Page 135 of It's Always Us

He offers his hand. “I took video. We’ve got something solid to work with. I’ll be leaking this ASAP.”

“Keep me updated. The sooner we get something locked in, the better.”

He pats me on the back and then steps away. “Keep training, Mark. I’ll be in touch.”

I laugh, alive and ready to get down to business. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let my past ruin everything I’ve worked for. I certainly won’t let it steal one more second of my time with Lex.

I climb into the SUV and toss my duffle onto the passenger seat. I dig for my phone to notify the pilot I’m on my way.

Lex’s name appears next to a voicemail notification, and my chest swells with the need to see her.

I press the button to start the car and put the phone to my ear. I listen to her tell me she’s leaving her appointment.The one I should have been at.Her sad, unsteady voice all but begs me to call her. I want to ram my head into the steering wheel for letting her do this on her own. Again.

I back out of the parking spot and proceed toward the security gate. On the line, she pauses and sniffs before she says she can’t do it without me. Someone might as well rip my heart out and throw it under the car so I can run over it. I hate myself all over again.

The gate opens, and I drive through as she apologizes. Then, I slam on my brakes as I listen to horns and then what sounds like a blast of crumpling metal before dead silence.

I pull the phone away to check the screen and put it back to my ear. Nothing. I hit dial and call her as the gate tries to close but bounces back up.

It goes straight to voicemail, and my stomach churns with such force I fling the door open just in time for all the contents to splatter against the asphalt.

I spit and breathe, my stomach emptying again. When I’m certain I’m done, I close the door, letting my head fall to the headrest as tears crest my eyes. All I can see is her face. My hands feel the gentle bump, bump, bump as I slide them across her belly.

I hear her voice quiver as she tells me she needs me. Tears run down my face. I blink them away while my shaky hand scrolls to Cal’s number. I put the car in drive as it rings, flooring it.

When there’s no answer, I hit his number again, my heart hammering as I speed through stoplights to the private airport. There’s no plane that can get me there fast enough.

I feared what I would face reliving my past, but I was a fucking idiot. I can’t even let my mind acknowledge what I could face when I touch down. The terror is so intense my entire body vibrates. I need someone to answer the damn phone and tell me that she and our babies are all right.

Please, baby. Please don’t leave me. Please.

Chapter 42

LEX

I blink as the last bits of light filter through the large window that expands the wall of my hospital room. I try to survey the room, but a throbbing ache prevents me from moving too quickly.

I reach for my forehead, where the searing pain burns. My fingers run over the bumps of the bandage where they stitched my skin back together.

“Hey.” My mom pulls a chair over next to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been hit by a truck.” My voice is low and scratchy.

“It’s good you didn’t lose your sense of humor.” Her hand falls on top of mine, and her voice softens. “You scared me. You know that?”

I meet my mom’s soft eyes. We have our differences, but she’s still my mom and I know now more than ever that she loves me.

“Where’s Grandpa?”

“He’ll be back soon. He went to get Bree to bring her to see you. I’ll take her home and stay with her tonight.”

I remember the doctor advising me to stay overnight to monitor the babies. I twist to see the narrow strip printing as it records.

“So far so good.” My mom smiles, clearly following my gaze. “They must be two very content babes in there.”

I spread my hands over them, so thankful it brings tears to my eyes.

“Shhh.” My mom’s hand runs over my hair, smoothing it back. “They’re fine. You’re fine.”

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