Page 166 of Chemistry: The Chemist

“How much longer?” I yawned.

“Four hours.”

“She’ll be ready to eat in two.”

“Then, go to sleep until then. I’ll wake you when she’s ready.”

He was so good with her, so patient and so loving.

“Holding her will spoil her.”

I snuggled up in the seat with a long blanket draped over me. The warning rolled off his shoulders.

“She won’t be the first one I’ve spoiled. I have seven more.”

The heaviness returned. Thinking of Chem’s sisters filled me with gloom.

My brows pulled together as my thoughts surfaced. “They hate me.”

Chem’s lack of response was all the confirmation I needed.

“They’re here, aren’t they?”

“Where?”

“Where we’re headed.”

He nodded. “They are.”

Nine months later we were finally on the plane headed to his sisters. This time, though, there was nothing festive about my mood. I’d just given birth to a child I’d carried for nine months. The newborn stage was a battle in itself. Breastfeeding was an entirely different beast. I didn’t have the bandwidth to defend my honor or my choices against seven women with chips on their shoulders.

“It doesn’t matter whether they hate you or not, Egypt. As long as they respect you, each and every one of them. Now, get some rest. The baby will be fine.”

Trusting him, I closed my eyes and began drifting, again. I’d need the rest to face the mob of women waiting for our arrival.

I fell in and out of consciousness. Each time my eyes unglued themselves, I got a glimpse of Chemistry and her father sleeping peacefully beside me. My blessings were plentiful. A man whom I’d thought I’d lost for good had come back to me. The child we’d created didn’t have to grow up fatherless. And I didn’t have to spend the rest of my life alone, blaming myself for the downfall of an entire family.

I’d connected many of the dots the agency had failed to. I’d unknowingly seduced the head of the operation. And I’d fed my team intel in hopes it would lead to the closing of the case. But, even with all I’d done, Chem had the smoking gun.

The pain and anger he experienced weren’t forgotten, although I’d been forgiven. It rested in his eyes. In his words. In his smile. Finding out I was an agent, at whatever point he’d made the discovery hurt him to the core.

I was awoken by a small, bright light above our seats. Chemistry’s fingers patted my leg, stirring me from my sleep.

“Hmm?”

“We have arrived, Egypt.”

“Hmmm? Where is the baby?”

Nervously, I searched for her seat, wondering where she was and why she was no longer in her father’s arms.

“She’s fine. She’s sleeping in the bed, strapped down in her seat, and ready to go.”

“We’ve landed?” I questioned, lifting the small window to take a peek.

“I’ve said that already, Choc.”

“Sor– sorry. I didn’t hear you.”

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