by Ember Davis
Amelia’s eyes meet mine and I see the apology, the regret, the fear in them, but there’s also determination that takes my breath away.
Blake holds his hands out in front of him, “Caleb, let’s talk about this. How do you want this to go?”
Caleb snorts, “She’s coming with me and there’s nothing any of you can do about it.”
Blake keeps his voice calm and even, how he does that when I’m about to have a stroke is beyond me. “Caleb, Amelia isn’t going anywhere with you; you need to get help. We’re going to get you the help you need. You don’t want to hurt another woman you love do you?”
Caleb’s eyes narrow, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know you love, Amelia. Don’t you, Caleb?”
Caleb nods and buries his face in her hair, “Of course. She needs me. Needs me to love her because no one else will.”
Amelia’s gaze doesn’t faulter, her eyes stay right on mine and I see the pleading there, to keep my mouth shut even though every cell in my body wants to tell that asshole how wrong he is.
Blake nods slowly, “She needs you to be healthy before you can give her the love she needs. Isn’t that right, Caleb? Love doesn’t hurt. You love Amelia. Do you want her to hurt?”
Caleb starts shaking his head. He mutters, “I won’t hurt Amelia, not like Emily.”
Amelia’s eyes widen even more. She glances at Blake before her eyes snap back to mine. I can see her concentrating on taking even breaths. Fuck, she’s so strong.
Blake takes a small step and I see Grayson and Ryder approaching from behind, but I force myself not to give anything away and hold Amelia’s gaze. Blake keeps his attention by asking, “What happened with Emily, Caleb?”
Caleb scoffs, “She wouldn’t listen. She made me hurt her. It doesn’t matter because Amelia knows better. Don’t you, Cupcake?”
Like the lightening that Amelia and I felt the moment we touched, the next moment stops my heart before jolting it back to life. Grayson and Ryder move in synch; Grayson puts a gun to Caleb’s head and Ryder grabs the wrist of his hand holding the knife and snaps it. Caleb screams and Blake grabs Amelia and pulls her out of Caleb’s arms.
I rush to her and pull her into my arms. I turn her so my back is to Caleb and she’s shielded from that fucking psychopath. When I glance over my shoulder, Caleb is on the ground, his arms behind his back in plastic cuffs.
I pick her up and carry her so we’re behind the wall we used for cover only a few minutes ago. Was that only a few minutes? Fuck, it feels like a lifetime. I run my hands up and down her back and over the rest of her body that I can reach.
“Baby, are you hurt?”
She doesn’t answer and my heart can’t take it. When I pull back slightly, she whispers, “Please don’t let go of me yet, Beckett.”
I sigh and pull her against me tightly again. I know my voice is full of worry, “Amelia, I need to know if you’re hurt anywhere.”
She shakes her head against my chest and whispers, “I’m not hurt. I’m okay.”
Troy and Walsh wrap their arms around both of us and Amelia lets out a watery chuckle, her face still buried in my chest. “I love you guys too. I’m okay. I feel like I need the hottest shower known to man right now, but other than that I’m okay. He didn’t hurt me. I promise. You got to me in time.” Her voice breaks, “Thank you.”
Walsh speaks up first, his voice thick, “Fuck, Amelia, don’t thank us. We never should have let him get anywhere near you.”
Troy gives us all a squeeze, “I’m so glad you’re okay. I’ve never been more scared in my entire life.” He lets go of us and pulls Walsh away, “We’re going to go and check on what’s going on inside.”
I meet their eyes and nod; I hope they can see how grateful I am to them both. They smile at me before heading back through the small parking lot.
I push her back from me slightly, cup her face in my hands and tip her face back so I can look in her eyes, “Nothing he said was true, Baby. They were the ramblings of a psychopath. You know that, right?”
She nods and takes a shuddering breath, “I know. I just wanted to keep him talking and out of the car long enough to be found. How did you find me? He grabbed my phone from me.”
