Carrying two bags full of presents and holding a dozen pink roses, Nate pushed inside The Grind. The familiar sound of popular hits being played as instrumental pieces hit his ear. Carefully, he began to set things down, expecting to see his wife at any moment. “Kim,” he called out.
Instead, a kid in his late teens was there instead. His dark hair was greasy and pushed back off his forehead, and his face looked as if he needed to shave every six months or so. He looked like he could use a few meals, and as if he hadn’t quite grown into his frame.
One thing was for certain, he shouldn’t have been in Kim’s coffee shop.
“Who in the hell are you?” Nate demanded.
The kid glanced up at him from his phone, all the while smirking at Nate as if he had a secret that he wasn’t willing to share.
“Calm your tits, man. Frankie has a message for you.” The kid's voice held a not
Chapter EighteenKim lay awake late in the night, wondering if she had done the right thing. Nate’s arm was entwined with her own, cradling her stomach. The baby chose that moment to kick, as if he knew his parents were just on the other side.Maybe it was the pregnancy that had swayed her decision, but whatever it was, Kim couldn’t allow charges to be pressed against Alexander. That was the kid’s name, Alexander Robert Stephens. He was sixteen years old and a product of the foster care system. He’d run away from the last placement six months ago.The things he had said to her at The Grind kept rotating over and over in her mind. He couldn’t have known what her upbringing was like. His anger reminded Kim of how she’d often felt as a child. It seemed as if she and Mandy were the only ones going home to a crack house with abusive parents.“Hey, are you awake?” Nate whispered groggily.Kim smiled. &ldq
Chapter Nineteen“It honestly depends on the size of the bleed and where it was located. Ms. Vauban was fortunate that her general health was excellent, and she was in good hands. We are thrilled that she received such excellent care by our city’s finest physicians…”“Please turn it off,” Alyssa said, the sight of her Uncle Frank on television making her feel sick to her stomach.“I’m sorry,” Scott’s younger sister Ivy was quick to say as she grabbed the remote. Turning the television off, Ivy looked around the room, anywhere but at Alyssa.The silence after the blaring television was almost louder than before. Alyssa hated that Ivy was nervous around her. She hated that Scott felt responsible for her. And what was worse, she hated that they were in this position in the first place.“Dinner’s almost ready,” Scott called out from the kitchen.Ivy winced. “I
Chapter Twenty“What did they say at your appointment?” Mandy asked Kim as they walked into their favorite café.Kim sighed. “My therapist or OBGYN?”Mandy’s lips twitched. “Either… Both.”“Dr. Cummings and I talked about my first week at the women’s and children’s shelter. It was hard at first. Some of these mothers have been through so much. And the kids—they reminded me a lot of you and me at their age. However, they warmed up to me and by the end of the afternoon I didn’t want to leave.”Stopping at an empty table, Kim and Mandy sat down. Soon the waitress was at the table-side to take their order.“The usual?” Sharon, the waitress, asked.Kim laughed. “Are we that predictable?”Sharon grinned. “We see the two of you every Thursday. You order two sweet teas and two chef salads with ranch with a lemon b
Chapter Twenty-OneAlyssa was dreading the familiar feelings of panic and uncertainty. She told Mandy and Kim that she was fine, and she was. However, she was also likely developing an ulcer from all the worries.The minute she left the café, Alyssa had called Scott. It had taken him less than twenty minutes to join her, and he was now reviewing the cryptic note.“What now?” she asked.When he turned to look at her, Alyssa was struck once again by how handsome he was. His stubble was dark and dusted his cheeks. She wondered what it would feel like against her palm, or better yet, in a more sensitive area.Involuntarily, her cheeks began to heat.“What are you thinking about?” he asked as he cocked his head to the side to evaluate her.“Nothing,” Alyssa replied, hating the way that her body flushed so easily.Scott’s brow rose and his lips twitched. “Really nothing? Certai
Chapter Twenty-Two“What is this place?” Scott asked reverently as they entered what appeared to be a 1920 speakeasy.From the brass pulls to the burnished tin ceiling, every effort was made to have the same appeal of the hideaway establishments that were so popular during the prohibition.Alyssa ran her hand across the maple wood bar. “This was my father’s favorite room, for obvious reasons. He loved the ingenuity of the people that lived in the early days of our country. He was extremely proud to be an American citizen.”Scott heard the pride and sorrow in her voice when she spoke of her parents. Taking a chance, he approached her and wrapped her in his arms. For the briefest of moments, he worried she would pull away.However, she surprised him by melting into his arms. It had been meant as an embrace of comfort. Scott didn’t know how to promise her that she would never be alone. That he would be there. It w
