Page 41 of Storm

“Uh, yeah. Considering I’ve been puking my guts out for weeks and my tits feel like they’re on fire. Oh, and you know, the positive pregnancy test and doctor’s visit really helped it sink it.” I lean to the side to glare back at Kevin. “Which I fucking told you in my email.”

Snorting, the blonde involves herself once more. “So classy. Could you be anymore disgusting or crude?”

I swear to God, if this woman doesn’t shut her fucking mouth, I’m going to kill her.

Finally, I turn to Ezra, who sits up under my attention. “If someone doesn’t get her out of here while you all hold mehostage, I’m going to scream until the windows shatter. I’m sure our buddy, Dick, over there won’t appreciate the draft.”

“Anything you want,” he purrs, then stands as if he’s an uncoiling snake, ready to strike at his prey.

“Knock it off, Ez,” Richard snaps. “Can we please get this dealt with? Ezra, congrats on becoming a father. Would you please leave my cabin since you broke in, uninvited?”

My pulse feels as if it’s pounding through the skin of my neck, and a headache is building behind my eyes. “Or we could congratulate you.”

That renders everyone silent once more, freezing Richard. I swear I see fear and want battling within him, and I’m curious as to why. It’s no secret this man despises me.

It’sherthat jerks everyone back. I’m shocked to find her standing only a few feet from me now, unsure when she moved closer. “What’d you do? Think he’d be a nice paycheck? Oh God, did you baby trap him?”

I should feel ashamed because I’m not typically a physically aggressive person, but I’ll blame the hormones for my violence over the past six hours.

Snapping my arm out, I strike her across the face, hard; the sound reverberates through the room. It’s Tatum who bands an arm around this woman’s waist and drags her away, screaming like a rabid hyena. “Toss me your keys, Rich.”

We all sit quietly, listening to her screams as the two of them move further from the cabin, then a door slam after a car engine starts. It’s a few minutes with muted arguing. I assume she and Tatum are arguing through the window, but eventually the car leaves.

Fucking great. That’s one less car I can escape in.

Tatum returns, throwing a punishing glare at Richard as I sink into the chair behind me to bury my face in my hands. I just need to press on my eyes to alleviate this headache, butit intensifies when fuckingRichardopens his fucking mouth again.

“Christ, she’s fucking crying now.”

Growling to myself, I squint against the light to kill him with my eyes. “I’m not crying, you fucking moron. I have a goddamn headache. Your banshee really knows how to hit those ear-piercing notes and now I’m paying for it.”

Coming closer to me, he jabs a finger in my direction. “Considering you weren’t invited, I don’t think you have anyone to blame but yourself.”

“What part ofI was brought here unwillinglydo you not understand?” Turning to Tatum, I ask, “Is he really this oblivious to his surroundings? I worry about his clients.”

The corner of Tatum’s lip curls up, pride filling his face. Instead of answering, he just shoots me a wink, then sits on the ground in front of me when I lower my head a bit, but keeping them all in view. There’s a sharp pain knifing its way through my temples now and I’m actually concerned I’m going to puke.

“Right, like Ezra actually kidnapped you and brought you tothiscabin.” He side-eyes Ezra, who’s nodding his head quickly, proud of himself.

Kevin rubs his temples. “Fucking hell, Ez.”

“Can we just focus on the most important thing right now?” Tatum calls out, eyeing me worriedly. “How are you feeling, Miri?”

“Pregnant,” I bite out, then sigh. “Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush. Obviously,someonein this room has some powerful swimmers to break through my birth control.”

Richard and Kevin decide to sit, now that the energy is less volatile in the absence of their guest. I don’t miss the warning glare Kevin delivers Richard with. Hopefully it means to play nice. He turns to me. “Why didn’t you tell us earlier?”

For the sake of my head, I temper my anger. “Ididtry,” I bite out. “I called your office multiple times, left messages with your receptionist, and sent emails. You,” I direct to Richard, “I called, but lucky me, I was threatened with a lawsuit which I can’t afford because, you know, I have to save for a fuckingbabynow. Dick move, by the way.”

“You didn’t try contacting me?” Tatum asks. I’m not sure if he feels hurt, but I explain because I just don’t have the patience tonight for soothing egos.

“I didn’t know where you worked, but I did my best to search for both you and Ezra on social media. He doesn’t have anything out there, but I did message you a few times.”

His eyebrows raise, and a sheepish look grows when he rubs at the back of his head. “Yeah, I’m not really on those anymore.”

“I gathered.” Looking around at all of them, mixed feelings across the board, I feel disappointed. I’m just not sure why. “Look, I tried to tell you all, but this is a thing. I’m sorry it worked out this way. If any of you want to keep in contact until the baby is born, give me your numbers again so I can unblock them on my phone. Otherwise, I’d really like to go home.”

Kevin clears his throat. “I know it’s not ideal, but would you consider sleeping here tonight? It’s pretty late and you’re a long drive from here. It’ll give us all a chance to absorb this and we can talk in the morning? I’ll drive you home myself once we’re done, if you’re comfortable with that.”

---