Tears prick my eyes as my hands go to my stomach once again.
“If you need anything, call me. Day or night. Do you understand?”
I nod and mumble, “Thank you.”
CHAPTER FORTY
APRIL
I STAND OUTSIDE the facility, leaning up against his Challenger. I drove it, thinking he would want to drive, to feel in control again. I know how much he loves it.
I watch the front door open, and he steps outside. My heart pounds at the sight of him. He wears a black V-neck Kingdom shirt with a pair of ripped jeans and black boots. And he’s got his sunglasses on. I know the moment he spots me because his entire body tenses.
Pushing off the car, I take a couple of steps toward him but stop. Doubt fills me when he comes to stop on the bottom step. Maybe I shouldn’t have come. Titan said Grave called him. That’s who he wanted here.
He begins to walk toward me, and I let out a shaky breath.
My hands shake, and my heart pounds. Blood rushes in my ears. What if he no longer wants me? What if without the drugs, he doesn’t love me? What if …
“What are you doing here, April?” he asks.
I swallow nervously at the sound of his voice. “I … uh … I thought …”
He reaches out and cups my face. I lean into his soft touch, and like a dam breaking, tears spill from my eyes and a sob comes out.
He wraps his strong arms around me and pulls me into him. My hands grip his shirt, and my face burrows into his chest. “I’m sorry,” I cry.
“April.” He sighs. “I’m the one who is sorry.”
“No, no, no,” I say quickly and pull away, sniffing.
He pushes his glasses to the top of his head, and my breath catches in my lungs when I see them. They’re so blue. No drug-hazed fog.
“I’m sorry, April.” He swallows and brushes the tears from my cheeks. “I destroyed me. I destroyed us. But I promise you, I’m going to be better. I owe you that.” His hand comes down to touch my stomach. Fresh tears fill my eyes. “And our baby. I’m supposed to work for forgiveness …”
“Grave, I already forgive you.” It’s true. This man is trying to be better. And I know he can.
He wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. I half laugh, half cry. I don’t know what will happen in three hours or three years, but I do know that this man is my king, and I will be his queen and protect him at all cost.
GRAVE
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into me. I inhale her scent and let out a long breath. She pulls away first and gestures to my car. “I thought you would like to drive it.” And then hands me the keys.
Taking them from her, I walk over to the car and open up the passenger door for her. She thanks me and slides inside. I close the door and make my way to the driver’s side.
“I hope you weren’t disappointed that Titan wasn’t the one who picked you up,” she says softly, looking down at her hands knotted in her lap.
“April.” I reach over and cup her face, lifting her chin so she has to look over at me. Those ice blue eyes that I see every time I close mine, stare at me. They’re swimming in unshed tears. I’m not sure if they’re tears of joy, sadness, or regret. I hate that I can’t read her right now.
I move in closer to her, leaning over the center console. Her breath hitches when her eyes drop to my lips. I go to kiss her when her cell starts to ring. I pull away and start up the car as she answers it.
“Hello?” she answers, her voice shaking. She clears her throat and tries again as I pull out of the parking lot. “Hello?”
I sit back in the seat, letting my shoulders relax. I didn’t expect her to be the one standing outside of Harbor Heights, but she was the one I wanted.
“Yeah, we’re on our way,” she speaks.
My left hand grips the steering wheel while my hold tightens on the gear shift.
“Okay, I’ll let him know.” She hangs up. “That was Titan. He has your suit at the church.”
A silence falls over the car and I want to ask her a million questions at once. I want to kiss her for hours. Hold her for days and love her until I die. I have to earn that privilege. I have to show her what she means to me.
“I …” She gets cut off as her phone goes off again. “I’m so sorry.” She sighs, picking it up.
“Don’t be sorry,” I tell her, giving her a quick side-eye.
“It’s Jasmine, the girls …”