Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
“If it was an explosive? Hazardous chemicals? Something else dangerous?” Matt leaned on the railing and clenched his fists. There had been a bag he hadn’t seen, and he’d been too wrapped up in Madison to even notice something potentially lethal. “Shit.”
He was compromised—no question. Motherfucking son of a bitch. His carelessness could have cost Madison her life.
He couldn’t run that risk again.
“Thankfully, the bag contained prenatal vitamins.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“So I went on a little fishing expedition while you two were out here.” Ethan pulled some paperwork from under his shirt and passed it to Matt. “I confirmed. These are her discharge instructions from the hospital.”
With shaking hands, Matt scanned them until, under the follow-up section, he read: Consult an obstetrician and schedule an early pregnancy exam.
The papers nearly fell from his numb fingers. Some primal part of him was thrilled as fuck that she was having his child and that they would be tied together forever. The realistic side of him was terrified that a baby was a weapon the Pershings could use against them. “Fuck. I don’t know when she got pregnant.”
Ethan shot him an incredulous stare. “Any of the billion times you two banged in the last month.”
“We were careful.”
Except that morning in the fucking motel, after he’d been crazy with worry following Nash’s stabbing and Madison’s disappearance. He hadn’t been inside her in three years, and he’d lost all semblance of sanity. He’d gone in bare.
He’d gotten her pregnant and changed their lives forever.
Surreal didn’t even begin to cover how Matt felt.
“Shit happens.” Ethan shrugged.
Yep. And Matt took responsibility. After all, Madison hadn’t gotten pregnant on her own. The question was, why hadn’t she told him? But that seemed obvious, too. She wanted this divorce. She wanted a life free from the Pershings, and if he’d wanted to yank her from this dangerous situation after Todd’s stunt at the rally, Matt felt even more compelled to closet her somewhere safe now that he was protecting two lives.
He also knew damn well he couldn’t force her to give up on regaining her freedom.
That meant he had to change tactics and find some way to give her the outcome she needed while ensuring she and the baby stayed safe. He didn’t see many avenues for that. Just one, and she would hate him for it.
“I have to make some phone calls.” Matt would start with the bosses and work his way around them if they left him no choice, but he hoped it didn’t come to that. “Will you stay with Madison? Protect her?”
Ethan seemed to understand that he alluded to more than this moment. “As long as you need me to.”
“Thanks…friend.”
Thirty minutes later, Matt had conferred with his bosses. They all agreed with his assessment. Madison stood a better chance of surviving the Pershings if he forfeited his role as her bodyguard. He couldn’t be distracted by her, and he couldn’t be a distraction for her.
With plans in place, Madison and the baby should soon be safe. Nothing else mattered, not his fear that he’d made all the wrong choices, which was raging. Not his worries about the future he might not get to share with her, which were growing. And especially not his heart, which was already fucking breaking.
Of course, he would sit Madison down and explain his rationale. She was smart, and normally he’d be optimistic that she would agree with his decision. But her history with past hookups ghosting her and the resulting insecurities left Matt less sure. And if she read his attempts to protect her as him skipping out, would he ever convince her to trust him again?
He didn’t know, and it was killing him.
The patio door snicked shut, and he whirled to find Ethan. “Pizza is here.”
“I’ll eat later.” Food wasn’t important. He had one more crucial phone call to make.
“Madison is wondering why you’re hanging outside. If I had to guess, she’s worried you’re avoiding her.”
Not intentionally, but he’d rather not explain his decision until all the plans were in place. She’d balk, and he fully understood why. And Matt couldn’t deny that he was acting before conveying his plans—exactly what he’d reproached her for less than an hour ago. But her safety was more important than her feelings. Than his, too. He wouldn’t be able to breathe and stop worrying until he solidified her protection. “I’ll be there in a few.”
“What the hell are you up to?”
“I’m making some…alternate arrangements.”
“What kind?”
Matt considered his options, then shook his head. “I’ll fill you in soon. Go eat pizza. Make sure Madison gets enough and stays hydrated.”
“What the fuck? An hour ago, you didn’t want me to take care of your woman in any way. Now, if I’m reading you right, you want me to take care of her and your baby for the foreseeable future? Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you’re not doing something stupid.”