I hope she won’t be mad, but I’m not going to lie to her. I let my finger drift down her neck to the pearl on the necklace I ‘gave’ her. She gives me a confused look and I sigh, “This necklace has a tracker in it. While I didn’t go out and buy it for you, I did choose it for you from the options Duncan had. I wasn’t allowed to tell you because you can’t give up information you don’t have.” I swallow hard, “I’m so sorry I had to keep that from you, I felt like I was lying to you.”
Amelia’s eyes soften, “Oh Beckett, that’s a lot to carry by yourself. I understand why you couldn’t tell me. It’s okay.” She gives me a little grin, “I hope they realize I’m going to keep it.” I chuckle and she takes a deep breath and then relief washes across her face. “I’m so glad Blake got him to confess to hurting his high school girlfriend. Maybe her family can get some answers now.”
I kiss her, it’s hard and demanding. “Fuck, Baby, I am in awe at how big your heart is.”
She smiles warmly at me. “I love you, Beckett, even more than my heart can hold.”
I smile down at her, but I need to hear her say it again, “Are you sure you’re okay, Amelia?”
“My shoulder hurts a little, but he didn’t hurt me,” she says in a small strong voice. I watch as worry and regret cloud her eyes, she looks at my chest and bites her lip. She looks back up at me and whispers, “I know the cops will be here any minute, but there’s something I have to tell you.”
I bury my fingers in her hair and look into her eyes, “You can tell me anything, Baby.”
She bites her lip again, “Well, there really are two things I need to say.” I nod my head slowly, waiting. “First, kerfuffle.”
I crash my lips down on hers, my tongue forces its way into her mouth. She clutches my shirt as I kiss her with all the relief and elation I feel. I pull back from her, a goofy grin plastered on my face. The worry is still clear on her face and it’s hitting me hard.
“Baby, you’re worrying the hell out of me right now and I don’t know how much more worry I can take tonight.” My voice doesn’t sound like mine, it’s high and tight.
She gives me a little smile and takes a small step back from me and worries her fingers together. She takes a deep breath and looks down at our feet. I capture her face in my hands and lift her eyes to mine. Her face is suddenly illuminated by flashing red and blue lights. We don’t have much time before we have to go over all this shit with the cops.
“Beckett, I was going to tell you tonight. I know I should have told you the moment I found out, but I knew you’d never let me come out tonight if I did.” Amelia’s eyes are imploring as I fall deeper into the chocolate pools. I feel the building of a lightning strike, electricity in the air. I know whatever she says next is going to change my whole life. She takes a steadying breath and whispers, “I’m pregnant.”
My heart starts pounding in my chest and I’m pretty sure I stop breathing. She’s watching me closely with guarded, still worried eyes. I take a deep breath. I breathe out, “You’re pregnant?”
Amelia nods slowly, “I mean, I think so. I only took a home pregnancy test today, I need to make an appointment with my doctor to confirm.” She cuts her eyes away from me and I slide my hands into her hair, gripping it possessively. Her eyes snap back to mine. “I’m really good about taking my birth control, but it’s not 100% effective. I know we had talked about waiting last month to start trying. I didn’t plan this.” Her eyes become the size of dinner plates, “I swear, Beck, I didn’t-”
I press my body against hers and tilt her head back before I slant my lips over hers. This kiss is sweet and slow and full of promises. She moans softly into my mouth and I can feel her worry and stress melt away from her body.
I pepper kisses all over her face and then let go of her hair and my hands drift down her back and circle to hold her lower abdomen, where my child is growing. My child. Growing inside of the woman I love with all my heart. Fucking mind fuck.
She whispers against my lips, “You’re not mad?”
I pull back from her and her eyes are shining with unshed tears. My brow knits together, “Mad that you’re pregnant?” She nods her head. “No, Baby, I’m not mad that you’re pregnant. The woman I love is growing our child; that’s fucking amazing. I’m elated that you’re pregnant. Overjoyed. Ecstatic. Thrilled. Delighted.” She chuckles and I take a deep breath. “We will need to talk about how you knowingly risked our unborn child’s wellbeing.”
