Daddy’s Law by K.C. Crowne

Chapter 33

Ava

“Oh. My. God.”

“Keep your voice down,” I said hastily.

“Ava, oh my God! How did this even happen? I mean, I knew you two were probably getting it on —congrats on landing yourself a silver fox, by the way— but oh my God.”

“Would you please calm down? I’m dealing with a lot right now and you’re seriously freaking me out.”

“Okay, okay.” Cindy took a deep breath, her exhale crackling over the phone’s speaker. “You’re sure it’s his?”

“Yes, but…” I huffed, racking my brain for answers. “Every time we had sex we used protection, so I don’t understand how I could be pregnant.”

“Maybe you’re the next Virgin Mary.”

“Ha ha,” I grumbled dryly.

“You know I’m kidding. Contraceptives aren’t a hundred percent effective. Especially if you’re only using one kind.”

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I groaned.

“Have you told him yet?”

“No.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I’m not exactly here on vacation, Cindy,” I reminded her. “I haven’t had any alone time to myself, and I’m rarely allowed personal calls because they’re afraid of being traced. I had to beg Wilson to borrow his phone.”

“Well, why are you calling me instead of him? Shouldn’t he be the first person you’d want to tell?”

I stared at the pregnancy stick, bewildered by the two indicator lines across the results screen. Wilson, whether by luck or good sense, had purchased one of those packs with two tests. I made sure to take both.

Positive and positive.

I was with child.

Theo’schild.

“I didn’t call him because…”

My words died on my tongue. I didn’t want to say it aloud because it would only serve to remind me that this —having another child— wasn’t what he wanted. My stomach flipped and my chest constricted at the thought of what he might say. Would he be upset? Would he want nothing to do with me?

I shook my head. No. I knew Theo well enough to know that wasn’t possible. Under that gruff exterior, Theo was caring and a fantastic listener and encouraging and a good man. A really good man. He’d approach the problem with a cool head.

Still. That didn’t change the fact that he didn’t want another child. That he didn’t want to be with me.

“Give me his number,” Cindy demanded. “I’m going to call him and give him a piece of my mind. Nobody knocks my girl up without taking responsibility.”

“I’m not giving you his number.”

“But Ava—”

“I just need a bit more time. To process. To plan.”

“What are you going to do?” Cindy asked gently. “Are we going to end up raising babies together, after all?”

I laughed softly, momentarily entertained by the thought of multiple sets of little feet running around. Growing a family with my best friend wasn’t such a terrible idea. We could support each other, go back and forth on babysitting duty. We could share birthdays and celebrate holidays together. We could even carpool, if the need ever arose.

But in each of those scenarios, I imagined Theo by my side. It made my blood rush, the uncertainty of it causing adrenaline to pump through my veins. Would we be married? Would we raise the child together? Those were all things he said he didn’t want.

My fantasy fell apart as quickly as I dreamed it up.

“Look, Cindy, just keep this on the down low for now. I need some time to think.”

Cindy groaned. “I’m here for you, Ava. Whatever you need, you just let me know.”

“I know, I know. Talk later?”

“Of course.”

I hung up and left the safety of my bedroom. Every step I took was like I was floating on air. My head was spinning and there was a faint buzzing in my ears. Wilson was waiting out in the hall and straightened when I opened the door.

“Miss Cruise?”

I handed his phone back. “Thank you.”

“Is there anything I can do for you? Should I request a doctor’s visit?”

“No, there’s no need. I was actually hoping to go for a walk, if that’s alright?”

Wilson frowned. “I’d need to run that by Jesse. We’re not scheduled for our walk for another two hours.”

“Just a quick walk around the block? I need some fresh air. I feel…” I gestured vaguely. “I’m feeling a lot right now, and I think a walk would be good for me. You’ll obviously come with and I swear it’ll be quick. Please?”

I could see the gears turning inside Wilson’s head. “Very well, Miss Cruise. Ten minutes is the most I can allow. Please remember to grab your jacket. It’s forecast to rain.”

“Thank you, Wilson.”

I thought I’d feel better once outside my minimalist-chic prison. I thought the fresh air would help answers magically manifest before me, but nothing came. I stuck to my usual route, never once crossing the road or thinking of taking a detour. Wilson was only half a yard behind me, so he’d catch up to me in a flash if I decided to make a break for it.

Not that I would, of course. I had no reason to run.

As I walked, I unconsciously kept brushing a hand over my lower stomach. There was a warmth blooming from my core to the tips of my fingers and toes. I didn’t look any different —it was way too early for any noticeable changes— but I felt different.

Maternal. Protective.

The thought of having a baby didn’t freak me out like I thought it would, even if none of this was planned. I thought I’d make a great mother. I loved working with children, and I always intended on having one of my own.

Of course, that was before I was effectively dumped and whisked away to stay at a safe house indefinitely.

If I had to, I could raise the child by myself. Single mothers around the world did it all the time. I’d tell Theo the news, and he could choose to be as involved as he saw fit. If he wanted nothing to do with us, then I’d manage. I’d be heartbroken, but I’d do it. I’d be strong enough for the two of us.

And there was obviously the issue of my father. I could already hear him chewing my ear off about going through with this crazy plan of mine. He would probably give me a lot of flack for being too young, too naive, too… whatever. Dad always had a long list of my faults up his sleeve, but this was one thing he wouldn’t dissuade me from. I’d made my decision.

I patted my belly and smiled. The two of us. Baby and me. That had nice ring to it.

The sound of rubber screeching on pavement ripped me from my daydream. It all happened so fast I didn’t have time to react. A white van raced toward Wilson and me, jumping the curb to ram right into us.

“Move!” Wilson shouted, shoving me out of the way with all his might.

The van narrowly missed me. My bodyguard wasn’t so lucky. The chilling crunch of bones screamed in my ears. All I remember seeing was the slump of his body and the stillness thereafter. I couldn’t tell if he was dead or alive. I was too horrified to check, and even if I did, there wasn’t time.

Two men dressed head to toe in black jumped out of the van, grabbing me by either arm. They dragged me into the vehicle, my kicking and punching proving futile.

“Let me go!” I shrieked. “Let me go!”

“Shut the fuck up!” hissed one of the men before shoving me into the van.

I was about to spring back up and put up a fight, but I felt the cold, hard metal of a gun pressed harshly to my temple.

“Hello, Ava,” the gunman said. His voice was surprisingly soft.

“P-Please let me go. I d-didn’t do anything.”

He clicked his tongue. “Like father, like daughter. Always believing that your hands are clean. Now, put this blindfold on and—”

I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Someone help me! Fire! Someone—”

The gunman pulled the hammer, the unfeeling click sending dread ripping through my guts. “Behave yourself, Miss Cruise. I used all my patience staking you out. Do as I say, and I promise not to kill you. Yet.”