Page 34 of Last Resort

Chance’s jaw was tight. He drew on every bit of love and respect he’d ever seen between his mom and dad. Clinton and Sheila had some fights, but in the end, their respect and admiration for each other won out over any arguments.

He grabbed Maci’s hand gently, grateful when she didn’t snatch it away. “Maci, your cover is blown. If it was any of my brothers I would say the same thing. We need to regroup and come at this a different way. Please help us do that.”

“What about Stella?”

“She’s still out of the country. Between us and her other security team, we’ll keep an eye on the situation and find the stalker before she comes back in the country. She’s safe, we’ve got time, but you going undercover is no longer viable. Agreed?”

Maci sighed. “Agreed.”

That took one problem off Chance’s list. Now only a thousand more to go.

Chapter Ten

After another round of vital checks and a clear CT, Dr. Ashburn agreed to release Maci. While the rest of his family went home to grab some sleep, Chance stayed so he could take her home. The shock of learning about the baby hadn’t worn off, but his trepidation had.

His brothers would spend the bulk of tomorrow following up on what happened tonight—finding out what they could about Bert and Ernie and checking all the footage from the apartment building. He trusted them to handle it thoroughly, because he wouldn’t be there.

Maci was pregnant with his baby, and he was going to be there for them both. Whatever it took. He’d already sent Weston by to get a bag of his clothes and necessities, because he wasn’t going to leave Maci alone. Not today. Not tomorrow. If he had his way, notever.

The sun was starting to come up as they got her discharged and wheeled out to the car.

“What’s with the bag?” She nodded to the duffel in the back seat.

“Clothes for me. I’m taking you home and I’m going to stay with you for a few days.”

She let out a small sigh. “Chance, this isn’t necessary. The stalker isn’t after me, he’s after Stella. I can take care of myself.”

“That’s all true, but I want to be there anyway.” He sighed, running a hand over his face. “It’s been a rough twenty-four hours, and I’d just feel better if I was close to you. You and the baby. Is that okay?”

She looked like she was going to fight him until she caught sight of his face. Something in his expression convinced her otherwise. “Okay.”

“I thought you were going to fight more on this,” he admitted with a laugh.

“I know Dr. Ashburn wants to make sure I’m monitored for a while. And you’re right. We’ve all been through a lot the last few days.”

It wasn’t until Chance put the car in Drive that he realized he didn’t know where she lived. They’d spent nights at his house and days together in the office, but he’d never gone to her place.

Not that he hadn’t wanted to. It was just how things had always ended up. Was that part of the reason she hadn’t wanted to immediately tell him she was pregnant? Part of the reason she stopped wanting to see him a couple months ago? She thought he wasn’t interested in her life?

“Uh, I don’t know where you live.”

She nodded then gave him directions as he drove. The farther they went, the more Chance’s frown grew. It wasn’t the worst area of town, but it wasn’t anywhere he wanted Maci and their child to be. When she directed him to pull into an older apartment’s parking lot, he tried to refrain from making any comments. The window frames drooped with water damage, and the squat buildings themselves had definitely seen better days.

Maybe he could convince her to move in with him before the baby came. It would be a tough sell, but he would try. Even as uncertain as everything was, he wanted the three of them to be a family.

In the meantime, he’d stay with her wherever she was.

He found a spot close to the doors and helped her out of the car—despite her grumblings that she wasn’t an invalid—giving her space once she was steady on her feet.

They made their way to her apartment silently, with Chance taking everything in and Maci watching him. She seemed to shrink the closer they got, like she was embarrassed.

“It’s not pretty, but it’s home.”

He shrugged. “I’ve lived in worse places.”

Hell, he’d spent most of his childhood in worse places.

“Yeah?” She glanced at him as they rounded the final bend in the stairs. Chance tried not to read into her expression too much.

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