Anonymous(49)

“Detective.”

I can hear a deep voice on the other end, but I can’t tell what he’s saying. Jake replies with a yes and a few no’s, but in the end, he lowers his head and huffs. “Thanks, Detective. We’ll be on our guard.” He hangs up and pockets the phone.

“What’s going on?” I feel the knots in my stomach return.

Owen walks out of the barn, his concerned gaze on Jake. “What’d he say?”

With a heavy sigh, Jake glances at us both. “Looks like his computer system was hacked. Whoever broke in will have the information on my flight. They’ll know that I’m up here somewhere.”

“Which means?” I ask nervously.

Owen clears his throat. “It means that this place is not safe. There’s a chance this person could find you.”

Groaning, I lean against the barn door. “Do we have to leave now?”

Jake shakes his head. “Actually, I think we should stay. If this person finds us, then let him. This shit needs to end.”

Owen nods and squeezes my shoulder reassuringly. “I agree with Jake. Let’s end this.”

They both wait on my answer and I can’t help but feel like it’s a mistake. “Okay,” I give in. “Let’s draw him out.”



* * *



Once our potato soup and salad dinner are consumed, we all sit in the living room. Jake hasn’t left my side for a second. He even helped me with the dishes. “Have you talked to your parents?” he asks, soothingly rubbing circles on my thigh.

I flip through the TV channels and settle on Miracle on 34th Street. It is almost Christmas. “I talked to them yesterday, to let them know I was okay,” I reply. “My mother’s terrified.”

“She has good reason to be.”

Snuggling into his side, I place a hand on his chest. His heart is racing. “I know. She’ll be even more terrified if I tell her the bad news.”

Jake snorts. “She’ll be on her way up here to protect you herself, if you do.”

I can’t help but laugh, even though it’s not funny in the least. “Exactly.” Sitting back, I stretch my arms over my head. It’s getting late. “I’m not far from going to bed.”

Jake wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my neck. “I’ll join you.”

Owen sighs and it draws my attention to him as he sits down in a gray leather recliner. He runs a hand over his face and focuses on Jake. “We might want to take lookout shifts tonight. That way, if somebody tries to sneak in, we’ll know. Want to take the first or second shift?”

Jake helps me up off the couch. “Second. It’d be nice to spend some time with my wife.”

“Can’t argue with you there,” I say, winking up at him. “I’ll stay awake with you when it’s your turn.”

Owen gets to his feet. “All right, it’s settled then. You two go get some sleep.”

Jake lifts me up in his arms. “I don’t think sleep is on the agenda right now.”

Cheeks burning, I smack his shoulder. “Jake.” I’m too embarrassed to look at Owen, so I hide my face against Jake’s chest as he carries me up the stairs. Once hidden behind the bedroom door, he sets me down and I smack his arm again. “Now Owen’s going to know what we’re doing up here.”

Jake shrugs. “You’re my wife. It’s no crime to want to make love to you after we’ve been separated for a couple of days.”

I throw my arms around his neck. “True. We just have to be quiet. I don’t want him hearing us.”

His lips pull back slyly. “I’m not the one who likes to scream.”

“Hey, that’s your fault.” We both laugh, and for the first time in days, I feel complete. “Now that we’re alone, do you want me to take the pregnancy test?”

Jake’s eyes light up. “More than anything.”

I hurry to my bag and pull out the test. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, but I try not to get too excited. It’s heartbreaking when you get negatives.

Jake pulls me into him and kisses me. “I’ll be right here.”

Taking a deep breath, I walk into the bathroom and shut the door. So many emotions war within me. I want to be pregnant, but not when a psycho killer is coming after me. If something bad were to happen and I’m taken, I don’t want my unborn baby to be negatively affected.

Once I’ve peed on the stick, I set it on the counter and open the door. Jake’s eyes light up. “Well?” he asks.

I shake my head. “We have to give it a minute. And maybe if you’re the first one this time, it’ll give us the answer we want.”

With the past tests I’ve taken, I’ve always done them on my own time, without him. He’s never seen the disappointment and heartbreak on my face. Taking my face in his hands, he kisses me softly. After a minute goes by, he slides past me into the bathroom and picks up the test. His expression is unreadable, and it makes my heart drop.

Fighting back tears, I back up toward the bed and sit down. He’s still in the bathroom, most likely not wanting to give me the bad news. “Jake, just tell me,” I call out, and he walks into the bedroom. “I don’t have to see it. Judging by your expression, it’s not good.” I turn my head away and the tears fall.