Amelia blanches and nods, “I know. I know that it should have made me take pause, but it didn’t. It made me more determined to draw him out. I really thought about it, I want you to know that.” I nod and realize that I’m rubbing her stomach in small circles. “I couldn’t ignore that the longer this went on, the more vulnerable I’d become and the less vigilant we’d be. When I realized that he could lay in wait until I was 9 months pregnant and basically helpless or that our baby would be even more helpless as a newborn,” she shivers. “I just couldn’t take that risk. This felt like a safer risk, not ideal, but safer.”
I feel tears prick at the edge of my eyes, fuck, the weight this woman was carrying around with her for even today is humbling. I allow the thought of that asswipe still being out there stalking my girl when she is big and round with my child or after she’s given birth to bubble up in my mind. I have to shove it aside before I lose my shit and either try to kill him or throw up.
She cups my face in her hands, her thumb wiping a tear away I didn’t realize had escaped. “You understand, then? Why I couldn’t do that? Why I had to stay with the plan of coming out and hopefully drawing him out?”
My voice is hoarse, “I understand, Amelia. I’m still going to spank your gorgeous ass until it’s red for putting yourself and our baby in danger.”
She smirks up at me. Fucking hell. “I know, Love.”
My eyes narrow, “Blake knew about this?”
She winces, “Not exactly. He was with me today when I bought the test.” She scrunches her face up, “I was not happy that he knew that I thought I might be pregnant before you. The only thing that made it kind of okay is that he’s family. I didn’t tell him I took the test or the results, you’re the first person I’ve told. You’re this baby’s Dad and you had a right to know first.”
I don’t get the chance to say anything else because the cops swarm us along with paramedics. Blake has fielded most things with the cops including presenting the restraining order and Caleb’s previous history, but they still need Amelia to walk through the events of the evening.
We also find out that the guys fighting had been staged by Caleb through an online add for a flash mob kind of thing. He paid them a fee, told them where to stand and sent them a go text when Amelia walked out of the bathroom. Grayson seemed especially torn up about this because he had cleared the hallway and the rooms back there along with the men’s bathroom. Amelia wrapped Grayson up in a hug and told him it didn’t matter because he got to her in time.
Hours later we are able to head home, but fuck it feels like years. She falls asleep almost the second we pulled out of the bar parking lot. I can’t help it and reach over to place my hand over her belly. She was my world before and now my world has expanded, but she’s still carrying it all of it inside her. Fucking mind fuck.
We pull into the driveway and I notice Walsh stick his head out from around the house where the back deck is. Odd, but okay. I hop out of my car and circle around to my girl. I open the door and crouch down.
Oh fuck, I’m going to have to upgrade my car with a baby on the way. I grin because I don’t give a fuck if I drive a minivan or not. We’ll upgrade Amelia’s car first since hers is older. Jesus, why am I even thinking about cars right now? I run my fingers through Amelia’s curls. She lets out a satisfied mewl and a smile spreads across her face.
I kiss her nose and cup her face in my hands. I whisper, “We’re home, Baby, time to wake up.”
Her eye lids flutter open and a beautiful smile spreads across her face. “Home.” She glances through the windshield and her brows knit together. “Why is everyone here?”
I stand up and take in the sight of our entire family, including Higgins Security, meandering toward us from the back lawn and porch. I can’t help the grin that covers my face. This is exactly what she needs; they all knew it.
I extend my hand down to her and she takes it without hesitation. I pull her to my side and kiss her temple, “I don’t know, Baby, but I’m sure they’re here for you. We all love you; I just happen to love you the most.”
Her eyes fill with tears and this time she doesn’t try and stop them, she lets them flow. She was so fucking strong all through talking to the cops and held her tears back so she could be as clear and descriptive as possible. Now, she’s safe, at home and she can let them fall. Thankfully, they’re happy tears; I know because she has a wide smile across her face.
Troy reaches us first and he pulls her from me and wraps her up in his arms, hugging her tight. He whispers, “Don’t cry, Doll.”
She snuffles and hides her face in his chest, but it doesn’t fill me with jealousy. It’s okay for her family to comfort her; I know there are many things I do for her that no one else can or will. Like impregnate her. Oh shit. I’m going to be a Dad. Fucking mind fuck.
