Page 36 of Ex-SEAL Bad Boy

“I moved out when I was seventeen and a half. They didn’t care.”

“What happened then?”

“I should think that would be obvious,” she rolls her eyes. “He got me preggers. It was actually kind of funny when I told him. I thought he was going to have a heart attack or something.”

The evil grin on her face indicates she’s clearly enjoying the mental image.

“So, they’re taking care of you then? Making sure you have everything you need?” Sophia asks.

“Yeah, but it’s weird. This doctor they have me seeing has a clinic set up in his home; it’s all pretty modern, and he has all the equipment, like an ultrasound and different machines, but I just thought it would be at a hospital or something.”

“He’s not mistreating you or anything, is he?”

“Oh no, actually, he’s nice. He doesn’t treat me like I’m stupid or anything like Harry sometimes does.”

Lena seems cheerier than she was when we arrived. Maybe it’s the chance to open up to someone who cares about her and what she’s going through.

I’m glad Sophia agreed to stay in this.

“Where are you staying now?” I ask.

“Rodney has been putting me up at the Oakbourne Suites off Highway 603. It’s nice. I have my own kitchenette and everything, but I have to check in with them if I go anywhere. They say it’s for my safety, but I’m not sure about that.”

I’m aware of the Oakbourne Suites, which are pretty swanky accommodations. I know rooms there rent for upwards of five grand a week. Whoever is footing the bill for this is investing some serious cash.

“Let me tell you a little about us, so you know that if you decide to allow us to adopt your little boy or girl—and it doesn’t matter to us which one it is—he or she will be well cared for.”

“Sophia and I both currently work. I’m an investment banker, and she works in public relations. As soon as the baby comes, she’ll quit to commit full-time to caring for the child.”

“We’re well off financially, so the child will have everything they need, the best schools and medical care, whatever they need. We’ve already started a college fund, so the educational expenses will be fully covered when the time comes.”

“If you need anything, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call.”

I slip her a business card I had mocked up with my name and cell number on it.

“We’ll be going now, but hopefully, we’ll see you again before the baby is born to discuss the particulars. I’m sure Mr. Pierce will keep us abreast of your progress. Thank you for meeting us.”

Her smile drops as we head for the car.

“Oh my God,” Sophia exclaims once she closes the car door, reclining her head against the headrest. “This is fucked up. She’s just a child—or she was when this all started.”

“The legal age in Virginia is eighteen, so Harrison has committed statutory rape at the very least. It also looks like Lena is being essentially held hostage. I’m pretty sure they’re keeping her on a tight leash to keep her quiet.”

“And she did seem to act like she thought someone was following her,” she observes.

“She might not be wrong about that,” I say, inclining my head to the left. “That car over there with the tinted windows, I saw it parked at the beach yesterday.”

“Someone’s following us?”

“It appears so.”

“I didn’t say anything earlier,” Sophia admits, “but I believe someone was in my house yesterday while we were at the beach.”

“This morning, I kept telling myself that it was just my imagination, but when I got back yesterday, the curtains in my bedroom were open and my Apple watch wasn’t where I left it.”

“All the doors and windows in the house were locked, and I searched everywhere but found nothing else amiss.”

“I can’t figure out why anyone would want to keep an eye on us now. We haven’t indicated that we’re not following the plan to the letter.”

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