Page 27 of Preying Heart
She’s insulting me, but she has a point. The baby gets in Gavin’s way. But the baby is also valuable for Gavin’s enemies or those who want to pull his strings in the future.
“What do you want to do?” I turn the spotlight back to her. “I’m assuming you led Gavin to believe you would get rid of the baby. That’s why he allowed your brother to drive you to the clinic. What happened? Did you have second thoughts?”
“Actually, no. Slade found out I had five hundred dollars cash and decided we could double or triple the money at the casino. He decided to jump bail and needed the cash.”
“And you went along with it? With no care for your own safety?” I don’t get why an intelligent woman would be so passive.
Her eyebrows turn down with resignation. “The baby is the only person who’ll be mine—completely mine. He’ll answer to me, and I’ll be in control. Where I was headed was an abortion clinic. Slade promised me he’d take me to a prenatal doctor after he won big money.”
“You believed him?” I want to take the words back as soon as they leave my mouth. I hate to rub things in, but Remi is either too gullible or she wants to believe a lie so she’d feel safe and taken care of.
“Yes, at first. Yes. He’s my brother. He always looked out for me, except when he’s in trouble. If Gavin hurts me, I know Slade will take care of it. That’s why he was trespassing at Gavin’s mansion. He threatened Gavin, but instead Gavin had him arrested for breaking and entering.”
“And Gavin. Does he take good care of you?” Oh, how I hate putting her on the hot seat, but she has to see how wrong she is to put her trust in anyone other than herself.
“He does, usually.” Her face softens as she no doubt reminisces on how well he charms her.
“Why usually?”
“Because I listen to him and do exactly what he says. I broke the rule and went to his office to tell him I’m pregnant. I don’t know. I thought maybe he’d be happy and take me out to celebrate. Buy me something.”
“Has he ever indicated to you he’d be happy or want more from your relationship?” I’m so used to the delusions of trafficked victims. Some actually believe everything is done for their benefit. I once had a victim whose father paid big money for her rescue refuse to come home. She insisted she was happier working at the strip club than studying to get into college.
“His wife is infertile,” Remi says. “He only married her for her political connections and her father’s money. But he needed to create a dynasty and she’s incapable.”
“What if he does want the baby—but not you? What if he or someone on his behalf is paying me to keep you safe to take the baby from you?”
“No! I’m not my mother. I can’t let anyone take my baby from me. Not even you.” She pushes away from the table and runs toward the guest room.
“Calm down, Remi.” I catch her before she slams the door. “If we don’t get you to the doctor, there will be no baby to take away.”
“What are we going to do if they find me? What can we do?” Fear etches her face into a stiff mask while her body trembles.
I draw her into my arms and let her shake against me. “We keep you safe and off the grid. For now, like you said, I’m not going to contact the dude offering a million. If he’s not Gavin, he’ll read the news report and believe you escaped with your brother. Sorry to Slade, but he’s going to have several bloodhounds trailing him.”
“Poor Slade. I should never have gotten him involved.”
ChapterTen
Remi
I can’t let Heath think I ever wanted an abortion. He looked at me like I’m a monster when he thought I would kill the baby. I mean, I was on the fence. He has to understand. It would have been so easy to have gone to the clinic, had the problem taken care of, and then waltzed back to my luxury penthouse. Life would have gone on like I’m used to with my cook, housekeeper, and online classes. Gavin would have been happy, and he would have showered me with gifts for doing as he wanted.
Problem is, I would know what I’d done, and I’m not sure I can live with myself.
It’s what your mother was going to do to you.
After Slade told me he saved me, how can I go through with losing the baby?
I check my panties before we leave for the doctor’s office. There’s another spot of blood, but it’s darker, like it’s clotting. I hope it means the baby isn’t hurt, but I’m worried. What if all of this was for nothing, and I lose the baby because of my negligence? I should have stood up for myself and told Slade to take me to a prenatal doctor. Actually, I should have gone by myself. It isn’t as if I can’t take a rideshare. I had the money Gavin gave me, and I could have charged the rest to insurance.
I flush the toilet and wash my hands. Then I tuck my shirt in and straighten my shoulders. I can’t let Heath see me sweat. Can’t let him see how weak I am, although I’m sure he’s already sensing my wishy-washiness. I can feel his disapproval.
* * *
The drive to the doctor’s office was uneventful. I was blindfolded and feeling nauseous from the twists and turns, but Heath kept the air conditioning running and I made it without dirtying my borrowed clothing. The clinic is hidden at the end of a box canyon and only accessible by driving over a dry riverbed. At least Heath took off the blindfold before escorting me up the path to the cinder block building. If I’m not mistaken, we’re on a reservation of some sort—I don’t know which tribe because I was blindfolded when we entered.
Wherever we are, it’s covered by tall trees and hidden. There’s an old dented sedan parked at the side of the building, and a storage shed with a rusted door hanging off the hinges. An awning covers the entranceway, and the front door is flanked by two potted dwarf spruce trees. There’s no sign or numbers identifying the address.
