Page 73 of Voracious

Hopefully he doesn’t kill him, because I want to be the one to strangle the bastard until his neck snaps.

I sigh and disconnect myself from all of my apps and hide them in one of my secure folders. I contemplated tossing my phone while I was driving, but I couldn’t risk missing a message from Stacey.

I take off my helmet, toss my keys on the unit and press the button to shut the garage door, bathing myself in darkness until I walk into the main part of the house. It’s modern and rather big, a three-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of Stirling. I bought it as an investment – and somewhere to go when Bernadette gave me time off.

I huff and drop the helmet when I see how crowded it is. “Is it really necessary to have all these people here? You’re messing up my floor.”

One of Bernadette’s guards is pointing a gun at my chest, but I don’t pay him – or the guy with the syringe – any attention as I raise a brow at her. “I had to go somewhere. What’s the big deal?”

Cassie is sitting on the sofa, tears staining her cheeks as she scowls at me.

Her mother tuts, clicking her tongue as she fights a devious laugh. “Who is Stacey Rhodes?”

My eyes widen, and there’s a sharp sting to my neck before I’m knocked into yet another memory that I grasp at to stay sane.

23

KADE

FLASHBACK

“Are my boobs getting even bigger?”

I lift my eyes from my sketch of the dogs to stare at her, dropping my gaze to her tits as she stands in the middle of my room. “I’m scared to answer. Is this a trick question?”

She tosses her bunny slipper at me. “I’m serious. My bra is tight, and I look so bloated.” Stacey stands to the side, pulls up her top and holds her hands to the swelling of her stomach. “Is this normal with the diet I’m on?”

In all fairness, I understand why she’s concerned. She’s really swollen. I set aside my drawing pad and pencils and sit at the foot of the bed, pulling her towards me by the waist, and she lets me rest my palm on her. It’s hard, and it makes my brows furrow. “Is it sore?”

She shakes her head. “My boobs are though.”

I chew my lip. “When was your last period?”

“I don’t get periods with the pill I take. The last time I bled was months ago.”

We both stare at each other, and I give her a tight smile. “It’s possible you could be pregnant.”

She pales, and all the blood drains from her face. “Oh God,” she says, covering her face and stepping back, her top falling over the small swelling of her stomach. “No.”

I stand and pull her to me. I give her a chaste kiss on the lips and rest my forehead on hers. “We don’t know anything yet. Breathe. Go back to bed and I’ll buy a test, okay?”

She swallows, looking terrified as she nods. “Okay.”

I tuck her in and kiss her forehead, whistling for the dogs to cuddle into her while I get dressed and drive into town. It’s late, so any pharmacy nearby will be closed. I go to the nearest supermarket and have a headache five minutes in.

Once I buy one of each brand, I hurry home. She’s awake and pacing the room when I walk in, and I sit in the bathroom with her while she pees on three of them.

They’re upside down while she chews on the sleeve of thehoodieshe’s wearing – mine as usual. “What will we do if they’re positive?”

“Wait and see what they say.”

She stays silent for another minute then cuddles into me. “You don’t understand how bad this would be for me,Kade. I… I can’t be pregnant.”

I move hair from her face. “I know, Freckles.” Dancing and fitness are her life. She’s at the studio or the gym every single day, and when she isn’t, she’s choreographing or listening to music that she could dance to. “I know.”

My nerves kick in when she lifts her head and reaches for the first one – then freezes. “I’m scared to look.”

She flips one and gasps as the plastic falls to the ground. I don’t even have a chance to see it.

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