CHAPTER THIRTY
SAMANTHA
I stand in the kitchen looking down at the white tiled floor. I feel sick to my stomach, like I may vomit at any second. I should have known I could never keep this from him. I should have known he would go crazy when he found out.
“Are you okay?” Parker asks pulling me from my thoughts.
I nod my head not wanting to look at him. I go to turn around and walk to our room when he stops me.
“He just needs some time to calm down.”
I look up at him. “I’ve never seen him this mad,” I admit with a shaky voice.
He lets out a long sigh. “Honestly, I haven’t either.”
His confession makes my stomach drop.
“Just…let him cool down,” he says as he gathers up all the paperwork. “Will you be okay?” He looks from me to the door that leads down to the basement. Where we just heard Slade put his fist through something and then scream out his favorite word.
“I’ll be fine.” I’m not afraid of Slade doing any more than some yelling and making me feel like shit, but I know he wouldn’t lay his hands on me.
He nods his head satisfied with my answer. I don’t think he’s concerned about it either. I think he just offered to be nice.
“I’ll figure out what’s going on,” he promises before he walks out the front door.
I lock it up and then turn to go to bed.
*****
I wake up early the next morning and notice that Slade has already left for work. His clothes from last night are on the floor by the tall dresser, and the house is silent. I get out of bed slowly and walk into the bathroom. I look awful. My eyes are puffy, and my cheeks and nose are red. I pick up my phone and call Missy, reminding her I won’t be up at the bakery until later today because of my checkup.
I tell her what went down last night, and she informs me that Tate has been blowing up her phone, but she has no intentions of answering it. If I had any strength, I would have smiled at how strong she is being.
I feel like shit, my stomach is in knots, and my throat is raw from crying.
I take a hot shower, hoping to calm myself down, but it doesn’t help. The water just covers up the tears that fall from my eyes.
I fucked up.
I should have told him. Did it occur to me that he would drug other girls? No. I thought he was going to jail. At that point all I worried about was what Slade would do with that information.
I finish up in the shower and get out. Once I’m done drying my hair, I feel it. I get an awful taste in my mouth, and I find myself running to the toilet and falling to my knees.
Morning sickness or nerves? I guess either could be a factor.
I open my eyes and sit up as I hear someone yelling my name in the house. “In here,” I try yelling back, but it comes out scratchy.
I look up to see Parker walking into the bathroom. I groan at him seeing me like this. “Slade’s not here,” I say standing and walking over to the sink to wash my hands and wash out my mouth.
“I know,” he says with a frown. “How long have you been sick?” he asks with concern which surprises me.
“Just this morning. Morning sickness,” I sigh throwing water on my face. I thought I was going to get by without that part of pregnancy.
Once I dry off my face I look at him through the mirror. “What are you doing here?”
“I just came to check on you,” he says as if I should have already known that.
Maybe Slade sent him. I run my finger along the countertop and speak quietly. “Have you spoke with Slade today?”
“Yes. I told him I was going stop by the bakery and see how you were doing today. But when I got up there, Missy said you weren’t coming into later.” He pinches the bridge of his nose as if confused. “Do you need me to have him bring you something home? For, you know, being sick?”
I shake my head. “I’ll be fine. I’m going in later because I have a checkup.”
“Oh,” he whispers as he looks down at my belly. “Is Slade going with you?”
“He told me last week he was. Now I don’t know.”
He nods his head and releases a sigh. “I’ll let you go so you’re not late.” With that he turns away and walks out of our bathroom.
I take my ass back to bedroom and pull up Slade’s name on my cell.
Me: My appointment is at ten thirty. Are you still wanting to go?
It’s a long shot to see if he will reply. If I know him, he won’t show, but a girl can hope.
*****
I leave the doctor appointment in tears. The baby is fine, but of course Slade didn’t show. I don’t know why I expected him to. I guess I figured he wouldn’t miss a chance at seeing our baby, even though he’s mad at me.
I sit in the driver’s seat of the Chevy and look down at the black and white picture of our baby as a sob escapes my lips.
I jump when I hear my phone notify me of a text message. I hold my breath as I open it up, hoping that it’s Slade. I shake my head when I see it’s from Vivian instead.
Vivian: Dinner at our place tonight. 6pm
I throw my phone over into the passenger seat as I feel a lump form in my throat. How long can he ignore me? Would it make it better if I had answers to give him? Maybe. But where would I find what I need to know?
Jax! Jax could give me information. If Slade was right and the other person I remember was Jeremy, then maybe Jax will tell me what I need to know. He’s already in jail—what else does he have to lose?
Making up my mind, I start up the truck and back out of the doctor’s parking lot en route to where I know Jax is being held.
I make my way into the police station and find a lady sitting behind a desk. “I would like to see Jackson Reynolds, please?”
She looks up at me with her angry dark brown eyes and frown on her face. “Are you family?” Her deep and scratchy voice leads me to believe that she’s a smoker.
