It took six years for Eric to reveal himself. How long would we have to wait? Honestly, at this point, I didn’t want to know the answer, but I needed an idea. “How long will we be here until you think it’s safe to find a place to settle? At some point I’ll need to find a job.”
Bane’s eyes got wide. “Maren, you can stay with the baby. I can provide for both of you.”
“Bane, I’ll need to provide for the baby too.”
He didn’t say a word. I let it go. Eventually, when it was safe, we would have to discuss me having a life. The other day he’d ignored me when the mention of me working came up.
We turned down a dirt country road. Orange groves lined the road. It was beautiful as I took in a deep breath and was rewarded with the orange smell. A white house with a front porch came into sight. It was well kept and warmer than the cabin had been. I missed the cabin. It became like a home as Bane and I pretended to be the loving couple. The memories stabbed at my heart like a knife. I distracted myself with talking. “This wasn’t what I imagined.”
“It’s not a safe house, but it’s set up like one. Security is optimal for what we need. It’s not as rough as I go.” He chuckled. “I like to be completely isolated when I’m laying low. But, I think it’s best if we’re not.”
“For the baby.” My hand came out and touched my stomach. I couldn’t wait to feel the baby kick.
Bane looked at my stomach and a sweet smile graced his lips. “Yes, for the baby.”
Tingles erupted over my skin at his loving voice, but I needed to know where he was with all this. “Bane, are we going to talk about what you think about all this?”
“Yes.” That was all I was getting. This was frustrating. To my relief he continued, “Maren, I want us to be alone when we talk about everything. We’ve been surrounded by people or driving. This is something I don’t want you to think I’m taking lightly. I want you to see all of me, not the version I let others see.”
Wow. I hadn’t been expecting that. Was it bad what he wanted to say? I touched my stomach. Little one, we’ll be okay if it’s bad news. I know how to survive. We’ll be okay. Even though Bane said he wanted to be involved with everything, it could have been the drugs talking. In the light of day, he may have changed his mind. Glancing back at Bane, he in
tently watched the road. It wouldn’t be long until all of our cards were hopefully out on the table.
Bane parked the car. The swing on the front porch called to me. I couldn’t wait to sip tea and watch the sunset if that was allowed. “Let them check the house first and then we can get out.”
I hated this part of going places. The same happened when we boarded the private plane to come to Florida. Watching other people disappear behind doors, expecting someone to be there, wracked my nerves.
The three burly men got out of the car and proceeded to the house. Bane wore an earpiece that he communicated with the security team on. Nothing came from the house as I glanced back and forth. A few times he nodded to himself, gave instructions or confirmed something. My nerves were on edge as I acutely watched what was going on around me, waiting for someone to come out of nowhere like they had at the cabin.
My hand gripped the door. A few minutes later the men came out. Bane grabbed my knee and I jumped letting out a yelp. “It’s okay, Maren. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I nodded. “We’re clear to go in. Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Getting out of the car, Bane came behind me, putting his hand on my lower back. There was no doubt I missed his touch, the feeling of him inside me. Stop it, Maren. I could not continue the unhealthy relationship we had for a few orgasms. It wouldn’t be good for the baby when my heart broke from Bane not being able to give me what I needed—his love. I knew his heart belonged to someone else I could never be.
The love of someone’s life could never be replaced. I didn’t want to replace Jasmine, but I didn’t want to live in her shadow either.
I focused back on the house. This was my new home. My only home for the time being. I’d never go home again or see Frankie. It was all gone. It was hard to wrap my head around it all, but I had to be strong. All along I knew the time to leave would come when I was at the cabin. Reality of that decision was harder than I’d expected.
The men greeted us on the front porch. “All is clear. Everything is as you instructed.”
“Thanks, rotating shifts twenty-four seven. I want hourly reports for now.” Bane’s direct tone would have me shriveling in the corner. He’d always been warmer to me.
The one with the lighter hair of the three stepped forward. “Yes, sir.”
The men intimated me with their cold tones and gestures—almost like robots. Ushering me in the house, Bane closed the door behind us. It was as simple farmhouse with an open floor plan and warm colors. It smelled of a citrus cleaning supply of some sort. Good thing my stomach agreed with the smell. Breakfast on the plane nearly did me in with the smell of sausage.
Walking toward the other end of the house there was a small hallway with four doors. Three looked to be bedrooms and one a bathroom.
“You have new clothes in this bedroom.” I walked into the room Bane gestured to. It was the master bedroom. The light-pine furniture was sparse in the room. Walking over to the closet, I opened the door and found the clothes Bane referenced. They seemed to be comfy in nature and light fitting. It had been such a long time since someone truly took care of me.
This is only because of the baby. Don’t confuse the lines, Maren.
Bane’s body pressed closed behind, eliciting goose bumps that longed for his touch. I fought my body to lean into him. His body heat seeped into me. “I know you won’t be showing for a bit, but I wanted to make sure you were comfortable. If there is anything you need, I can get it for you.”
“This will be perfect. Thank you.” It was amazing I hadn’t become a stuttering mess in my response.
It was hard fighting my bodies reaction to want to turn into Bane’s embrace, but it would only lead to one thing—Kissing. The kissing would lead to another thing—clothes being shed. The clothes being shed would lead to—hot sweaty sex.