Page 31 of Savior

“Why?” Lauren demanded.

The next basket was filled with sterling silver rattles. I bypassed them and moved on to the swaddling blankets, fighting to hold my emotions in check.

“Answer me, Celia,” she tried again. “Why are you against this?”

“Because.”

Lauren blew out a frustrated breath. “Because, why?”

“Because neither one of you has any idea what you’re up against,” I snapped before holding up a blanket. “Did you see this one, Dakota? It has baby superheroes on it.”

She flicked a small glance toward the blanket in my hand before rolling her eyes. “That’s DC, there’s nothing super about it. Stop changing the subject and tell us why you’re so against this, Mama.”

My forehead dampened with perspiration. I dropped the blanket back into the basket and moved across the store with Lauren and Dakota on my heels.

“Mama… answer me.”

“Because I said so,” I ground out through clenched teeth.

“Why?” Lauren demanded. “Just tell us why. You at least owe us that.”

The fluorescent lights overhead seemed to burn hotter, and a line of sweat ran from my temple down toward my cheek. “Because you don’t know these men.”

“And you do?” Lauren asked. “They killed my mother, Celia. Then, they showed up at my house and tried to kill me. I’m not going to sit back and wait for them to come after someone else I love. And you know they will. As much as everyone wants to pretend it’s over, we both know that it’s not. I’m not willing to sit back and wait to be picked off. What is it that’s holding you back?”

A sales associate made her way toward us with a big smile before taking in the situation. Once she saw our faces, she quickly disappeared back toward the register.

“You’re pregnant,” I admitted softly. “Both of you.”

Lauren shook her head with a bitter laugh. “You know, I didn’t peg you as being a traditional sort of woman, but I guess I was wrong. According to you, I should just be sitting at home, waiting on my blessed arrival, right?”

I spun until I was facing both of them, my chest heaving with each ragged breath. “You’re pregnant, and you think that for whatever reason, it protects you. Not with these men. It makes you a more lucrative target, don’t you see that?”

My hand came up over my mouth, but I pushed the words out. “They won’t hesitate to break your body with theirs, and they won’t stop until the very thing you love has been ripped away from you. They won’t care that you’re pregnant when they leave you bruised and bloody, begging for help that will never come. I can’t let you go after them.”

“Mama, is that what happened to you?” Dakota whispered.

Lauren sucked in a sharp breath. “Jesus.”

My eyes stung with tears that wouldn’t come, and I hitched my purse up on my shoulder before moving toward the front door. I didn’t stop until I reached Jamie’s truck.

After climbing in and locking the doors behind me, I let my head fall against the steering wheel with a soft thud. I’d admitted my worst fears and released my demons all in one breath. I had to hope it was enough to keep them from doing something stupid.

My phone vibrated from inside my purse, and I fumbled for it without lifting my head. My fingers closed around the rectangular shape, and I pulled it into my lap.

Can you come by now? I don’t feel comfortable leaving the cash somewhere for you to pick up.

For two people who hadn’t lost a minute of sleep stealing from my kids over the years, it seemed as if my parents had suddenly decided to grow a conscience.

Their insistence would’ve made sense were Jamie still around, but as far as they knew, he was dead.

Why were they in such a rush now?

I’ll be there in fifteen.

I quickly tapped the reply and leaned back in the seat. What I wanted to do was go home and clear my head, or maybe rewind back to a time when Dakota knew nothing of biker clubs.

My phone began buzzing again before switching over to the truck’s system. When Angel’s name flashed across the display, I cleared my throat and picked up. “Hey.”

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