Page 103 of Omega's Refuge

Shocked he’d taken hold of me, I tried to wrench my arm free. “Steve, have you lost your mind?” He’d always been a hot head, but things had never gotten physical between us.

“Hey, what are you doing?” growled Rex, stepping forward. “Get your hands off him,now.”

“Fuck off, cowboy, he’s mine not yours.” Steve struggled to get control of me as I wrestled in his grip. “Stop fighting me, T.”

“No,” I rasped breathlessly. “I’m not going anywhere with you. You’ve gone off the rails, Steve. Jesus. Let me go or I’ll call the cops.” As I finished speaking, I yanked my arm hard and managed to get free of Steve’s grip.

Unfortunately, during the struggle with Steve, I’d unintentionally inched closer to the stairs. When Steve let go of me suddenly, I lost my balance and with a yelp, toppled down the stairs.

Chapter Nineteen

Dazed, I stared at the coarse cement that pressed against my cheek. Its gritty surface was embedded with tiny, jagged stones that shimmered faintly in the sunlight filtering through the stairwell. My head throbbed and one of my arms ached as if sprained. I couldn’t tell if anything was broken, and then panic shot through me as I realized I’d landed on my stomach.

Rex reached me first. He swore under his breath as he gently ran his hands over my back, arms, and legs. “Are you okay, Tanner?” His voice shook with concern. He slipped his hand beneath my face, to protect my skin from the rough ground. “Is anything broken?”

“I don’t know,” I mumbled, managing to push up on my arms, and shifting my body so that I could sit on my rear. Dizzy, I touched my stomach protectively. “The baby,” I murmured, fear eating me alive. “I landed on my stomach, Rex.”

“Yes.” Rex’s face was grim.

Steve reached us, his cheeks pale. “Jesus, are you okay, T?”

I glared at him. “You asshole. I could have broken my neck. What if I hurt the baby?” Myvoice trembled with rage. “What if Ilosethe baby?” My voice broke.

“I’m sorry.” He truly looked horrified. “I didn’t mean for you to fall down the stairs.”

“You had no business putting your hands on him,” growled Rex. His eyes were a golden brown, and he looked like an angry wolf. “It’s your fault he fell.”

All the fight had gone out of Steve. He simply looked emotional and ashamed. “Are you okay, T? Is anything broken? Please tell me you’re okay.”

I didn’t really care about my own injuries. All I could think about was the baby. I ignored his questions, my eyes blurring with tears as I rubbed my stomach. If I lost the baby, that would be devastating on so many levels. The worst, of course, would be the baby would be gone, but there was also the complication of me and Rex. If the baby was gone, so was his reason for claiming me.

“Can you stand?” Rex asked gently.

“I… I think so.” I grabbed his offered hand, and he pulled me slowly to my feet.

I winced because my legs felt bruised and shaky, but I was able to stand. “I think I’m okay,” I said, brushing off my jeans. My palms were scraped and burning from trying to stop myself from falling down the stairs.

Rex put his arms around me. “Thank goodness.”

Uneasiness fluttered through me when I felt a slight cramping sensation in my lower abdomen. “The baby might not be okay though.” My voice was muffled against his chest.

He pulled back to study me. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure. I… I think I feel some cramping.” I grimaced. “It might just be my imagination.”

Rex studied me, a line between his brows. “We really need to get you to the ER right away.”

“Yeah.” I nodded.

My gaze met Steve’s over Rex’s shoulder, and he looked miserable. “I really didn’t mean for you to get hurt, T.”

I believed him, but I was still too angry and worried about the baby to give him the forgiveness I knew he wanted. “Yeah? Well, thanks to you there may not be a baby to fight over anymore.”

“I’m really sorry.” He hung his head. “If… if the baby is okay, I won’t fight you for custody, T. I promise.”

I was surprised at his promise, but also well aware his pledge wouldn’t mean much if I lost the baby.

“Come on,” Rex said gruffly. “Let’s get you to the ER.”

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