Did I look different?
I felt different. My world had been turned upside down in a matter of moments. Nothing would ever be the same. I was going to be the mom of Bane’s child.
The queasiness came over me again as another wave of burnt flesh smell hit me. Hopefully this sickness was from the situation and not the pregnancy.
Quickly, I wet a cloth and put it to my nose for a filter. The door opened and Bane walked in, concern clearly etched on his face when he saw me in the bathroom. “Did you get sick?”
Through the cloth I spoke. “The smell.” He wore a white bandage so I couldn’t see the freshly cooked flesh. Stop thinking about it, Maren. You’ll make yourself sick.
“I’ll be right back.” Bane left the room.
Going to the bed, I laid down with the cloth still covering my mouth and nose. There was no way a smell so sickening would be gone at this point. No way.
Bane entered with a bottle in one hand and a protein bar in the other. Confusion raced through me as to where we stood and what I thought about everything as he laid the two things on the table. “Try to drink and eat this when you can.” His thumb came up and rubbed my face. “You’re in shock and need the nourishment. I need to go make sure my family will be safe. Stay here. I’ll be in the shed.”
I mumbled, “Be careful.”
“I will.”
With Hampton standing at the door, Bane left the room. I wanted Eric and Sarge dead. They were truly vile people. Villains like them weren’t supposed to be real. They planned to use me and the baby to keep Bane in Black Division. Was there anyone else who knew about the plan? Bane would get to the bottom of it all.
Frankie. I’d lost my brother today. Turning on my side, I let all the emotion out as I tried to think if there was something different that could have been done to save him. Frankie had been a liability all along. If only he’d walked away from whatever they’d offered him. But then, I wouldn’t have met Bane. I wouldn’t be pregnant.
Baby. Family.
How did I feel about this being forced upon me? I wasn’t sure. But, I would love and cherish this baby forever. There was no going back. I cared for Bane, but as of this morning he was willing to walk away from me forever. Now, because of the baby, he wanted to keep me around.
There was one thing I knew I wanted. To be loved for me and not because I was carrying someone’s baby.
MY EYES FELT heavy.
My limbs couldn’t move.
There was something important I needed to check on.
The fog needed to clear so I could think.
A sweet angelic voice broke through my conscience. “No, he’s still asleep. I’m fine. I’ve been sleeping on the couch. Yes, I promise I’ve been eating. Yes, they haven’t left the door. Okay, I’ll call you if anything happens. Thanks, Hampton. Means a lot. Talk to you soon.”
I cracked open my eyes and caught sight of Maren. “Angel.” My voice was hoarse and my head hurt like a fucking semi drove through it.
“You’re awake!” The loud excited voice was like a hammer bashing me in my head. I pushed further into my pillow. The relief on Maren’s face brought a warmness to me.
Baby. She was pregnant. I remembered that important thing that had been plaguing me only moments ago.
She was at my side in a second. The darkness closed in on me. I needed to know one thing. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, we’re fine.”
We’re. Does she mean the baby? I had to verify. I had to make sure. “The baby, too?”
“Yes, the baby is fine. The doctor checked me out.” Her voice sounded confident. Maren wouldn’t lie
to me.
My eyes closed as I whispered, “Thank, God.”
I fell back into the oblivion.