Page 95 of Theirs to Take

“Let’s see what I can find,” the technician offered. She put the wand over the gel and moved it around. It felt cold and clammy on Millie’s skin as she spread it around, trying to get a good picture of the baby. She got to work, taking measurements, and assuring them both along the way that the baby looked good.

“Ah,” the technician breathed.

“Can you tell what we’re having?” Millie asked.

She smiled and nodded at Millie,” I can. I’ll write it down and give you each your own envelope. That way, you can make the decision together. Or, if you go your separate ways, you’ll still have your answer.”

“We aren’t going our separate ways,” Ranger insisted. “Millie’s moving in with me once we get back home.”

“I thought that we weren’t telling strangers our business,” Millie challenged.

“Right, sorry,” Ranger grumbled. “I just want you both to know that I’m in this for the long haul. I’m that kid’s father,” he said, pointing to the screen. “I plan on being here for him or her, and for you too, Millie, if you’ll allow it. I’m not going anywhere.” Hearing Ranger say those things to her gave her so much hope, but Millie had been hopeful before. The night that they shared gave her hope that something more was happening between the two of them than just sex, but she was wrong. He only wanted her for one night, but now, he was stuck with her forever. They’d forever be linked by the child that they created that one night together and they were going to have to find a way to get along somehow.

Ranger

Ranger spent most of the afternoon packing under Millie’s supervision while she lay on the sofa and did some work. The doctor was pleased with her blood pressure and said that as long as she took it easy, she could go back home. Millie was ordered to find and check in with her new OBGYN as soon as they got back home and she texted Ruby and got the name of her doctor. He was happy to see that Millie was taking this health scare seriously. It was crazy since he had only just found out about the baby, but he didn’t want to lose them. Ranger knew that Millie still had not forgiven him for shoving her out of his life as he had, but he really hoped that with some time, she’d find a way to do just that. He hoped that it would be before their baby came, but he wouldn’t push her.

His cell phone rang in his pocket, and he was thankful for the break from packing. His back was beginning to ache, and he was ready to sit for a few minutes. “Hello,” he answered.

“Hey man, it’s me. I’m sorry to reach out to you on an unknown number, but we have a problem,” Luke said.

“A problem?” Ranger asked. “It must be a pretty damn big problem if you’re using a burner phone.”

“You know how Joo Wan tracked me to find out where his wife and sons were?” Luke asked. Ranger remembered every terrifying minute of that ordeal.

“Yeah, he tried to kill you and almost took me out too,” Ranger reminded. Joo Wan believed that Luke knew where his wife and sons were, but he didn’t. He was given fake intel while they were both in the military, and he had no idea how to find Wan’s family. But Wan didn’t believe him and tracked down Luke all those years later, trying to get the answers he so desperately wanted. Ranger got involved and called Millie to do some digging around to find out where Wan’s family was. Unfortunately, she found out that they were all dead—killed by Wan’s own government.

“He wants Millie,” Luke said.

“What do you mean by he wants Millie?” Ranger asked. He was trying to be as quiet as possible since Millie was sleeping in the next room. She needed her rest, and he didn’t want to wake her.

“He knows that Millie was the one who found out about his family. I don’t know how and I’m not sure what he wants, but he’s sent out men to find her. They stopped by McTavish today, asking about her. The guy gave me Wan’s business card and told me to have Millie contact him as soon as I heard from her.”

“Shit,” Ranger grumbled.

“That sounds about right,” Luke said. “They said that Wan wants to offer her a job, but we both know what that means. He wants to put Millie on his payroll and that won’t end well for her or any of us, really.”

“And if she refuses?” Ranger asked. “I mean, is turning Wan down even an option?”

“I’m guessing not,” Luke said. “What are you going to do?”

“Well, I can tell you that I’m not coming home with her. I mean, if Wan’s men are already there looking for her, I won’tbring her back to be found. I’m just not sure where we should go. She’s six months pregnant and on bed rest for the next three months. I’m not really sure where I can take her that’s safe for her and the baby.”

“Stay put for the night, and give me time to think,” Luke ordered. “I’m sure that between the two of us, we’ll be able to find you a place to lay low until this passes.”

“This might not ever pass, and then what?” Ranger asked.

“I don’t have the answer for that either,” Luke said. “But I’m willing to give it some thought. There has to be a way to get Wan to back down again.” Ranger thought that had already happened. They gave him the answers that he was looking for, but now, he wanted more, and there was no way that Ranger would let Millie give that asshole what he wanted. Luke was right, if she agreed to work for Wan, he’d lose her, and Ranger just found her again. He wasn’t going to let that happen.

“Thanks for the heads up,” Ranger said. “I’ve got her apartment just about packed up. We’ll need to get out of here sooner than later. If they tracked her to McTavish, they’ll be able to find her here, and her security is crappy.”

“Just give me until the morning,” Luke said. “I’ll have a place for you two to go to by then.”

“Talk in the morning then,” Ranger agreed. He ended the call and debated on whether or not to tell Millie about his call with Luke. She’d want to know but upsetting her wouldn’t be good for her blood pressure. He promised her his honesty, and if he screwed that up now, he might not get a third chance with her. He was going to have to tell her, and that was something that he wasn’t looking forward to.

He waited her out, letting her finish her nap, and the two hours seemed to drag on. “You got a lot packed,” she said, looking around her apartment. After he got off of the phone with Luke, he kicked his packing into high gear.

“Yeah, about that,” he said. “We need to talk.”

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