Am I family? Will they let me see him if I’m not?
“Yes, ma’am, I am,” I try to say with a smile. Make her believe it.
She tilts her head at me, and her frown deepens. “What is your relation?”
Uh…I knot my hands together as an idea hits me. “I’m his wife.” I lift my left hand to show off my pink princess cut wedding ring.
Her eyebrows shoot up as if she’s generally surprised. She then nods and points to a door to my left. “Go down the long hall and turn right. An officer will be there waiting to give you a visitor’s pass and escort you to the visitation room.”
I swallow nervously but nod my head with as much as enthusiasm as I can. Maybe this will work. It has to, right?
I pat my name tag on to my chest and take in a deep breath as I walk into the visitation room. There are six chairs sitting in front of a wall of glass that runs from the ceiling down to the desk top for each cubicle.
“Third chair,” the man in uniform informs me.
I make my way over to it and sit down in the stiff blue plastic chair. I look down and continue to fiddle with my wedding ring. Slade is going to kill me when he finds out what I did.
Someone taps on the glass in front of me, and I yelp as I jump back. There sitting in front of me is Jax in an orange jumpsuit with a smirk on his face. He still looks awful but at least he seems to have color back in his face.
He reaches over and picks up the telephone and places it to his ear. I slowly do the same.
“That’s no way to greet your husband,” he smirks. “You should be jumping with joy to see me, not scared.”
I swallow and square my shoulders. “I need you to give me some answers, Jax.”
His lips turn up in the corners. “What would Slade say if he knew you were here?” He rubs his jaw with his free hand. “But then again he’s already mad at you.” My heart stops at him knowing Slade and I are fighting. “It is easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.” His smile grows. “And you love to beg don’t you? You were always holdi
ng out on me.”
“I…uh…” I try to clear my throat. “How do you know all of this?”
He leans back in his chair and gets a serious look on his face. “So naïve, Samantha.” He shakes his head. “Don’t you know there’s always someone watching? Someone listening?”
“What do you mean? How can that be possible?”
He ignores my question. “I’ll give you a piece of advice. Maybe you will believe it, since your stupid husband wouldn’t.” He rolls his eyes. “Someone wants your husband to suffer.”
“Why?” I ask as tears well up in my eyes.
He shrugs carelessly. “Just tell him he needs to watch out for what’s his. If he doesn’t open his eyes and see it, then it’s his loss.”
“What are you talking about?” What am I missing?
He sighs as if getting bored. “Think about it. Your house got broken into. Nothing was stolen. Same thing with your truck. Why would someone do that?”
He goes to hang the phone up, but I continue to speak. “Jax, wait….”
He hangs up his phone and stands up as an officer ushers him out of the room.
I stand from my chair and fly out of the room. I come to a stop at the end of the hall when I see the restrooms. Running in, I find a stall and huddle over the toilet for the second time today.
Me. Please call me. I need to talk to you. It’s important.
I type out a message as I make my way back to the truck. He may hang up on me—he may divorce me—but he needs to know what Jax said. Slade’s been right all along. Those events were not accidental. Someone wants to hurt him.
*****
SLADE
I try to ignore the sound of my phone vibrating on my office desk as I type on my computer.
“How long are you going to ignore her?” Parker asks looking down at my phone, of course he can see that it’s Angel sending me a text.
I flip my phone over face down and sit stiffly in my chair. “Until I can talk to her without yelling,” I say annoyed.
“She was sick this morning,” he says. “She said it was morning sickness but I think she’s terrified you’re going to leave her. Or maybe it has to do with Jeremy not being in jail.” He shrugs. “Either way she’s worried to death, and it’s making her sick.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say brushing it off.
“Then what do you want to talk about?” he snaps. “How you missed her checkup today?”
Fuck, was that today? I fist my right hand and my skin pulls from the scratches that I received from punching the door last night. I lean up and place my hands on my desk. “Why are you all of a sudden shoving your nose in my marriage?”
“You’re joking, right?” He snorts. “I’m trying to help you find out what the fuck is going on and all you seem to be doing is ignoring your wife.”
“Then do your job and stay out my marriage, Parker,” I retort.
He stands and then looks down at me. “What the fuck is you problem, man? I get it. She kept something important from you...”
“No, you don’t you don’t get it,” I interrupt him. “When you love someone more than life itself, then you can tell me you understand how I feel,” I snap. “Right now, I just want you to get out of my office so I can work.”
He looks at me with hard dark eyes for a few seconds before he stands, turns, and slams the door to my office.
I lean back in my chair and run a hand through my hair. My phone beeps again reminding me I have a message. I pick it up to read it.
Angel: Please call me. I need to talk to you. It’s important.
I scowl as I exit out of it and reply to another message I have from my mother.
Me: I’ll be there.