Chapter Twenty-ThreeThe feel of Scott’s thick cock spearing her was sinfully decadent. He stretched her to the point of pain and yet all that did was heighten her arousal. Involuntarily, Alyssa tightened her channel, causing Scott to curse and give her a look so dark and dangerous that she felt her body spasm on its own.“You are playing with fire, Alyssa,” he warned. “I’m trying not to lose control.”Alyssa appreciated that Scott wanted to be careful with her. She respected the way he treated others, especially women. She’d witnessed how he’d been with his sister and herself over the past few weeks.But Alyssa was tired of being treated with kid gloves. Growing up in the privileged life that she did, Alyssa felt as if she were wrapped in a protective bubble. It wasn’t until her uncle murdered that man in front of her that she’d even glimpsed the nastiness of the world.It was as if she
Chapter Twenty-FourThird Trimester – As your baby continues to grow and develop, they will begin to open their eyes and gain more weight. Congratulations to you, Mom! You and your body are preparing for delivery. Soon you will see your baby face-to-face. A wave of nausea awakened Kim in the middle of the night on her 274th day of pregnancy. At first, she thought nothing of it. Being roughly the size of a whale, Kim was used to all of the crazy shenanigans that pregnancy had surprised her with. For example: swollen ankles, crazy dreams, acne, leaky breasts, and more.But a reprisal of her morning sickness? It just seemed unnecessarily mean.Getting up from bed, Kim waddled into the bathroom to pee. Before-pregnancy Kim maybe got up once in the night to use the bathroom. In recent days she’d been getting up four or five times a night—another blessing of pregnancy.All the baby had to do was pres
Chapter Twenty-Five“Help! Help!” Alyssa yelled as she pounded on the locked panel. But no matter what she or Scott did, the door remained immoveable.Their only illumination had come from a small candle they’d scavenged behind the bar. Thankfully they were no longer in total darkness. However, the small amount of light cast long shadows and added to the trapped feeling that was clawing at their throats.“Are you sure there isn’t another way out?” Scott asked while searching the walls for anything that might free them.Alyssa rested her head between her fists against the closed panel. Her breathing was labored, and defeat was written on every inch of her.“There is no other exit,” came her muffled reply. “I’m such an idiot. I never should have brought you down here.”Scott gave up his search and instead moved over to where Alyssa was standing dejectedly. With his front to he
Epilogue – One Year Later“Does this dress make me look slutty?” Alyssa asked, pulling out the ninth dress from her closet to model for her best friends, Mandy and Kim.“Absolutely!” Kim said happily over her third glass of wine.Mandy rolled her eyes. “Ignore her. She’s a lush these days now that she’s not nursing Auggie anymore. The dress is perfect, as were the last eight. Honestly, Alyssa, you could wear anything.”“I am not a drunk,” Kim replied as she leaned over to pinch her sister Mandy. “I’m merely a connoisseur of fine wine. And I’ll have you know, I’ve learned on TikTok that most moms imbibe during the day. I think a few drinks with my girls at night is nothing.”Alyssa shook her head, lips twitching. “I can’t believe you now have a million followers on the platform. Maybe Mandy’s jealous.”Kim hooted playfully
Chapter Thirty-OneKnock, knock, knock.Alyssa’s eyes flew to the front door. Fear laced with adrenaline raced through her veins. This meeting could go a myriad of ways for all of them. Alyssa counted seven men in the house with them. She had no idea how many were stationed around the property.Scott was sitting beside her. His face looked terrible; the cuts and bruises had developed into a bloody mess. Despite everything he’d been through, Scott’s concern and attention had been on her wellbeing. If she didn’t love the man already, that would have sealed the deal.But as it was, Alyssa knew she was head over heels in love with Scott Tabor.One of Frank’s men opened the door.Alyssa’s breathing hitched when she saw Nate Livingston and Elliot Brand entering Frank’s home with the horse and rider statue in Nate’s hands.She looked over to her uncle who was practically salivating.
