Page 35 of Ex-SEAL Bad Boy

I think we look like the perfect young professional couple.

We’d driven Sophia’s Audi rather than my car so as not to arouse suspicion that we were anything other than what we purported to be.

I feel we’re being watched, most probably by the lawyer, Rodney Pierce, who set this up, or one of his lackeys. I’d never met Pierce, but know him by reputation.

“So, you must be the couple who want to adopt my baby,” she said flatly, showing no emotion.

This is certainly not the reaction I would expect from a mother who is meeting the adoptive parents for the first time.

I don’t expect her to be exactly jumping for joy, but some display of at least hopeful anticipation would not be out of place.

I smile at her, trying to reset the mood.

“Yes, I’m Ethan Blackwood and this is my wife, Sophia. We’ve been married for three years and trying to have a baby with no success. The doctors aren’t sure what exactly is wrong but suggested we look into adoption. Our lawyer contacted Mr. Pierce, who told us about your situation.”

She studies us critically before responding.

“About what I expected,” she says blandly. “Rich young couple. At least you’re better than Harry.”

“Harry?”

“Yeah, Harrison Whitmore.”

“Um, I’m not familiar with him.”

She looks around as if she thinks someone might be watching her, then nods toward the door. “Mind if we sit outside for a bit?”

“No,” Sophia pipes up, “Lead the way.”

We find a table on the sidewalk and Lena sits down, glancing around with a concerned look.

“Sorry, that Rodney guy creeps me out. I think he might have someone watching me. Ever since he came to me and said he could help me, I’ve had a bad feeling about him.”

“He came to you?” I ask curiously.

“Yeah, I mean, when I first found out I was pregnant, I knew I’d probably have to give the baby up since Harry didn’t seem to want to have anything to do with it.”

“Then, a few weeks later, he starts talking about wanting custody. Harry treated me like shit when we broke up, so I didn’t want him to have anything to do with my kid.”

“What about Rodney?”

“I really didn’t know what to do. I mean, it’s not like I have any money, right? Then, out of the blue, Rodney pops up, saying he “heard,” she makes air quotes with her fingers, “that I was in trouble and needed help.”

“I had questions, but he said he could help me with my problem, make sure that I had money, and ensure that Harry didn’t have anything to do with my baby. That was enough for me.”

“Lena, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how old are you?”

She hesitates as if unsure whether or not to answer.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I am ‘of age.’ I turned eighteen about four months ago.”

“But you weren’t that old when you started dating Harry?”

She smiles slyly. “You definitely don’t know Harrison Whitmore then. He likes ’em young. Hell, he started fucking me when I was sixteen.”

She laughs loudly when she sees the shocked look on my and Sophia’s face.

“My daddy worked for him and took me to his house one day when I was off school. It didn’t take much. Mom and Dad worked all day. Sometimes, I’d go over to his house, and they had no clue.”

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