Troy scoffs, “Did you just wipe your snot on me?”
Her watery laugh fills my ears as she peeks up at Troy, “You can handle it, Superman.”
Troy chuckles and gives her a squeeze and then passes her to Walsh. She is passed from person to person and I hear murmurs of how happy everyone is that she’s ok, how much she means to them, and how happy they are that she’s safe from that asswipe.
Walsh pats me on the back, “You know we’re having a sleep over tonight, right?”
Troy pipes up, “Yes! That is the best idea I’ve ever heard, sleepover in the living room! Can we make a blanket fort?”
I look between these two men, who are not only my best friends and brothers, but are the same for my girl. I hope I don’t get choked up, “I want you both to know how much I appreciate you having her back. You’ve both been there for me since the day we met, just like you’ve been there for her. I’ve never felt as helpless as I did tonight, but knowing you were right there made it feel like we could make it through.” My voice cracks, damn it, “Thanks guys.”
They pull me into a three-way bro hug. I can’t help but laugh at how this looks from the outside. No, fuck that. These guys are my brothers and they were willing to put their lives on the line, if need be, for Amelia and that should be celebrated. It should be acknowledged and fucking cherished.
Walsh just shrugs, “That’s what you do for family, man.”
I grin, speaking of family. I spot Amelia as she makes it through the last of Blake’s guys and while she’s shed a few more tears, that smile is still plastered on her face. I stride over to her and scoop her up and walk up the steps of our porch.
Amelia leans into me, “Do you want to tell them or wait until it’s all confirmed?”
I kiss her temple and murmur against her skin, “That’s up to you.”
She nods, “I want to tell them.” She turns toward the group but before she can say anything, I cut her off and she huffs a little.
“Thank you all for coming by to check on my girl. I would say you don’t know how much it means to her, to us, but I think that you’ve shown that you do in fact know how much it means. I never had much of a family growing up, but I’m grateful every day that I have this family. If you want to stick around, we’re going to order some pizzas and have a sleepover. I think Troy is already designing the ultimate blanket fort.”
Troy pumps his fist, “Fuck yes, I am.” Everyone laughs and it war
ms my heart even more.
I look down at Amelia, “I’m so glad you’re safe, Baby. I’m so glad we get the chance to share this with them.”
She grins up at me and then she turns toward the group and I see the tears shining in her eyes again. “I think that everyone feels lost at some time in their life and I had been lost for a while. I didn’t even realize how lost I was until I found myself in the middle of this family. I won’t thank you again because you’ve all just done what family does; at least what a strong one built on love does. You accepted me and my baggage without question, without reservation and without judgement. There are moments in the last month that I wouldn’t trade for anything, but I’m also very glad I don’t have to go grocery shopping with Ryder again.” Everyone chuckles and Ryder actual blushes and gives a little shrug.
Amelia stage whispers, “We’re still going Tuesday after work, though, right, Ryder?” Ryder pumps his fist and grins; Amelia laughs and wipes her brow comically. “I’m grateful we can put the last month behind us and move forward with more family,” she looks at each member of Higgins Security with a fond smile, “who make us stronger, smarter and better equipped to continue to take care of our family, together.”
She grins up at me and I nod. “I can’t wait to see how our family continues to grow. Not only did we acquire 4 very large men as part of our family, but we’ll also be adding a very small person as part of our family in about eight months, give or take.”
Amelia touches her belly and I can’t help but cover her hand with mine and for a moment captured in time, everyone takes in what she’s just said. The bubble breaks, but in the best possible way. There are shocked faces, grins and gasps; congratulations are shouted. Andrea rushes up the steps and wraps her arms around Amelia. Troy storms the steps and wraps me up in a hug which I was not expecting but should have.
Grayson rounds on Blake and asks him if he knew about this and Blake gives a sheepish shrug. Then all four members of Higgin’s Security are huddled together in a heated discussion that Blake apparently wins in the end. I’ll have to circle back to that later because Walsh is giving me a high five and Zeke has the biggest grin on his face as he wraps his arms around Amelia and Andrea since she’s still clinging to my girl.