“What?” I’m totally confused now. “I didn’t say I don’t want a baby, but it’s complicated right—”
“Oh, you want a baby? Well, too bad.” She’s crying openly now, and Christ, I’m totally out of my fucking depth here. “I can’t have your baby.”
“But I’m not asking… Fucking hell, Layla, what are you saying?”
“I can’t have your baby ever because I can’t have babies.” She slides off the counter and wraps her arms around herself. “So you don’t have to worry.”
But I do worry. About my mental state. Because the idea of a baby with her is strangely appealing, and the fact she can’t have any is a bummer. No, it’s a total fucking injustice.
And then she turns toward the door, the blood draining from her face. I read her lips as she utters the fucking last thing I wanna hear:
“They’re back.”
Chapter Ten
Layla
He pins me with his gray eyes, and I wish I could decipher the emotions flashing through them because they are strong and heart-wrenching.
Like he’s sorry instead of relieved that I can’t have kids. Like I kicked him in the nuts.
Or maybe it’s the fact that his captors are back. Duh. Stupid, Layla, to think he was concerned about you.
“Stay here,” he hisses, tucking his blood-stained shirt back into his pants. “Get out. Don’t let them catch you, Layla. They’ll hurt you.”
“You let them hurt you.”
“Listen… You were right. I need something from them.” His gaze is clear, focused on me, earnest. “I need information to shut down this Organization that’s trying to run the city, and the country, and maybe more.”
I shake my head, although my heart misses a beat. He’s talking to me. Opening up, and suddenly everything else takes a backseat. “But why you? Why not let a cop handle it?”
“I need to do this. My parents were part of it, do you understand?” His gaze is clear and earnest. “It’s my responsibility.”
“No, it’s not. Hawk.” I put a hand on his arm. “You don’t need to die for your parents’ sins.”
“I don’t want to die either.” He winks, and I stare at him, at the old Hawk, the flirt, the charmer, the easygoing and carefree rich boy I knew before. “Let’s just hope things work out in my favor, okay?”
“I can’t leave you here.”
“You have to, babe.” He closes the distance between us, takes my face in his hands, and gives me a quick, hard kiss on the lips. “You have to. This is my family’s mess to clean up, not yours. I want you safe and far from here, no matter how fucking much I like having you around.”
I swallow hard. “How will you get out?”
He sighs. “My watch. It should send out a signal tonight with my location. Look, if you want to help me… if I don’t call you by tomorrow, call the police.”
“Didn’t you say that by doing that I’m signing your death warrant?”
He doesn’t reply, his face hardening, and then he releases me, opens the bathroom door and steps out. He closes it behind him and walks away.
That’s what I should do, too. Obey his wishes. And make that phone call, like he asked me, if he doesn’t contact me tomorrow.
But when have I ever done what I’m supposed to do?
***
Of course, Hawk is in smartass mode when I finally gather my courage, climb down the stairs, creep through the open door and return to my hiding spot behind the boxes.
He’s on the floor, and my stomach clenches with fear even though he’s talking and doesn’t seem to be too shaken.