Protecting Her

by Allie Everhart

  “What?” She’s completely flustered. “Who?”

  “The baby.” He points to him. “His name is Garret.”

  “Oh. Yeah.” She comes over and stands by my bed. “Can I see him?”

  I hold him up for her and she smiles. “Oh my God, Rachel. He’s so cute.”

  “Do you want to hold him?”

  “No.” She backs away, holding her hands up. “I can’t hold a baby. I’d drop him, for sure.”

  “Do you need to be heading out?” Pearce asks Logan. I swear, Pearce is actively trying to keep Logan and Shelby apart. I have no idea why. “I can walk with you back to your car. We should schedule a golf game before the weather gets cool.”

  “I think I’ll stay a few more minutes,” Logan says, eyeing Shelby in that dress.

  It’s a cute white cotton dress that has thin straps and is fitted at the top, then flows out at the waist, ending about mid-thigh. And she’s wearing strappy sandals that have a small heel.

  “Rachel, how are you feeling?” she asks. “I was so worried about you after you told me what happened.”

  “I’m fine. They said I might be able to go home tomorrow.”

  She leans in to see the baby again. “You are so adorable.” As she touches his face I notice light red marks circling both her wrists. “Shelby, what happened to your wrists?”

  Pearce was saying something to Logan but he stops suddenly and looks at Shelby and me.

  “It’s nothing.” Shelby backs away and stands up straight. “Actually, it’s a funny story. I always keep rubber bands handy so I can put my hair up, and last week in Vegas, when I was at the pool, I put a rubber band on each wrist and then fell asleep on one of the lounge chairs, and when I woke up I had these big marks on my wrists.”

  Logan comes over and picks up her arm, looking at her wrist. “That doesn’t look like a mark from a rubber band.”

  She yanks her arm back. “Well, it is. I was dumb and I forgot to take them off when I got to the pool.”

  He takes her hand, turning it palm-side up and running his finger over the mark. “You need to put something on that or it’ll scar.”

  “I have stuff at home I can put on it.” She’s breathless again as his finger moves lightly over her wrist.

  “I have a first-aid kit in my car.” He lowers her hand but keeps hold of it. “Come on. Let’s go. I’ll get you fixed up.” He gazes at her as he says it. A deep, intense, I-want-you gaze.

  “Um, okay,” she says, not taking her eyes off him. “Rachel, sorry I can’t stay longer but I have to go into work later. I need to go home and get ready. But I’ll call you tonight.”

  “Okay. Bye, Shelby. Bye, Logan.”

  “I hope they release you tomorrow.” Logan smiles at me but motions to Pearce. “I don’t think this guy can handle another night alone with the baby.”

  “I’m managing just fine, thank you,” Pearce says, smiling. “Give me a call and we’ll set up a time to golf.”

  He nods and leads Shelby to the door. As she’s leaving, she glances back at Pearce and I realize they didn’t say goodbye to each other.

  When they’re gone, I say, “Do you think they’re going to get back together?”

  “No. But I think they’re going to do it in Logan’s car.”

  I laugh. “I think so too. They couldn’t take their eyes off each other. Maybe they’ll make their own baby and we’ll be here visiting them in nine months. They should just get married. They’re perfect together.”

  Pearce doesn’t respond.

  “Pearce, don’t you think they’d be good together?”

  “I don’t know. But Shelby obviously doesn’t want that so Logan needs to give up on her.”

  “He’s not giving up on her. That was some serious flirting going on just now. The way he touched her wrist like that? She practically melted into his arms.”

  “I didn’t notice.”

  “Did you see her wrists? I agree with Logan. It didn’t look like marks from a rubber band.”

  Garret cries a little and I look down and see his face scrunching up like he’s getting ready to wail. Sure enough, he does.

  “I’ll get his bottle.” Pearce takes it from the diaper bag. “My mother packed the bag for me before I left.”

  “Maybe he just needs a diaper change,” I say, taking the bottle.

  “No, that’s his hungry face. And his hungry cry. I figured this out last night.”

