Page 21 of Damned By His Angel

All I can do is stand there while Nos washes me, dries me off and dresses me in one of his shirts before tucking me into bed. I thought he would leave and go to sleep in his chair but to my shock, he climbs in behind me and spoons me from behind.

I spend the rest of the night fighting back tears, how the fuck could I have been so stupid and let him go?

Three days later…

Ever since the night with Vance things have been different. Cronos can’t seem to get enough of me. Even at work, he finds the stupidest excuse to get me in the back room only for him to rip my clothes off and fuck me. I drew the line at him trying to fuck me on one of the metal slabs, I know I will be on one of those some day but it sure as fuck wasn’t that day! As punishment, he fucked me on the gurney next to Claudette’s body in the chiller room. There is something so taboo about orgasming next to a dead body.

Ever since Beth sent me a text message this morning, I have been filled with nerves. I finally returned to her and Bill’s house last night. Neither of them brought up me staying with Cronos and I appreciated that. I did ask her for a favor but I didn’t think it would happen so soon and now I am nervous as fuck to tell Nos I have to leave an hour early before clock-out time. I finally pluck up the courage twenty minutes before I have to leave to face him. As I enter the back, I find him sanitizing the slabs. Wringing my hands in front of me, I gnaw on my bottom lip.

“Angel, you coming in here for round three?” My cheeks heat but I shake my head. He searches my gaze for a second before he drops his cloth and eliminates the space between us in an instant. He grips my face between his hands and bends at the knees so we are eye level. “What’s wrong?”

“I…” I take a deep breath and force the words out. “I have to leave early and get an ultrasound!” I blurt out.

His brows raise and his mouth parts on an exhale. “Oh.”

I cringe and brace for his anger, but to my surprise he just leans forward, places a chaste kiss to my lips, then steps back. “Let me lock up and I’ll drive you to the clinic.” I stand here gawking at him like he is a two headed snake. I manage to get myself under control after a minute and rush out the front. I snap my phone off my desk and quickly fire off a text to Beth to let her know Cronos is going to drive me and to just meet me there. Call me clingy or whatever you want but since my mom can’t be here I wanted someone there. I never thought Nos would want to come so I asked Beth to come with me.

Five minutes later, I’m sitting beside Cronos in his truck, nerves are riding me hard the closer we get to the clinic. I haven't been able to even look at him. I know it’s childish and wrong but I’m scared for him to come inside the clinic with me because this will make it real. He will see my baby and know that I created the life inside me with another man.

It’s getting harder and harder to keep my secrets. I know there is a wall between us and it’s because of the truths we refuse to tell the other. Maybe if things hadn’t ended like they did he would have trusted me enough to tell me what really happened to Aida. I need to come clean about Colson and tell him why I ran but I’m petrified that he will hate me and think I’m worthless for not knowing my worth sooner. If it wasn’t for what I read on Colson’s phone that night before we left for the pub I don’t know if I would have even thought to flee.

“Angel?” I snap my head toward him and frown at the sight of the worried look on his face.

“Yeah?”

“You good?”

“Of course,” I say in false bravado, he sees right through my bullshit but can’t say more because Beth is there knocking on his window with a bright smile on her face. Her and Bill are amazing and truly great people. I know he wants to press me more but I don’t give him a chance. I hop out of the truck and rush around to hug Beth. I link my arm through hers and drag her toward the clinic without waiting to see if Cronos follows.

Cronos

She’s acting fucking weird!

She chose to seat Beth between us as we waited to be seen, she won’t even look in my direction. When a woman calls her name she drags Beth to her feet and drags her along while I follow, I know she is using the old woman as a shield and I don’t fucking know why. As we enter the room, the woman hands her a gown and tells her to change then hop on the table and the doctor will be in soon to us.

Beth and I claim the two seats beside the bed while Meelz disappears into the bathroom and changes. When she returns, she looks more nervous than a minute ago. Her sudden mood change is starting to piss me off. When I stand to help her onto the bed she flinches away, causing me to frown. Beth pats me on the arm and tells me to take a seat as she helps Amelia get situated on the bed. I’m too wound up to sit down now so I remain standing while Beth fusses over her and makes sure she is comfortable.

The tension in the room is thick—when the doctor enters, it doesn’t lessen. She looks between the three of us and purses her lips but doesn’t comment.

“Hi, my name is Jenny,” she says as she comes to a stop at the side of the bed where the ultrasound machine is.

“Hi,” Meelz squeaks out.

“So…” Jenny peaks down at the clipboard she carries before continuing. “Max, I see here you haven’t had a scan before. Can I ask why?”

Amelia nibbles on her lips and drops her gaze, Beth being the saint she is, answers for her. “The pregnancy was a surprise and she only just learned she was with child.” The lie rolls off her tongue easily and Jenny seems to buy it.

“Oh, well in that case congratulations to you both,” she says as she looks from her to me. My face is stoic and gives nothing away. Amelia doesn’t correct her either and I don’t know why but a part of me is happy she didn’t say I wasn’t the father. “Let’s get you set up so we can take a look at the wee one.” Meelz nods and Beth shifts away and waves me over. I shake my head, trying to deny her but she hardens her features and narrows her eyes. This is the first time I have ever seen her look so angry so I do as she instructed and step forward. She grabs my hand and then places Amelia’s tiny hand in mine as Jenny lifts her gown and squirts some gel shit on her bump.

Jenny presses a button on the remote and the TV at the end of the bed turns on. I start to feel… nervous and I have no idea why I am suddenly feeling… fuck, am I excited to see the baby?

“We are going to check bubs heartbeat, size and make sure everything is traveling along as it should. If you are as far along as you have guessed then we can even reveal the gender today if you like?”

At Jenny’s question, Amelia darts her gaze to me and I answer for the both of us without hesitation. “Yeah,” I croak out. Meelz seems to relax at my answer and it must have been the right thing to say because even Beth pats me on the shoulder. Jenny squirts some blue gel on her belly, then grabs a wand-looking thing and begins moving it over Meelz stomach. Out of nowhere the sound of a strong steady heartbeat fills the room a second before an image of a baby appears on the screen. My mouth drops open in awe and everything around me becomes white noise as I stare at the screen.

Kingsley.

Giving the baby a nickname without seeing it was one thing but now being gifted with such a treasured sight is something else. Amelia squeezes my hand drawing my attention back to her, tears fall from her eyes as she stares at the ultrasound of her baby on the screen.

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