Page 46 of The (Maybe) Murderer Who Knocked Me Up

Jake’s fingers tremble as he grabs for the edge of the table and stands up. I stand with him, not sure what to say. I’ve never experienced something so horrific. I can understand Slade’s decision now. He arrived to see his brother and a dead body. He knew someone would have to pay for what happened, so he did the time.

He was never dangerous, he just loved his little brother.

I almost reach out to Jake, but then I remember how jumpy he was earlier. A hug from me probably won’t be any comfort.

“Thank you for coming,” I say, instead.

“I swear to you that your little girl is safe with Slade.” He offers me a sad smile. “Until I met my mate, the only time I ever felt safe was when I was with my brother.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. It has a phone number and an address printed in blue ink.

“This is Slade's new number, and that’s our address. You’re welcome to come by anytime.”

It feels like he’s handing me a ticket to a different life—one where I could have a mate, a sex life, and more children. But more importantly, a life where I could have Slade.

It all seems too good to be true.

I think Jake is being honest, though. Maybe it’s the tremble in his fingers or maybe it’s the way he said Chad Avery’s name, like the man was still living and breathing in his mind. I don’t know. All I know is I believe him.

Jake opens my front door and pauses on the porch. “If you’re ever interested, Chime has two uncles who’d love to meet her.” His voice is tentative and unsure. It reminds me a lot of that night six years ago when Slade told me he was no good for me.

It would seem insecurity runs in the family.

“I’d love that,” I say.

His lips quirk up on one side. His smile is similar to Slade’s too.

“Let me get some bread for you before you go.”

He shakes his head. “You don’t need to do that.”

“I want to. Just give me a second.” I rush back into the kitchen and grab the loaf of bread I hadn’t opened yet from the bakery. It’s French bread made with my omega mom’s recipe—the same French bread I used to take over to Slade’s house when we were in high school. I hand it to Jake. “Congrats on your cub, by the way. Maybe your child could use an extra uncle, too?”

Tears well in his eyes. “Yes.”

“Okay. I’ll be in touch?”

He smiles and carries the loaf of bread back to his car.

22

SLADE

The king-sized bed Jake bought for me is glorious. The room is safe, and I’m able to take a long shower all by myself. I should sleep like the dead. But I don’t. My conversation with Jake keeps me up all night.

He thinks I should tell Quin the truth.

I finally give up trying to sleep and get out the phone Jake gave me. Lots of guys smuggled in phones at Sciff, but I never did because it was too much of a risk. The last thing I wanted was a longer sentence because I broke the rules. Having the internet at my fingertips is thrilling after all this time. I can look up anything—watch anything.

I search for Bandit Bakery. Other than a website, which has photos of their products and a list of stores where you can buy them, there isn’t much of a digital footprint, except for an Instagram page.

I download Instagram and go searching again. The Bandit Bakery account has dozens of reels, all with Quin as the star. He’s kneading bread, decorating cookies, or taking a bite of a cinnamon roll. He smiles for the camera, his dimples popping,and God help me. I don’t know if I can live without him now that I’m free in the world.

I fall asleep with one of his reels on repeat. In this one he’s frosting cookies while singing along to a song in the background. He’s smiling and so full of life—nothing like the tortured, confused man who couldn’t decide what to do about our unresolved bond yesterday.

Jake may think I can make Quin happy, but I don’t know anymore.

By the time I wake, it’s eleven in the morning, and Jake has already gone to work. He left me bagels and cream cheese. I eat two of them before my stomach protests. It’s still recovering from all the pizza and wings I ate last night.

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