  I give Garret the bottle and he immediately sucks down the liquid.

  “You were right.” I smile. “So does he have a way to tell us when he needs a diaper change?”

  “Yes. It’s more a fussy cry, not a full out wail like he just did. And his face looks more annoyed than angry. When he’s hungry, he looks angry. He likes to eat and he doesn’t like to wait.”

  I laugh. “Just like his father.”

  The nurse walks in. “Rachel, the doctor will be here in a few minutes. Your husband and son will need to go.”

  I nod. “Okay.”

  As she leaves, Pearce says, “We’ll come back this afternoon.“

  When I’m finished feeding him, Pearce takes him and they leave, but I didn’t want them to go. I missed them the second they left. I have to get out of this hospital. I can’t take being away from the baby. He needs his mom. I need to be home.

  And the next day, I am. The hospital released me at nine this morning and we just arrived at the house. As I’m walking in, I smile when I see that the entire living room is filled with flowers and balloons.

  “Welcome home,” Pearce says, kissing me.

  “Thank you.” I hug him. “When did you have time to do all this?”

  He shrugs. “I’ve given up sleeping. I don’t need it. You can get a lot done when you don’t sleep.”

  I reach up and kiss him. “When did you really do it?”

  “Garret and I went shopping yesterday after we left the hospital.”

  I smile. “You took him shopping?”

  “It was short trip. He slept through most of it.” He picks Garret up from the baby carrier and holds him. “Although while we were shopping for you, he found a few things for himself.”

  “Oh, really?” I kiss Garret’s cheek. “What did your daddy buy you?”

  Pearce points to a basket on the floor, which holds a mini football, baseball, and basketball. “He apparently likes sports.”

  I laugh. “Yes, I’m sure his father had nothing to do with that.” I sit on the couch and take my shoes off. I’m still so tired. The doctor said it’s from the loss of blood. She said it will take a while before I have energy again.

  Pearce sits next to me. “That box on the table is for you.”

  It’s a small box wrapped in silver paper. I pick it up. “You got me a gift?”

  “It’s from both of us,” he says, meaning him and the baby. “Go ahead and open it.”

  I unwrap it and open the box. Inside is a gold necklace. It has two gold hearts hanging from it; a big one and a little one.

  “The big heart is from me and the little one is from Garret,” Pearce says. “They’re lockets so you can put photos in them.”

  “Pearce, that’s so sweet.” I hug him. “Thank you. I love it. I’ll wear it all the time.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” He gives me a kiss. “I’m also glad you’re home. I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.”

  Garret fusses and squirms a little in Pearce’s arms.

  “That’s his diaper change look,” he says as he stands up.

  I stand up too. “I’ll do it.”

  “No, you just got home. Just rest. I’ll do it and bring him back down.”

  Pearce goes upstairs. He’s already much more comfortable taking care of the baby. Maybe it was good for him to have these past couple days alone with Garret. If I’d been here, I would’ve taken over and Pearce would’ve just watched. But now, he’s had a chance to practice caring for the baby and he’s getting good at it.

&
nbsp; “Hello, Rachel.” Eleanor appears. She must’ve been in the kitchen. She’s wearing navy pants and a short-sleeve white blouse, which is a more casual look than her usual suits and dresses.

  “Hello, Eleanor.” I smile, but it’s not a big smile. I admit I’m still angry at her for disowning her son. I’ve forgiven her for being rude to me. She doesn’t know me, and it’s easy to be rude to someone you don’t know. But treating your own son the way she did is inexcusable.

  “How are you feeling?” she asks.

  “Tired. But I’ll be fine.”

  “I was very sorry to hear about your parents.”

  That was almost a year ago, so it’s odd she’d say this now, but at least she said it.

  “Yes, it came as quite a shock.” I see her eyeing my outfit. I’m wearing one of my maternity dresses; a short sleeve, blue cotton dress. No matter what I wear, I always feel frumpy around Eleanor, because of the way she looks at me.

