Page 8 of A Killer's Heart

Over the course of the next hour, we choose our rings, and by the time we return to Boden’s, she’s exhausted. I run a bath for her, then help her out when she’s finished, dry her off, and we call it a day. Spooning her, my heart jumps when I feel the baby kick under my hand, loving that I get to share this with her.

This woman has done the impossible. She stole a killer’s heart.

Chapter 9

Poppy

After swiping through the photos on Annabelle’s phone, I return it to her, telling her, “Your son and daughter are adorable.”

"Thank you,” she beams with motherly pride. “Foster and I are truly blessed. I heard you’re having a girl.” She’s stunning with her black hair and dark blue eyes. It’s hard not to be jealous as I sit here, my belly now so fat I can’t see my feet. “You okay?”

"Does it hurt?" I lean in and whisper.

She laughs, then composes herself and says, "Sorry, I wasn't expecting that question. I will say whatever pain you feel is forgotten as soon as you see your baby. Honestly, yours can't be any worse than Molly's birth." Then she goes on to explain how she had her in their living room.

“Are the crime kings and their wives like a cult?” She snickers at my joke, telling me they’re all very close and spend a lot of time together. "Even with everyone being so spread out?"

"Yes. Duke and Blair are even watching our kids while we’re here."

"Smith seems like an outsider," I comment.

"Not as much as he used to be. He kept to himself a lot in the past.”

I gasp when my daughter kicks, making her presence known. “Wow,” I mutter, “she’s anxious.”

"You’re due soon, right?" I let her know I still have four weeks.

"But I'm so big and tired. And scared." I confess. Annabelle takes my hands, her touch comforting, and assures me that I’ll be okay.

“Smith is a great partner. He'll be there for you through every step." That has me checking the time on my phone. I’m not sure what Smith, Foster, and Boden are doing in the office, but they’ve been in there for hours. I know something is happening based upon some whispers I overheard, but I don’t know if has to do with me or not. “You want to talk a walk?”

It serves to distract me, which I’m sure was her intention. "Is that even allowed?" I sulk as I haven’t left the house since Smith and I went shopping a few weeks ago.

"We won’t go far,” she says, “but Boden has five acres and it’s all heavily guarded.” I really do need to move around as it helps ease the aches and pains. Annabelle helps me up from the couch and we head outside, the fresh air and the smell of the flowers instantly makes me feel better. She links her arm through mine and starts another conversation as we follow the path already in place. I laugh at the stories she shares about her husband and the other couples, but stop abruptly when a sharp pain hits in my side, followed by a second near my groin.

"Oh, god," I whimper as I grab her hand.

"What's wrong? Is it the baby?"

"It hurts," I sob. She eases me to a nearby bench, calling one of Boden’s men over to stay with me. “Get Smith,” I plead, needing him. She promises she’ll be return immediately with him, then removes her shoes and runs back to the house.

"Miss Poppy, should I call an ambulance?" The guard asks. I tell him not until Smith gets here. When I can finally breathe again a few minutes later, I glance up and two men in suits watching me. I’ve seen them around the estate while I’ve been here. One of the men, John, removes a gun from a holster and shoots my guard in the back of the head. What the hell is going on?

I’m yanked to my feet as the other orders me to go with them. I want to fight, but I don’t dare risk it in my condition and my scream is cut off the second I start. Somehow they get me off the property undetected and lead me to a van idling on the far side of the trail. My eyes dart around, wanting to memorize as much as I can, except a rag is placed over my nose and mouth, my body instinctively breathing in to try to get air in my lungs. As everything goes black, I pray for Smith to save us.

* * *

Smith

"This is a huge fucking mess," Foster mutters.

Boden agrees, adding, “I have a feeling this is all connected one way or another."

"The hit on Poppy, Foster's smugglers getting raided, and your mole?" I ask.

"The Donalds have been trying to push more of their drugs to the States and Foster has been selective about what he uses them for,” Boden explains. “Loyalty in our business is everything. The idea he might’ve turned one of ours pisses me off.” Having been betrayed in the past, that is understandably a sore spot for him. Factor in that it was his wife that did it to him…

"Why have so many wars going at once? They aren’t that powerful."

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