Page 67 of Crime Lord’s Captive

“Can I come with you?” She needed to get out of the house and didn’t want to chance letting something slip to Carmen or Manny who she was sure would be ecstatic. Logically, the chances of getting pregnant were slim. She had the IUD for nearly a decade and recently took the morning after pill. It would be a miracle if she got pregnant in the two days of unprotected sex with Gavin but it was a possibility.

“Of course. How have you been, honey? Is this your new number?”

“Yeah. Let me get ready and I’ll be over.”

A pause and then, “With Gavin?”

“No. Just me.” She grimaced, “Maybe Blade.”

“I don’t know how your father’s going to feel about that.”

“Blade will stay outside,” she said as she went into the closet and paired a dress with a jacket and gladiator style sandals.

“Okay. Well, I’ll see you soon.”

Lyla put on enough makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes and hurried downstairs. When she opened the front door, she came face to chest with Blade. Once again, his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“I’m going to see my mom,” she said.

His brows arched. “Why?”

A valid question since she left her parent’s house in a hurry last time. But, her mother was her mother. “Because.” When he didn’t budge she said, “You don’t have to come with me. I can drive myself.”

“Not likely. Does Gavin know?”

She’d been hoping to avoid that. “I don’t want to bother him. He must be really busy if he didn’t come home yet.”

“Call him.”

It was part dare, part demand. She could see that Blade wouldn’t budge without Gavin’s consent. Lyla clenched her teeth as she pulled the phone out of her pocket and found his name under contacts. She turned away from Blade and paced to the fountain as the phone rang.

“You’re up early,” Gavin said.

“Yes.” She paused, mind going blank with nerves before she said in a rush, “I want to see my mom.”

A short pause. “I’m going to be finished in a couple of hours. I was hoping to be home before noon to spend time with you.”

“I’ll be back before then. I just need to talk to her.”

“Okay.”

She swallowed hard. “Thanks. See you later.”

“Call me if you need anything.”

“You’re okay?” she asked belatedly.

He chuckled. “Of course.”

“Okay. Just checking.”

“Bye, baby girl.”

She hung up and watched the early morning sun light up the desert. When she turned, she saw Blade on his phone. She crossed her arms, wondering if Blade called Gavin to make sure she had been talking to him or whether Gavin was making arrangements. Honestly, it didn’t matter. When Blade opened the back door of an SUV, she climbed in the back seat and was surprised when he climbed in beside her. Two guards sat up front. No one spoke and the tension got on her nerves. She leaned against the window and watched them approach the city.

“I want a donut,” she said absently.

“What kind?” Blade asked.

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