Page 44 of Confined Space

"There is nothing showing you're the father of her baby. As a matter of fact, I've seen a document where you released custody of said child," Logan states. I don't know where he got the paperwork; I keep it in a safety deposit box. But if Davis's attorney filed it with the state of California, it would be a matter of record. Wouldn't it?

"I should be on its birth certificate."

"Winston, don't you know if you have a son or daughter?" Logan asks, egging him on more.

Davis twists my arm up more, and it snaps. My back curls, trying to give my arm more space as I cry out.

"She did this. She did all this. It's her fault. Not mine." Davis sounds crazy, his voice high-pitched.

I hear raised voices by the entrance, but all the bodies between me and the area block my view. Then I finally make out Rowdy’s voice.

"That's my girlfriend in there. I need to make sure she's okay."

That was the last thing Davis needed to hear. He leans toward my ear again.

"I will kill them all, especially the firefighter,” he whispers in my ear, then he rises up, and I don't know how he does it, but tears roll down onto me from him. He's crying. "See! She’s playing house with another man while she keeps my child away from me." He leans down toward me again. "Coral, end this now.” There’s no catch in his voice. He’s playing it up for the audience. “Say you'll give the baby up, or I will end you both." My eyes flare wide as tears roll down my face. I'm afraid of what he'll do to Archer, that's the only reason I say what I say. I'll do anything to get away from him and keep Archer safe.

I look over toward the entrance and this time I can see Rowdy. I look him in the eye.

"Okay, Davis, you win," I say it loud enough for him to hear, but I'm sure Rowdy can see my lips. He shoves me away so hard I fall forward, and if not for the strong arms that catch me, I'd fall to the floor and hurt myself more.

The commotion around me is forgotten as I burrow my way deeper into Rowdy's arms.

"Are you okay?" he asks, but I can't talk. I can't say anything. I'm going to have to leave this town and get away from them all. I can't risk Davis hurting them or coming after Archer.

He pulls me back to inspect me, and when he looks down at my arm, he sees it's already starting to swell.

"We need help here. He broke her arm.”

I let the tears roll down my face, upset that I'm going to lose Rowdy now. But it will be me leaving him, not him leaving me.

Chapter Eleven

ROWDY

I just got off work and pull into the hospital parking lot to have dinner with my girl. So color me surprised when cruisers come screeching into the parking lot and then the rescue truck rolls in. I weave my way up to the main entrance, curious as to what is going on. I see Logan making his way inside, but I can’t get his attention before he enters. He’s on his cell phone and barking orders at people. When I get close enough, I overhear one of my fellow firefighters say a nurse is being held hostage, and my gut twists. Please, not Coral. I force my way forward. When Lance stops me and tries to pull me back away from the scene, I realize it is Coral who is being held. I pull away from him and yell for her. I need to get to her. Finally, I'm let through and what I see causes not only my chest to clench but my stomach to plummet. Davis has my girl in front of his body with officers pointing weapons at them. She's got tears rolling down her cheeks and pain is written all over her face. He has her injured arm pulled behind her back.

I watch as he leans down and whispers something in her ear, and her eyes focus clearly on me. I read her lips as clear as day as she responds to him.

“Okay, Davis, you win.”

Her head drops and everything moves in fast forward from there. He thrusts her at me as deputies converge on him.

I yell for help because her arm is clearly rebroken. She climbs onto me, becoming a part of me, as if she's afraid she'll never hold me again. I won't let her go. I won't let her and Archer get away from me. I'm adopting that little boy. I'll always have a connection to her, no matter what.

Now I'm sitting here next to her in the ER as Logan questions her while she waits to be discharged. She has to return in the morning for surgery to repair her broken arm. I've talked her into a restraining order. Davis is going to jail, but we don't know for how long.

"Coral, is there a reason you think Winston is going to stop now?" Logan's question pulls me from my thoughts.

"He's getting what he wants, so he'll leave me alone now," she says so quietly I barely hear her.

"He's what?" both Logan and I ask her. My cousin looks at me in shock, his eyebrows hiked up, before he turns back to her.

"Davis wanted one thing, and I'm going to give it to him. Now please let me rest. I'm hurting and can't take any meds because I'm nursing."

"Coral, just because you filed a restraining order against him doesn't mean he's going to stay away. What do you mean he only wanted one thing?” Logan pauses for a moment. “From what we heard out there, he wants his child. You can't possibly be considering giving him that."

She swings her head toward Logan. "No, he will never be near or around Archer. He only said those things to get sympathy. He'll be out of jail in the next day or so. He won't be charged. His father won't allow it."

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