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"Jordan," she said. "Jordan, wake up, baby. Open your eyes."

I knew that voice.

I loved that voice.

When I finally managed to get my eyes to open, I found myself staring into the face of my mother.

"Jordan," she was crying as she cupped my face in her small hands. "Baby, no."

"I love you, Mom," I whispered, and then there was only darkness.

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Chapter Thirty-Eight

Hope

When I pulled up outside South Peak Road, it was with a heavy heart and a tear streaked face. Of course, I had driven straight to Hunter's apartment complex down on Tenth. But after countless times knocking on the door and calling his switched off cell, I had given up and driven here.

What concerned me now, though, wasn’t the pain in my heart, the fear of impending motherhood, or the reddish blotch stains on my cheeks.

It was the sight of my father's shiny, black Range Rover parked mere feet from mine.

He was back.

Alarm bells began to ring instantly; the image of my grandfather's face rising to the fore point of my mind.

Why was my father here?

Had something happened?

Did he know?

No, Noah wouldn’t tell him…would he?

My parents knew first-hand all about David Henderson and how toxic and dangerous he was, but that didn’t mean I wanted them to know about that night. The natural urge to protect my family from danger and unnecessary pain was overwhelming.

Alongside Dad's Range Rover were two more – because, yeah, we were a SUV kind of family – different only in color.

Silver for Cam.

Blue for Colt.

Oh fuck.

Unbuckling my seat belt, I braced myself for the torrential downpour, climbed out of my truck, and hurried up to the front door, not stopping until I was inside.

Shaking myself off in the hallway, I listened to the hum of familiar voices, and headed straight for the kitchen.

It was in said kitchen, that I found every adult member of my family sitting around Noah and Teagan's huge table.

Cameron, Colton, Logan, and Noah were sitting alongside each other. Mom, Dad, and Derek sat opposite them.

Sitting at the head of the table, and I took a mental note of seeing her at the helm, was my tiny best friend.

Teagan looked every bit the ruthless dictator as she leaned back in her chair and drummed her fingers against her huge belly.

Whatever they had been talking about came to an abrupt stop when I walked into the room and asked, "Family meeting?"

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