Page 141 of The Catalyst

“You’re not going there because visitation isn’t until Saturday–it’s only Wednesday–and because you haven’t been discharged yet. You won’t be leaving unless it’s with your doctor’s approval and you’ve been properly discharged. Either that, or I can just flip you over and spank your bratty little ass until the shape of my fingers are permanently tattooed on your skin. What do you say? Are you going to behave, or are you going to continue to be a naughty girl for your Daddy?” I arch a brow at her and monitor the way her breath catches, desire flooding her eyes. Her thighs clamp together, and a purr rumbles deep in my chest at her reaction to my words.

I don’t give my crazy girl a chance to respond to my question because we both know either answer could result in me disrespecting her in either a positive or negative light.

Pushing myself up, I climb off the hospital bed and sit back in my chair so I’m not tempted to touch her again.

I swear, if she keeps pushing me, I’ll break, and fuck her in her hospital bed. I need to control myself until she is completely healed and only then can I let the animal out of the cage.

* * *

The doctor wantedto keep Beth in the hospital until Saturday to monitor her for complications, but my crazy girl is nothing if not a pro-negotiator. She fought her case to be released on Thursday instead, and honestly, I needed the break. Constantly being around her and ensuring she was okay weighed on my self-control and patience. I needed these last two days to myself to think back on everything and reassess the situation.

Beth is right. We can’t just wait around on Martin to come through on his promise for two fucking years. She’s either pregnant with my kid, Nigel’s, or my cousin’s. If it is Nigel’s baby, it will destroy him to miss her pregnancy and the birth. We need to figure out how to get him out, but what could we do?

I would love nothing more than for him to be out of her life, but what my uncle probably has in mind for him is way worse than anything the Bastards would do to someone.

“Are you sure you’re ready to do this?” I grumble with irritation as I park in front of the jail, and Beth pulls off her seatbelt.

“I need to find out if he has any ideas of what to do.”

“Are you going to tell him about the baby?” I ask, and she goes silent, her eyes darting back and forth across the dashboard like she’s deep in thought, pensive as ever.

“No.” She gulps before rubbing her hands down her face. “I need a paternity test done…I can’t have a baby with him. I just can’t… He can’t be in there for two years either.” If she doesn’t want to have his baby, that’s up to her. Honestly, the option of terminating the pregnancy would best no matter who the father is. My uncle doesn’t want either of his sons having a child out of wedlock. A baby would just be a connection to Nigel she doesn’t need. Lastly, does anyone need a reminder why procreating with me wouldn’t be in anyone’s best interest?

“Do you want me to go in with you?”

She shakes her head but reaches across the cab and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me in for a hug.

“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice sweet like wine. If my heart could break, it would be doing it right now because she’s in my arms, but she’s not mine. It’s like tasting the best cup of coffee, but you can’t swallow the sip. It’s bittersweet torture, a beautiful disaster.

“I’ll be here when you’re done, baby.” She can destroy me all she wants because I will still be here when she breaks apart through this whole experience.

Something terrible is going to happen, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it because I have no clue where the threat is coming from.

If I didn’t think my crazy girl would succeed in an escape attempt, I would tie her up in my backseat and drive far, far away from this place. Anything is better than her being in danger.

Beth climbs out of the car, walks into the police station, and I sit by, watching those doors. Over an hour passes before the spirited redhead walks out, tears down her face, looking utterly defeated.

I jump out of the car and run over to her, throwing my arm around her as she leans into me. “Beth, what happened?”

Then, a sob leaves her lips, and she buries her face in my chest, but she doesn’t say a single word for a long time.

CHAPTER 57

BETH

The guard asks for my driver’s license and then instructs me to sit and wait to be allowed back into the visitation area to see Nigel. I have no clue how they can expect me to do that. My memory of the day of the accident is still a little blurry after leaving the truck. Oliver told me I collapsed shortly after, but I don’t know if Nigel was harmed during the fight, the arrest, or if he’s had an altercation with other inmates.

I know Nigel can take care of himself, but an irrational part of me is scared that something horrible is going to happen to him.

Taking a seat in one of the few hard plastic chairs made available, I press my hand against my lower abdomen. I know it’s crazy to think my unborn child could give me some sort of advice or strength with a single touch, but crazier things have happened, right?

I have no clue how to help him or get him out of this mess. It’s all my fault, but I’m not the one behind bars.

Pulling out the iPod from my pocket, I slip on my headphones but keep one off my ear so I can hear when they call for me. Alicia Keys’Fallin’plays, and the song both relaxes and terrifies me.

I can’t believe I’m actually pregnant. There’s a life growing inside my stomach, and I have no clue if his or her father is Oliver, Nigel, or Martin. It’s been a while since Martin and I had sex, but he’s still a contender. Also, Nigel and I actually haven’t had sex very much since he dragged me back to Grove Hill. That was only two months ago and I could be further along than that.

I don’t think a paternity test would be possible this early in the game, but what would I know? I have no clue about those kinds of things. I haven’t had any friends who were pregnant. My parents were married before they had me, and I was never in this situation with Shawn.

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