I would rather go to my parents’ for dinner than go home. Me going home would only cause more bad than good for us. I’d just blow up and make her cry. I know when I will go too far and say the wrong thing, and this is that time.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
SAMANTHA
I get out of the shower and dress in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt when I hear the door from the garage open. I take off in a mad dash down the hallway only to come to a quick stop when I see Parker standing in the entryway.
“Parker?” I say throwing my hand over my racing heart. “You need to call Slade,” I start to ramble. “I’ve called and texted him, but he’s not answering.” I gasp trying to catch my breath.
He rushes over to me and places his hands on my shoulders. “It’s okay. Everything’s gonna be okay,” he says trying to calm me down.
I shake my head quickly. “I went to jail. I saw Jax…”
“What?” He lets go and takes a step back from me.
“I had to,” I say when he looks at me wide-eyed. “He knows things…” I wave my hands in the air. “He said someone is after Slade. Parker, you have to warn him,” I plead as tears start to well up in my eyes. “Someone wants to hurt him,” I cry.
He wraps his arms around me and rubs my back gently. “Nothing is going to happen to him. I promise. Jax is just trying to screw with you.”
I cry into his uniform and hug him tightly. After I calm down and am able to take a few deep breaths I pull away. “How did you get in?” And why do you keep showing up?
“You left the garage door up,” he says still eyeing me with concern. “Did you mean to?”
I shake my head. “I must have forgotten to close it.” I sigh. “Why are you here, Parker?” I can’t help but sound depressed.
“I wanted to come and check on you again. Are you feeling better?” His concern actually makes me wish he didn’t care. I just want to be left alone right now.
I lie. “Yes.” I turn around and go to try to call Slade again when he stops me.
“How was your checkup?”
“It went well.” I swallow trying not to get emotional about Slade not being there. “The baby is doing great.” I pat my back pocket where I placed the ultrasound picture.
“Slade didn’t go,” he states more than asks.
I shake my head as my bottom lips starts to tremble. God, I will never make fun of Courtney for crying ever again.
He takes a step toward me once again, and I cover my mouth not wanting to let the sob escape. I allow my body to go limp when I feel his arms wrap around me.
“I’ve tried calling and texting him. He won’t answer,” I cry into his shoulder. “You have to call him. You have to warn him,” I plead.
“Shh,” he says soothingly as he runs a hand down my back.
He holds me as I bare my soul to him. To this man who just four months ago I couldn’t stand now seems to be the only one who cares how I’m doing.
“He’s going to get hurt,” I whisper.
“No.” He pulls back from me and looks me in the eyes. “I won’t let that happen.”
I shake my head as I try to wipe the tears from my eyes. “He’s still so mad at me. He won’t answer my calls.”
“I spoke with him earlier, and he had a meeting to go to.” He lies for his friend, and it breaks my heart. He’s trying to save me from more heartache.
“Not all day.” I shake my head. “I lied to him. How could he ever forgive me?”
I expect him to say he will forgive me, or that it will all be okay, but instead he sighs and says, “Grab your stuff and let’s go.”
“Why?” I sniff.
“Because I am taking you over to the Long’s. You guys need to talk this through right now. You can explain what Jax told you. I’ll wait for you, and you can ride with me.”
I wrap my arms around myself and continue shaking my head. I saw where Slade had responded to Vivian’s text since I was part of the mass message. He didn’t respond to my message—he doesn’t want to be around me. And I also saw where Tate responded that he was going to be out of town this evening and couldn’t make dinner. “I’m not going. You can tell him.” I don’t want to start another fight in front of his parents.
“I’m going to take you
over there,” he says allowing no argument.
Will it make it worse? Yes. I know for a fact that he will walk out once I explain that I went to see Jax. But if that saves his life, then I will do it. “I’ll go over there.” He has been ignoring me all day, and I can’t take the cold shoulder any longer. “I’ll drive myself,” I say. “I don’t know how long he plans on staying over there, and I’m already worn out.” Plus, Parker is in uniform. I don’t want him to get called out and leave me there. It could get uncomfortable quickly.
He looks relieved that I am willing to go over there. “As long as you go over there. I’ll still go as well.”
I hate that the thought of him being there makes me feel better. When did I become this person who needs someone to hold their hand?
Quickly I grab the truck keys.
“I’ll follow you,” he calls as he walk through the garage to his cop car sitting in our driveway.
Closing the garage door as I back out, I pull up to the first stop light. I look in my rearview mirror and see Parker behind me. When the light turns green I go through it. The following light continues to stay green for us as well.
The next thing I know is I feel a jolt, and I hear a squealing noise. My body gets pushed forward, but I don’t go far. My face instantly stings followed by a loud popping sound and then all I see is smoke.
I scream but it’s cut short when I hit the left side of my head on something hard. I can’t breathe, I feel as if something is sitting on top of my chest. I try to gulp in air but there’s nothing. I start to panic and pull on my seatbelt. I can’t get it unfastened.
In the distance I can hear screaming and commotion as I feel like I’m lying on top of something uncomfortable on my left side. I have no more strength. My head pounds and my face stings.
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