Chapter Thirty"That's it?" Kim exclaimed when she saw the statue. "What's so important about this old thing? He's missing his head!""Likely that makes it worth more," Mandy added, clearly not very impressed with the ancient artifact.Nate and Elliot had successfully retrieved the horse and rider statue the following morning and returned to Nate and Kim's apartment. The time was approaching when the exchange was to take place."Whatever it's worth, I'd far rather have Alyssa and Scott," Kim replied."I don't like the FBI using you two as bait. Surely there is a safer way to do this exchange."Elliot kissed Mandy's temple. "They’ll be with us the entire time.""That housekeeper heard that someone in the FBI is crooked," Kim pointed out. "How do we know they aren't setting you two up for something terrible?"Nate squeezed her cold hands. "I promise you. I won't do anything to jeopardiz
Chapter Twenty-NineNate and Elliot walked into The Grind just as Freddy was closing up.“Hey, I’ve got a fresh pot back there. Would you like some?” he asked.“That’d be great,” Nate replied. “I am so damn tired, I don’t know what's up from down anymore.”Freddy finished locking up and then went to the counter to pour three cups of black coffee. He brought Elliot and Nate theirs before going back and picking up his own.His brow was knit with concern as he asked, “Still no sign of them?”Elliot shook his head. “Not a trace. Mandy and Kim have gone back to the penthouse. I really hoped to at least get a lead on where they could be, but it’s as if they’ve vanished into thin air.”Freddy took a sip of his coffee before adding, “Agent Jackson has been here every day this week. I don’t know what he thinks I’m hiding. He even asked
Chapter Twenty-EightAlyssa awakened to the sharp stinging pain coming from her shoulder. It took just a few moments to remember that the pain was caused by a bullet wound.“Scott?” she called out, trying to clear her fuzzy head.Her head and shoulder pounded in rhythm with her heartbeat. Her body felt weak and sluggish. As the room came into focus, Alyssa realized that she was in Uncle Frank’s home. This was where the nightmare had started for Alyssa.“You’re awake,” a man’s voice noted.Startled, Alyssa turned her head to see a man in his fifties, wearing a white lab coat, coming toward her. He appeared to be a doctor, but Alyssa knew things were never what they appeared to be.“Who are you?” she demanded, shrinking away from him.The doctor raised a brow. “I am Dr. Carmichael, your uncle’s private physician. You’ve had quite the time of it. How are you feelin
Chapter Twenty-Seven“Who is the smartest baby in the world? You are, that’s who!” Kim cooed as baby Auggie stared back at her. His big blue eyes, so very much like his mother’s, held wonder as he gazed about his new world.“The smartest and the bravest,” Nate agreed, leaning over to quickly kiss his wife before taking Auggie from her arms.He tried to avoid brushing against her cracked and swollen nipples. Breast feeding had ended up being the roller coaster of a lifetime. They now had a lactation specialist coming in every day to help out.Kim reluctantly gave him up as she put a top back on. She was thankful that she did, because just a split second later, Mandy and Elliot walked into their apartment. It wasn’t that Kim was embarrassed about her body or that she wasn’t for breast feeders everywhere. It was only that she didn’t want her brother-in-law to see her boobs. Her feminist sensibilities di
Chapter Twenty-SixAlyssa stared at the man who had single-handed attempted to destroy her life. “Why?” she asked at last. “What is so important to you that you killed our family and who knows how many others?”Frank frowned. “What does that matter?”“I think I deserve that much,” she said with far more confidence than she truly was feeling. “After all, I know you arranged the deaths of my grandparents and parents. I saw you slit that man’s throat. It’s clear you have no qualms with murder. I think I deserve to know why.”Frank eyed her for a moment. “You do know that with your face and my connections we could have had it all.”“That’s the saddest part,” Alyssa replied. “I did have it all, until you took it from me. So why? Was it the money? Drugs?”Frank rolled his eyes and made a flitting gesture with his fingers. “Do y
Chapter Twenty-Five“Help! Help!” Alyssa yelled as she pounded on the locked panel. But no matter what she or Scott did, the door remained immoveable.Their only illumination had come from a small candle they’d scavenged behind the bar. Thankfully they were no longer in total darkness. However, the small amount of light cast long shadows and added to the trapped feeling that was clawing at their throats.“Are you sure there isn’t another way out?” Scott asked while searching the walls for anything that might free them.Alyssa rested her head between her fists against the closed panel. Her breathing was labored, and defeat was written on every inch of her.“There is no other exit,” came her muffled reply. “I’m such an idiot. I never should have brought you down here.”Scott gave up his search and instead moved over to where Alyssa was standing dejectedly. With his front to he
Chapter Twenty-FourThird Trimester – As your baby continues to grow and develop, they will begin to open their eyes and gain more weight. Congratulations to you, Mom! You and your body are preparing for delivery. Soon you will see your baby face-to-face. A wave of nausea awakened Kim in the middle of the night on her 274th day of pregnancy. At first, she thought nothing of it. Being roughly the size of a whale, Kim was used to all of the crazy shenanigans that pregnancy had surprised her with. For example: swollen ankles, crazy dreams, acne, leaky breasts, and more.But a reprisal of her morning sickness? It just seemed unnecessarily mean.Getting up from bed, Kim waddled into the bathroom to pee. Before-pregnancy Kim maybe got up once in the night to use the bathroom. In recent days she’d been getting up four or five times a night—another blessing of pregnancy.All the baby had to do was pres