  “Well, now that you’re home, I’ll go up and pack my things.” She starts for the stairs, but I stop her.

  “Eleanor, you don’t have to leave. You’re welcome to stay.”

  “I don’t need to. Pearce has become quite adept at caring for the baby, and now that you’re here, you two will manage just fine.”

  I don’t argue with her. I would like to have time alone with just Pearce and Garret.

  “Will you at least come over again? We’d love to see you more. And I know Garret would love to see his grandmother.”

  She smiles, and I think it’s the first real smile I’ve ever seen on her. “Of course I will. Call and let me know when you would like me to come over.” She pauses. “He’s a beautiful baby. You two will make very good parents.”

  Did she just give me a compliment? Or two?

  “Thank you,” I say, smiling back. “And thank you for helping Pearce out the past couple days.”

  She nods and goes up the stairs as Pearce is coming down them.

  “Where’s Garret?” I ask him.

  “Sleeping. I held him after the diaper change and he fell right to sleep.”

  “You’re getting really good at this.”

  “Yes,” he says confidently. “I think I actually am getting good at it.”

  “Oh, your mother is leaving. She’s packing her things.”

  “Why?” Concern crosses his face. “Did something happen?”

  “No, she just decided it was time to go. But I told her to come back whenever she’d like.”

  “I’ll go up and help her with her bag.”

  He does, and a few minutes later, they come back down the stairs. We say goodbye and Eleanor leaves.

  And at last, Pearce and I are alone with our son. Just the three of us. At our home. I’ve never been happier.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  5

  PEARCE

  It’s been a week since Rachel had the baby and things are starting to settle down. We’re getting into a routine. Feedings, diaper changes, and naps are forming somewhat of a schedule and we’re taking shifts so we can both get some sleep.

  Tomorrow I have to go back to work so I won’t be able to help out as much, but I’ll take over in the evenings and give Rachel a break. She says she doesn’t need one but I know she does. I can see how tired she is. I’m tired too, but I’m used to it. Before meeting Rachel, I only slept three or four hours a night so this is like going back to my old sleep schedule.

  I’ve been so busy with the baby that I haven’t had time to deal with Shelby. Last week when she came by the hospital I saw the marks on her wrists, but couldn’t get her alone to ask her who did it. I’m assuming it’s Royce, but I need to confirm that with Shelby.

  I’m calling her now while Rachel’s asleep upstairs. I went in my office and shut the door.

  “Hi, Rachel,” Shelby answers.

  “It’s not Rachel. It’s Pearce.”

  “Why are you calling? Did something happen to Rachel? Or the baby?”

  “No. I’m calling to talk to you.”

  “About what?”

  “You know why I’m calling. Now tell me who did it.”

  She’s quiet, and then says, “I can’t tell you. I’ll get in trouble.”

  “You won’t get in trouble. I’ll take care of it myself. Was it Royce?”

  She doesn’t answer.

  “Shelby, I know it was Royce. You don’t have to cover for him.”

  “Don’t do anything, Pearce. Please. Royce isn’t stable. He’s violent, and I’m afraid of what he’ll do to me if you tell him I told you this.”

  “He left marks on you. I’ll just tell him I saw the marks.”

  “No. Just leave it alone. Besides, I probably won’t be seeing him much anymore. He doesn’t have time now that he has a kid.”

  “He doesn’t take care of the baby. He has a nanny. And the baby was born in July. Those marks on your wrists are newer than that. When did this happen?”

  “Pearce, I mean it. Don’t say anything. He’ll come after me.”

  “He will not come after you. I will make sure of it.”

  “Why are getting involved in this?”

  “Because what he’s doing is wrong. He can’t treat you that way. Do you know if he’s done this to any of the others?”

  “No, but I don’t talk to the other girls. We’re not allowed to.”

  I hear Rachel coming down the stairs. “I have to go. I’ll take care of Royce. He won’t bother you again.”

  I leave my office and Rachel is standing there. I give her a kiss. “Why aren’t you resting?”

  “Garret needs to be fed. I’m just getting his bottle.”

