Page 81 of Call Sign: King
“Rape?” He finally got the ugly word out of his mouth.
“No…” When she obviously saw he didn’t believe her, she added. “He did other terrible things, but not that. The blood is my period.” Sadness filled her eyes as she added. “I’d started to hope I was pregnant before all this happened. In fact, I was taking a pregnancy test in my bathroom right when Vlad broke in and kidnapped me. I never got to see the results, but when I started my period, I was so sad knowing I hadn’t been pregnant after all.”
The truth sunk in slowly. Khloe didn’t even know herself that she was…had been… pregnant? He opened his mouth, prepared to tell her about MacGyver finding the positive test strip back at the crime scene and how thrilled he had been to know they had made a baby together.
The words died on his tongue.
Would knowing she’d lost their first child help anything?
No.
Swallowing down his grief at their loss, Ryder forced a comforting smile. “I’m sorry too. I can’t wait until you have my baby growing inside you,” he said, his palm against her flat stomach, wishing more than anything their baby was still there with them.
Letting the bustle of activity around them break through his sadness, he pushed aside the dreams of their future family. They still had a lot of hoops to jump.
“Now, let’s get you out of these chains,” he said, quickly realizing he wouldn’t be getting her loose without either the keys for the locks or a bullet.
Glancing around, he found Alexi releasing the smiling Irena from her manacles. Once she was free, the couple embraced.
“If I can interrupt your little reunion, can I get you to throw the keys over?” he called across the stage.
Alexi grinned. “Catch, asshole.”
It only took a few seconds to get Khloe free of the chains and pull her to her feet. The temptation to inspect every inch of her body for injury was strong, but that would have to wait until they were on board the Condor.
What couldn’t wait was finding some clothes for his wife. There was no way in hell he was carrying her to freedom naked.
Calling over to Alexi, he asked. “Don’t suppose you have any clothes down here I can put Khloe in?”
Irena answered. “There are no clothes, but right next to the main entrance is a walk-in coat closet. There are dozens of coats and wraps in there. Grab one on your way out.”
Excellent idea.
Lifting his wife to her feet, Ryder wrapped an arm around her waist, in part to steady her, but more because he didn’t intend on letting go of her for the foreseeable future.
But his determination to hold her didn’t last long. Irena closed the few feet between them, throwing herself into Ryder’s arms.
“Thank you so much, Nicolai,” she said, pelting him with platonic kisses all over his bruised face.
Behind her back, Ryder could see Alexi grinning. Memories of their arrival at Purgatory that fateful night four years ago invaded. His arrival that night had started very much like this — with Irena throwing herself at Ryder. That night it had been a disapproving Vladimir waiting nearby to beat his wife for daring to hug another man.
He was happy to know Khloe wasn’t the only one they’d saved from Vlad’s violence that day. Vlad’s widow might have even more to be thankful for now that they’d returned her husband to his grave.
Irena released him, turning to pull Khloe into a hug just before Khloe moved over to pull Alexi into a round robin of hugs.
It was Ryder’s turn to watch his woman — his naked woman — hugging another man. He was surprisingly zen about it.
“Congratulations!” Khloe said, pulling out to look into Alexi’s eyes before adding. “I hear you’re going to be a father. I’m so happy for you both.”
Seeing his wife so happy for another couple about to become parents was a gut punch. He’d been so looking forward to their own joy. Carrying the grief of her miscarriage for both of them was the least he could do.
“We need to get the fuck out of here,” Torch called from across the room where he’d been debriefing with Alexi’s men.
Of course, they did.
Get your head out of your ass, Helms.
Turning to Alexi he offered, “You gonna need any help with making all of this look okay with the police?”
