Page 96 of Risk

“But then I worry about him coming back when the babies are here. Do we move? Leave New York? But then it’ll feel like we’re going into hiding.”

The last thing I want to do is leave New York. My family is here. I’m doing my doctorate here. But for him and the sake of our children, I would move.

He rests his forehead against my bump. He’s silent for a few moments.

“I don’t want to take you away from New York though. Your family is here—”

“They’re your family too.”

“You’re doing your PhD,” he continues, skipping over what I said.

I make a mental note to address that with him at a later date. Because my family is his family. He’s been a part of it long before the babies came along, and now, he’s even more a part of it.

“I just don’t fucking know.” He sounds like he’s gritting his teeth. “I think I’ve settled on a decision, and then I change my mind again.”

“You’ll make the right choice, and I’ll support you, no matter what.”

He exhales another breath.

Then, one of the babies kicks, and it’s right where his forehead is resting, making him laugh.

He presses a kiss to where the baby just kicked, and then he moves up my body and kisses me.

He slowly undresses us both. There are no words said. Just whispers of breaths and needy moans.

Kaden makes love to me, slow and deep. When it’s over and we’re both sweaty and spent, I lower his head to my chest, and I stroke his hair and face with soft tenderness, until his breaths even out and he gets the sleep he so desperately needs.

THIRTY-FOUR

There’s still been no sign of Gary for three weeks now. You’d think it would have relaxed Kaden, but it hasn’t.

I mentioned to Kaden one day that maybe Gary had taken his no as an answer, but Kaden assured me that the last thing Gary would do was take no as an answer.

And his parting words had been, “I’ll be seeing you.”

But maybe he’s thought it over and decided to give up, realizing he’s not going to get any money from Kaden.

But Kaden thinks differently. He is positive Gary will be back.

So, the overprotectiveness is still there. It hasn’t lessened, and it’s starting to grate on me.

We’re back at the doctor’s office for an ultrasound. Because I’m having twins, I have to have regular scans to ensure the babies are growing properly.

Kaden is sitting in the waiting room, as I needed to pee after the scan. All I do nowadays is pee, as my babies think my bladder is a play toy.

I flush and wash my hands. Then unlock the door and step out into the sterile hall.

The first thing I see is Gary standing across from me. Leaning against the wall.

The next thing I see is the gun in his hand, hidden inside his open jacket. Pointing at me.

“Don’t make a sound,” he says with a smile on his face that could almost be construed as pleasant if I didn’t know all about the man and what he’s capable of.

Clearly, there were some things I wasn’t aware he was capable of. Like pointing a gun at a pregnant woman.

But I guess when you beat your own wife and the mother of your son to death, nothing is off the table.

My eyes do a quick scan and find an empty hallway.

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