Page 18 of Embrace Me Forever

I hesitate, then blurt out, “I haven’t checked my business phone. I need to see if Hartley Marine has replied. I might have a chance to present more, get further payment. We need the money, Anne.”

She looks at me, understanding dawning in her eyes. “Then why the hell haven’t you checked it? This could be important, Gi.”

I bite my lip, my mind racing. “That number can’t be traced to here or your place. Besides, I don’t know if my cover’s beenblown. My fake contracting stint at Obsidian Moon Interactive could have been uncovered. If they find out the truth, it’s only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down, but I can’t stop now. Not with Coco needing so much.”

Anne steps closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve always been smart about these things. Check the phone, see if they’ve replied. We’ll figure out the rest. Let me get it for you.”

“No! The phone should stay in Denver. And you can never, ever go near that apartment, do you hear me?”

“All right, all right,” Anne says, her hands up saying ‘relax.’

“I just need to see if I’ve got a reply, and I can do something to securely redirect any future calls or emails.”

“Okay. I’ll watch Coco, and you do whatever you need to do,” she says. “Be careful.”

Even though my heart cries at leaving Coco behind, stepping outside feels like a dream after weeks of living within the hospital walls, weathering an emotional apocalypse. The sun warms my face, a stark contrast to the cold, fluorescent lighting inside. For a moment, I close my eyes and breathe in the fresh air, savoring the brief escape. But reality snaps back, reminding me that my errand is about more than picking up a carton of milk.

The city feels strangely unfamiliar after my time in the hospital. Every turn, every streetlight, feels like a small victory as I navigate toward downtown Denver.

A flicker of unease settles in my gut. There’s an old sedan tailing me. The driver wears a hoodie pulled low to obscure their face.

I make an extra turn, then another, trying to shake them off. But they stick with me, matching my every move. Panic builds. I need to lose them.

Taking a sudden right, I speed up, weaving through traffic with desperation and precision. My mind races alongside thecar. Who could be following me? Was it Blake? The driver looks too small to be him. One of his minions, perhaps?

Or is it Cristo? The only time we met, he was in his hoodie, brushing past me in the crowd at Trafalgar Square, slipping me my new passport without even making contact. And from our last call, he was determined to keep his distance.

And then, of course, there’s Bertram. God, please don’t let it be him.

A sickness churns in my stomach. How can the whims of one man wreak such havoc on my life? Reducing me to a wraith, constantly haunted by fear?

I take another sharp turn, my tires screeching, and finally manage to lose the sedan in a tangle of one-way streets. Faced with too high a risk, I abandon my trip. Instead, I double back toward the hospital, my pulse still racing.

Back in the hospital parking garage, I stop and rest my head against the steering wheel. My thoughts swirl in a chaotic mess, trying to piece together the puzzle of who might be after me. I’m playing a dangerous game, and the stakes have never been higher.

As I re-enter the hospital, the sterile air and familiar sounds bring a strange sense of comfort. I’m back in the one place where, for now, I feel somewhat safe. I head to Coco’s room, my steps quickening with anticipation.

Anne asks, “All done?”

I shake my head. “Far from it. Someone’s following me.”

“Shit! What are you gonna do?”

“We’ve got time,” I reassure her—and myself—while mentally calculating how long the remainder of my initial pay will last. “I’ll figure something out.”

The moment I step inside, I see Coco’s tiny body stir. It’s as if she senses my presence, her eyes fluttering open slowly. Her crystarts as a weak wail that quickly shifts into a smile as she sees me.

Tears prick at my eyes. She’s the strong one, and I’m the one crumbling. Her resilience is both inspiring and heartbreaking.

“It’s okay, baby,” I whisper, brushing a kiss on her forehead. “Mommy’s here.”

She coos, her little hand gripping my finger. The world outside this room may be falling apart, but right here, in this small space, I find a fleeting moment of peace.

I sit by her bedside with my sister also standing guard, watching my baby drift back to sleep. I’m going to stay a few nights with her, but I can’t ignore the outside world forever. I need to resume my business with Hartley Marine. There’s too much at stake to let fear cripple me. I have to be smart about it.

My mind starts mapping out a plan, strategies forming amid the chaos. For Coco, I’ll face whatever dangers lie ahead. She needs me to be strong, and I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure she gets the future she deserves.

6

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