Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Jade’s parents, as well as Asher and Knox, knew about her decision to get help. They were happy. To her surprise, she’d also shared the news with Holly when she’d called to congratulate Jade about the baby. Somehow, they’d gotten into deeper conversation, and once Jade made the appointment, she’d texted Holly the details because she knew the other woman would understand. Holly’s bouncy personality hid a serious girl who possessed a well of understanding about life. She ought to, given her own past.
Holly told Jade that she’d met Theo for lunch this week and had come away disappointed. Holly could use some therapy, too, Jade mused. She needed to talk about losing her parents in different ways and to stop seeking anything from a biological brother incapable of giving love.
Jade knew therapy took time, but just the fact that she was trying to understand her heredity before the baby arrived made her feel like she was already taking steps toward a happier life. Tomorrow was her first ob-gyn appointment, and she was becoming more excited about the baby and less panicked.
The short week since she’d come home from the island had been a good one. Knox called periodically during the day to say hi, and he arrived at her apartment each night after work with takeout dinner in hand. He’d stay to eat and clean up, refusing to let her help, then he’d kiss her until she was vibrating with need and say good night with a gleam in his eyes. The man was up to something. She just didn’t know what.
Her cell phone rang and she scrounged through her handbag. Lauren had an early meeting with a new vendor, and Jade wanted to make sure she didn’t have any questions.
She pulled out her phone, answering before she glanced at the screen. “Hi,” she said, hoping she caught the call before it disconnected.
“Jade? It’s Celia.”
Jade stood in the middle of the sidewalk, stunned. “Celia? What do you want?” She couldn’t imagine she and Knox’s ex, the woman who’d slept with Jade’s ex-fiancé, had anything to discuss.
“Listen, I know we’ve had our issues…” Celia said.
“You think?”
Celia blew a breath in her ear. “I know. I do. And I’m sorry but I don’t have time to explain anything now.”
“Then what do you want?”
“If Theo comes by, do not go anywhere with him,” Celia said, her tone urgent.
Jade narrowed her gaze. “What? Of course I won’t go with him. But what are you saying? What do you know?” Before Celia could answer, someone grabbed Jade’s wrist and yanked her phone from her hand.
She spun around and came face-to-face with her ex. “Theo?”
He dropped the phone and slammed his shoe heel onto the cell, shattering the screen, before bending to retrieve it and placing it in his pants pocket.
“Theo? What’s going on?”
He had the same frenzied look he’d worn that morning he’d come to her apartment and argued with Knox. “Come on, Jade. Let’s go.” Theo grabbed her forearm and tipped his head toward a row of cars parked behind him.
Her heart picked up speed. “What? No.” She tried to wrench free, but he merely tightened his grip and attempted to pull her along with him.
Recalling Celia’s warning, she dug in her heels. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“I just want to talk,” he said, facing her, his eyes wild.
Who was this man she no longer recognized? Knox had said Theo was spiraling, and she saw now he was right, making her wonder if she ought to be afraid of him.
“We can talk here,” she insisted.
His eyes narrowed. “Damn it, Jade. I don’t want to hurt you but you’re getting on my nerves.” He gripped her arm so tightly she’d be bruised.
He began to pull her down the street, causing her to trip.
He paused, hauling her to her feet and giving her the chance to kick him in the shin and run.
She didn’t get far.
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against him. “Stop struggling or I’ll hurt you and your baby.”
She glanced down to see a small knife he’d obviously been hiding in his hand.
She immediately stilled, fear for the barely there life growing inside her greater than for herself. A quick look around told her the tree-lined side street was empty. There’d be no help coming.
“Fine,” she said through clenched teeth. “What do you want from me?”
He seemed to relax, his stance easing, but the knife remained poised in his hand. “I just want us to get into my car, go somewhere, and talk.” His hand encircled her wrist, and she let him lead her to a car she didn’t recognize. He opened the front passenger door and she climbed in, her pulse racing fast and her gut screaming at her to try and run again.
As if he read her thoughts, he lifted his shirt and revealed a gun in the waistband of his jeans. “I’m going to shut this door and walk around to the driver’s side. If you run, I will shoot. And I will aim low. Understand?”