  “I can do it.”

  “That’s okay. I want to do it. I like feeding him. And holding him.” She smiles. “I just like spending time with him.”

  I smile back. “I know you do.” Rachel’s so happy being a mother. I’ve never seen her this happy. “Since you’re up, would you mind if I go out for a while? I want to stop by the office for a couple hours and see what I’ll be walking into tomorrow after being gone for so long.”

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  I give her a kiss, then go around her. “I’ll see you soon.”

  It’s seven at night so Royce should be home. I call him as I’m going to the car. “Royce, it’s Pearce. Are you doing anything? I wanted to stop over.”

  “Stop over? You live forty-five minutes away.”

  “I’m heading out your way, so will you be around?”

  “Yes. Victoria’s at some charity event. I’m supposed to be spending quality time with the baby, whatever the hell that means. Anyway, I’ve got the nanny watching her, so come on over.”

  “I’ll see you soon.” As I’m driving there, my other phone rings. My Dunamis phone. My chest tightens, as it always does when they call.

  “Hello?” I hear the recording and punch in my member number.

  The recording continues. “You will soon be receiving an assignment. It will be given sometime within the next four to eight weeks. You must not travel until you have received and completed your assignment.”

  The phone clicks off and I toss it on the seat. I just had an assignment a month ago. I had to get rid of a police report involving one of our freelancers. He completed a kill job for one of the other members and left some evidence behind. It ended up being a complicated, time-consuming assignment, but it could’ve been worse. I’m hoping this next one will be forging documents or something else simple like that.

  I drive through the entrance of Royce’s estate. Royce now lives in a mansion, which he moved into after he married Victoria. It’s 18,000 square feet, and Victoria decorated it in a style that I don’t care for, but is common for wealthy people; white furniture, glass tables, crystal chandeliers, expensive paintings on the walls. It’s very cold and sterile.

  The maid greets me at the door and shows me to Royce’s office. He doesn’t work, so I don’t know why he needs an office.

  “Good evening, Pearce.”
He gets up from his desk to greet me. “I hear you have a child.”

  “Yes. A son. His name is Garret.”

  “Congratulations.” Royce sits back down behind his desk. “I wish I’d had a son.”

  I sit across from him. “Royce, don’t say that. You have a beautiful daughter.”

  “What the hell am I going to do with a daughter? I told Victoria she can take Sadie and I’ll take the next one, which better be a boy.”

  It’s no wonder Royce treats the associates so poorly. He has zero respect for women, even his own daughter.

  “What was your son’s name? Garret?” He chuckles. “Maybe Garret and Sadie will grow up and marry each other. We should just arrange it now. They could get married right after college, once your son is a full-fledged member.”

  “I think it’s a little too soon to be marrying them off,” I say, trying not to react to his comment. But inside I’m panicking. I have to get Garret out of his obligation. He cannot be in Dunamis.

  “The other kid’s probably a boy,” he says under his breath.

  “What other kid?”

  “What?” He looks up from his desk.

  “You just said something about some other kid.”

  He straightens up and clears his throat. “It was nothing. Never mind.”

  He’s hiding something. And I know what it is. His risky behavior finally caught up with him.

  “You got a woman pregnant,” I say. “Was it one of the associates?”

  The associates are all on birth control, but that’s not always a hundred percent.

  He hasn’t answered me. He’s looking at me like he wants to tell me, but can’t.

  “Who is it, Royce?”

  He leans forward, his arms planted on his desk, his eyes narrowed. “If I tell you this, you cannot tell anyone. Ever! If you do, I swear I’ll kill you.”

  “Do not threaten me,” I say, glaring at him. “If you don’t want to tell me, then fine. It was simply a question.”

  He sighs and sits back, rubbing his hand over his jaw. “I can’t take this. I have to tell someone.” He looks at me again. “You’re right. I got a girl pregnant. But it wasn’t an associate. It was a girl I met when I was on the road last year. On that campaign tour. We went out, had dinner, had some drinks, and ended up at her place.”