AllisonThere they are, the pregnancy tests, lined up on the kitchen island like sandbags stacked against a storm. Except this time, the hurricane is Gregory, and I'm the poor beach about to get battered.He paces across the living room, hands behind his back. He won't look at me, and I'm terrified of what he's thinking. I didn't ask for this pregnancy—if I could go back, I'd make him put on a stupid condom. Better yet, I'd never sleep with him to begin with.I can't change what happened. I'm carrying his baby, and even if this was never a part of our agreement, I'm keeping this child.Gregory isn't the father type. He's made that obvious.Anything that restricts his freedom has to be annihilated.He's the sort of man that would rather run away than risk getting tethered in one place, even if it means turning his back on his family.Only he's caught in this war and there's no way he could escape now.Which means he's going to force me to make the most horrible decision imaginable.And
AllisonI move out of our bedroom. By now, the purple sheets are gone, replaced by muted grays.Instead, I gather all my stuff and ferry it all into a guest room."Gregory's not going to like this," Orin says, fretting the whole time as he helps."I don't give a shit what that controlling dickhead likes or doesn't like.""I take it your conversation didn't go great?""Gee, what gave you that impression? Me moving from our room, or maybe the way I keep telling you what a piece of shit he is?""Both, mostly." He sighs as he puts my toiletries in the bathroom. "He means well. You realize that, right?""I don't care what he means." I sit on the edge of the bed, feeling more scared and alone than I've ever felt before. "He's not the pregnant one. All he gets to do is make big proclamations while I have to actually, you know, go through with all these changes."Orin lingers near the doorway, looking uncomfortable. "Look, uh, I don't know anything about being a pregnant woman, but—"I grimac
AllisonI have no choice but to pound the treadmill for an hour.Escape isn't a real option. I might be able to send Orin out on some wild-goose chase errand to keep him busy, but the moment I step out of the house, I'll be swarmed by one of the dozen men Gregory has guarding the place.I can see his goons lingering on the sidewalk outside.People give our house a wide berth.They're even in the back yard, keeping an eye on the garden.If I slip out a window, or sneak through a door, those goons will drag me back inside before I can get more than a few feet.Although I can make a lot of noise. We're in a popular, crowded city area, which means a screaming girl's going to draw a ton of attention.Gregory definitely doesn't want that.But it's not like I know where Gregory's at. I could call him, but that's not enough. I could ask Orin, but I'm kind of sick of Orin right now, and anyway, I'm not sure he'd tell me. Gregory's mysterious office is somewhere in downtown Portland, but beyond
GregoryI step out of my empty bedroom wearing my normal business suit. It's barely past five in the morning. Allison tends to sleep past eight. I move downstairs quietly and head toward the kitchen. Orin will have some coffee and toast ready for me, then I'll take my car to the office—"Good morning, husband. What time do you usually head out?"I stop in the kitchen door and stare.Allison's sitting at the island. She's in a black pantsuit and black heels, her legs crossed, coffee and cereal in front of her. A paper's open and halfway folded to the business section.I look over at Orin, who shrugs helplessly."I'm leaving shortly." I walk to the island and accept my breakfast. Usually, I'd eat in the car. Instead, I stare at my wife.She puts down the paper. "Good. I'm ready when you are.""I think you might be confused. Did our conversation last night give you the impression that you'd be joining me today?""No," she says, snapping the paper. "But I decided that you need my help."I
AllisonGregory makes me do paperwork.We reach his office that morning, and the place is crawling with thugs. Guys in dark suits roam the halls, not even pretending to be anything other than armed guards. They treat me very respectfully as Gregory dumps me in an office next to the conference room where he works, but I can tell they're keeping a close eye on me."Permits," Gregory says about ten minutes after we arrive. "Make sure they're correct.""Permits for what?""New locations. We're expanding." He turns to leave."Hold on." I jump to my feet, gesturing at the pathetic room. "There's barely any furniture in here.""This is the only office with a desk." His jawline twitches. It's obvious he's annoyed."How in the world are you running a business from here?""It isn't difficult."I roll my eyes, making an annoyed gesture around me. "Gregory. This office looks like a freaking hostage situation.""And?" He cocks his head as if he doesn't understand."Businesses are about perception.
Allison"Are you still happy you came to work for me?"I pant into his mouth as his fingers do their filthy work. "Yes. Totally. Ecstatic.""That's nice to hear." He pulls his hand back and I let out an annoyed groan, but before I can complain, he forces me forward onto my elbows."Gregory—" I start because I know what's coming next, but it's too late.His palm whacks against my ass so hard I suck in a breath."There you are," he murmurs, rubbing my stinging skin. "You know you start moaning the moment I spank you, don't you?""No," I groan, trying to turn around to glare at him, but he's got me by the hair. "I do not—"Another whack on the ass. I grunt, biting my lip to keep from doing exactly what he says I will.The filthy bastard knows I like this. I wiggle my hips, pressing back against his firm grip. He spanks me again, and again, and soon the pain's beginning to overwhelm my brain when he finally cups my pussy with his palm, holding me steady, before sinking his fingers deep in
AllisonIt takes a few back-and-forth phone calls, but Jonny Jeffers finally agrees to meet in person. We set a date for the following day, and when the time arrives, Gregory's on edge."I don't like this situation," he says, glaring out the car window. We're being driven by his second-in-command, Sean, and another of their trusted enforcers while two more cars, one in front and one behind, are packed to the brim with armed men. I can't imagine how we could get any safer short of hiding away in a nuclear bunker."I told you, Jonny's an old hippie," I say, trying to put him at ease. "It's not really all that surprising.""This should've been straightforward, and we should be meeting at our office. Instead, we're doing... this." He scowls, shaking his head.Jonny had been cagey about where he wanted to meet. Gregory felt he was being suspicious, while I only assumed he was acting like his normal goofy self. Eventually, we landed on an old vegan place that isn't even listed online anymor
AllisonI slam down against the window. My shoulder's pinned, painfully digging into broken glass. My face is pressed against something cold and hard—the door, concrete, I can't really tell—and Gregory's still on top of me, still covering my body with his own. He weighs a thousand pounds. I'm dizzy and can't tell which way is up.I hear my name. "Allison. Hey, Allison, look at me." Gregory's dragging me up, shaking me slightly. Everything's ringing and whining, and the light's far too bright."Gregory," I mumble. "I'm okay. I'm okay." But am I okay? I don't know what happened, why the whole car seems like it exploded, or why Gregory sounds angry."Hold on." His arms wrap around me and he's lifting me up, up, across the car—how are we moving up through the car?—until Sean's pulling me from the opposite window.Loud explosions break out all around us. Sean curses, and he drags me over the side of the car, landing in a heap on the parking lot.It takes a beat to understand that the SUV i