“What’s wrong, Bane?”
I sat on the edge of the bed. “Division is about to be here in maybe a minute. I doubt they know. They’re going to wonder why I have security and I’m going to tell them you’re pregnant. They’ll figure it out when we go to the next doctor’s appointment as I’ll be watched for a bit to see if there’s anything out of place. Just go with everything I say. We need to be dating, okay?”
She nodded. The stress on her face was what I’d been trying to avoid this entire time. Fuck. I should have warned her this was a possibility. “Angel, get dressed. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you guys. Okay?”
She nodded her head rapidly. “I’ll be right out.”
I kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll keep you both safe. Trust me.”
“I do.” I knew she trusted me with her safety, her heart was another thing.
Quickly, I left the bedroom and grabbed a cup of coffee. The more normal I appeared, the better. Making it out on the front porch, five black unmarked SUV’s pulled up. Only six men deployed out of the vehicles. There were probably twelve to fifteen. Another good sign. From the middle car, Alex came out wearing a dark business suit. He looked the same as when I was in Black Division with his white, slicked-back hair.
Alex had been Sarge’s superior.
“Bane. Mind if we talk inside?”
I took a sip of coffee. “Of course not. My girlfriend is in there. Besides these three men …” I gestured to the two guys on my left and one on my right. “I’m alone.” My guys were relaxed in their posture, but were watching my every move in case I signaled to them. They were good. Hopefully, with me identifying everyone up front, it helped sell that I had nothing to worry about.
The fact was, I had everything to lose.
“Mind if we go in alone?” Alex still prodded me with questions to see my reaction.
And he meant, mind if we go in without your men. “Of course not.”
Alex looked a lot like Hampton with his white hair and tall lean build. Regardless of rank, everyone in the Black Division was fit—conditioned to take on a fight in a moment’s notice.
I hoped to hell that this worked. It had to work. Outwardly I stayed unaffected, but I was a nervous wreck on the inside. Only two of the other guys followed us in. It meant they trusted me or didn’t believe I was part of anything. My record was impeccable. Maren came out dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Her face took on a glow and I smiled at her.
“Alex, this is my girlfriend, Maren. Maren, this is Alex—a friend from the past.” Maren knew not to talk about the Black Division from previous discussions.
She glanced at the security guards who accompanied us in. Alex spoke. “For my protection, dear. They’re like secret service men.”
Maren stuck out her hand. “Oh wow. It’s nice to meet you, Alex.”
“Likewise. Do you mind if I speak a few minutes alone with Bane?” His voice was silky smooth, but I could tell he assessed her every move to see if she hid anything. So far, Maren hid her emotions well.
“No, not at all.” Walking to me, she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be in the bedroom.”
Maren left the room. Alex remained standing and so did I. Hopefully that meant this was going to be a short visit. If not, he’d done a hell of a job separating Maren and me.
I CLOSED THE bedroom door behind me and heaved a sigh of relief. My palms sweated. Leaning against the bedroom door, I tried to hear what they were saying. The voices were too low. Why was Division here? Were they on to us? The possibility always lingered in the back of my mind. The last thing I wanted was to be separated from Bane. If some
thing did happen, I wasn’t sure if he could get to me.
There was no reason to have those types of thoughts. Bane found a way and nearly died. I shuddered at the thought of something happening to him. I spoke lowly, “We’ll, be okay little one. Your daddy is going to make sure.”
To busy myself I made the bed and then finished off my bagel. I wondered how long it would be until I got the baby bump as I looked at my still flat stomach. There was a life in there. It was still amazing to me as I tried to think of myself pregnant.
From what I read I would begin to feel the flutters of the baby around four and a half months. I couldn’t wait. Turning around a man stood in the window staring at me with his hands cupped around his face.
I screamed, “AHH! Bane!” and backed toward the wall. The man wearing the black solider uniform disappeared from the window as the door busted open.
“Maren, are you oaky?” Alex was close behind as Bane drew a gun searching the room. More soldiers came close behind Alex. He held up his hand.
I stared out the window. “There was a guy staring at me with his hands cupped to the window. I had my shirt raised looking at my stomach. It startled me. I’m okay.”
Bane glared at Alex who walked out of the room. His lips came to my ear. “Everything is fine. I won’t leave you again.”