Part 25 (2/2)

I turned the k.n.o.b, about to enter, when the door opened. Gages eyes flashed with surprise to see me, but his body relaxed in the next second, and his hand slid over my shoulder, walking us back to our room.

”Did I wake you up? Im sorry, there was a call I had to take.”

”I heard.” I returned his honesty with my own, sliding my arm around his bare waist, he was only in his boxers.

The urgency I heard on the phone was absent from him now, and I was trying to keep from jumping to conclusions.

He nodded, waiting till we were in the bedroom to speak. ”Go back to bed. Ive got to go, but Ill make sure someones here to take you to school today.” He sat me on the mattress and disappeared into the closet.

I stayed seated on the edge of the bed, gripping the sheets under my fingers. When he came back out of the closet, b.u.t.toning up his s.h.i.+rt with dark pants on, I questioned him. ”Whats going on?”

He lifted his eyes from his b.u.t.tons, meeting mine, and then shook his head, dismissing the question. ”Nothing you need to worry about.” He stepped close, his hands dropping to my head and sliding down to my shoulders as his lips grazed my forehead. ”Get your rest, and go take your test. Ill be home later.”

I gripped his hands before he could walk away. ”Dont do that.”

He paused, questions in his eyes.

”Dont dismiss me like that. I asked whats going on, and you promised to keep me in the loop.”

He sighed, dropping down onto the bed next to me. ”Its only business. Ians taking on too much at once and not juggling it well. Ive got to go sort it out now, before it becomes anything big.”

”Come on, Gage. I know its not just club business.” I leaned back from him.

He ran his hands over his head. ”I didnt say it was. I said it was business, and it is.” He stood up, pulling his gun holster from a drawer and sliding it over his shoulders. He turned back around, facing me. ”And I meant it, it doesnt involve you, dont worry.” He stepped towards me. ”Ill be home later, Ill fill you in then.” He slid his hand under my hair, behind my neck, not letting me pull away. ”Now, wait for Sal. h.e.l.l take you to school, and you can ace your test.” He pressed his lips to mine and then left the room.

His avoidance of the question stirred my agitation, but I tried to still it. Id hold him to his word of telling me later, but I was too jumpy to go back to bed. Instead, I pulled out my statistics book and spent the next few hours studying, or more like stared at the page of formulas while thinking about what Gage was doing.

I dont know if I aced my test. It was one of those things where I zipped through it unsure if I understood it all or only thought I did and was getting it all wrong. But I know Gage didnt come home like he said he would, and he didnt talk like he said he would.

He slipped into our bed in the middle of the night, pulling me to him and mumbling how much he loved me, like he had been asleep instead of out. But I wouldnt relax in his arms. I couldnt fall back to sleep.

”What happened today?” I asked, not pulling away yet, not wanting to make more of this than I needed to.

He sighed, eyes closed as he held me tighter. ”Everything that could go wrong did. And it took longer to sort out than I thought it would.”

”What went wrong?” I whispered as I turned around in his arms to face him.

He opened his eyes then and gave me a soft smile. ”Just little things. I left them alone too long, and theyve managed to mess up the order I had going. Its going to take a little time to get it all sorted, but thats what Ive got to do.” His soft lips pressed to my forehead and then his eyes closed again. ”Now, shh, lets go to sleep. Its been a long day, and I only have a couple of hours before I have to go back.”

”Wait, you havent really said whats going on. What do you have to do tomorrow?”

His hand moved up and down my back, tired eyes meeting mine, looking for understanding. ”Ive got to oversee an order coming through tomorrow and meet with Viktor after. Like I said, sort it all out. Its only typical business stuff. Now can we please go to bed? We can talk more tomorrow.”

I nodded, letting it go for now. He needed rest, I could tell, and his body was heating next to mine, pulling me back into sleep.

”Bye, Sal.” I wanted to slam the car door, but he closed it for me as I got out.

”You going anywhere else today? Should I wait?”

”No. You can go, but if you see Gage, tell him to call me.” I turned around, not caring to cover my frustration, not waiting for a response as I stepped onto the elevator, heading home.

I pulled out my phone. Still nothing. No missed calls, no text messages, nothing in response to my calls.

He had missed the doctors appointment. Hed been talking about it all week, but he missed it. My muscles pulled between anger and worry. I tried to focus on the anger, that was easier.

The doors slid open to our floor and I went into the condo, holding my breath. But I let it go, with my last bit of hope, when I confirmed it was empty. And still, my phone was frustratingly silent.

I was already in stretch pants, t-s.h.i.+rt, and tennis shoes, and my muscles screamed for release. So I left as quick as I came and went back to the elevator, only going to the gym on the first floor. I debated going to our typical gym, but I wasnt going to let my anger cause me to take risks. Gage had been adamant about Sal taking me everywhere.

I paced myself, making sure to not push too far, listening to my body to tell me when I had enough. Unfortunately that time came too soon, not enough time had pa.s.sed for Gage to call back. And each second that ticked by added to my worry, till it was overflowing. He had wanted to be there today, he had wanted to hear the heart beat. The sound was scarred into my brain; a whoos.h.i.+ng, steady, fast beat. Our baby. Only fourteen weeks.

I showered in the empty gym locker room, not wanting to go back to the empty condo just yet. As I walked out, someone grabbed my elbow, steadying me, holding me in place at the door.

My heart stopped as I looked into Anthonys brown eyes and I tore away from him. ”What the h.e.l.l are you doing here? Who let you in? Youre not allowed in this building.”

The building had security at all entrances; no one was aloud to come in without permission. His sudden appearance was making my head spin and throb.

”You never called.” He held his hands back, but his body still blocked my escape, unless I ran back in the locker room.

”And I wont be calling. I already told you, I dont know anything. Now get the h.e.l.l out of here before I report you.”

”Regan, my offer to help you is about to expire. Its now or never.”

”Never. Now get out.” I crossed my arms, anger filling me. He wasnt someone I would shrink from, and he needed to see I was serious.

”You dont understand. Things are happening, were getting close, and theyre feeling the pressure.” He took a step towards me, losing control of his voice as he tried to convince me. ”People have gone missing, and if you dont come over now, we cant protect you against anything.”

”Help me? You just said people are missing, and you think being seen with you would help me? Get out of here, now.” I was certain his motives had nothing to do with helping me. I stepped towards him, pus.h.i.+ng him back. ”I told you, I dont know anything. But this is my only warning, if you keep bothering me, itll be you that needs protection.”

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