Page 11 of All Our Secrets

“Silas—”

“Call the cops. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

The line went dead.

Then I peed on myself.

But when I looked down, the drenched spot on my sleeping pants was easy to see andfeel.

Not pee.

My stomach tightened into a ball, and I doubled over.Oh no.

“Peyton!” Gerald, Theodore’s dad, shouted from downstairs.

Oh thank God.

Chapter Five:

baby, I’m home

Silas

Every light in the house was on when I pulled into Peyton’s driveway. My throat felt like sandpaper as I opened the truck door. Without turning off my engine, I yanked the pistol off my hip and ran for the open door.

“Peyton!” I shouted.

“Rosie took her to the hospital.” Gerald sounded like he was upstairs as he yelled.

Hospital?

My body turned to stone, and I rushed up the steps. Gerald was checking a closet when I found him. “What happened?”

“Her water broke.” My eyes bulged, and Gerald added, “It would have happened any day.”

Anger pulsed at the back of my skull. “Where’s the fucker who broke in?”

Scratching his balding head, he frowned. “There’s no one here. I’ve checked every inch of this house.”

Gritting my teeth, I hurried downstairs and stalked around. I opened every cupboard, checked beneath the sink and the curtains, and then went outside to search.

By God, I’d kill a fucking rat if that’s what upset her.

“There’s no one here, King.” Gerald followed me.

I whirled around and glared. “Someonecaused Peyton to go into labor tonight. If we don’t find them, they may come back.”

“She and Junior can stay with us when they come home from the hospital.”

I scoffed. “Not going to happen. You know Peyton.”

Gerald chuckled. “It’s going to be all right.”

Damn this old man.He had been this way since I’d befriended Theodore in first grade. Such a relaxed person. I couldn’t remember a time in my life that he’d gotten mad or worked up over anything. It was irritating as fuck. Someone breaking into Peyton’s home was a big deal. The blood throbbing in my temples right now would have me killing the fucker if I saw him.

“What are you doing here anyway?” Gerald asked.

I stiffened, my chest tightening. I had a valid reason for coming to Peyton’s aid, but guilt swallowed me whole any time I was by her side. Because nothing about my feelings was innocent. And sometimes that disgusted me.

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