Eric as I write in pain. He hugs me back, trying to steady my fall, but there isn’t much else he can do and he knows that.“I’ll take her pain away,” a member of Marks pack growls and approaches. Something inside Eric snaps, I
This time Andrew comes over and elbows the man in the lower back and then kicks his head so his teeth smash into the concrete floor.I’d feel more horrified if my own abdominal pain wasn’t taking me over. “You good?“ Andrew asks, blood pouring down from no known source somewhere at the top of his he
Renee’s POV All the color has drained from Marks face. On the other hand, Mias face darkens to a plum color. For a second I think her head might explode.“So,” Mark says snapping shut the laptop and sounding eerily calm. “We make a deal on the phone, you bring your passwords to hand over the cash
Momentarily stunned, Mia regains her bearings and looks at me. We make eye contact for a split second before our eyes fall to the knife. We moth make a move to grab it, but Mia reaches it first.She holds it up to me and I figure now’s a good time. I raise my arms high above my head, bringing the ch
Renee’s POV “You’re pregnant?” Mia repeats in disbelief. Though despite the shock in her voice, her face remains completely blank. I debate about answering. I nervously glance over at Mark as though he will help me out of this situation, never mind the fact he’s the very reason I’m here.“Y-yes,” I