Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(51)

He tugs his shirt down over his head. “Shandra will cover it.” He sits down, lacing up his boots. “It will be a good way of testing her. You don’t need to tell her where you’re going or with whom, just that if anyone asks you were at her place.”

“Okay,” I concede, because I need answers, and it can’t wait.

Reeling me into his arms, he peers deep into my eyes. “Stupid question, but are you okay?”

“I don’t know,” I truthfully reply. “I’m scared to hope too much.”

“I know, babe,” he whispers. “I’m feeling that too.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s my period. I’m just afraid to hope. Plus…” I sigh, averting my eyes.

He tips my chin up with one long finger. “Plus what, sweetheart?”

My chest heaves, and slicing pain rips through me. “If it’s true, it means the babies are truly gone,” I whisper.

During the day, I work hard not to think about all the shit that bastard has put me through. But, in bed at night, alone and missing Kai, my mind wanders. To avoid confronting reality I like to imagine different scenarios. Especially the theory where I’m still pregnant and Father was planning on passing it off as Charlie’s. But that’s completely ruled out now if this is my period.

Meaning the bastard did abort my twin babies.

Pain does a number on me, and a sob rips from the back of my throat, as I relive the agony all over again, but I hold it together. Just about. I’m an emotional cripple right now, and it won’t take much to set me off, but I try to keep my emotions at bay. At least until we know exactly what is going on.





Drew picks me up from Shandra’s after I dropped off my car and had a quick chat with her. She let me use her bathroom, and I grabbed a few tampons. She asked me if everything was okay but didn’t pry beyond that, and I’m really starting to like her a lot.

I climb into the passenger seat beside Drew and wave at Shandra as he reverses, beginning the journey back down her driveway. Drew hands me a paper bag, and I kiss his cheek. I try not to stare at the back seat where Kai is lying on the floor, staring at me with that intense look of his, and it’s damn hard, because I need to wrap myself around my husband and get lost in him so I can’t think about shit until we reach Boston.

Once we turn out of Shandra’s driveway, he sits up, wiggling his fingers in a come hither gesture. I vault over the console into the back seat, throwing myself into his arms and kissing the shit out of him until Drew loudly coughs.

“Seriously?” He eyes me through the mirror. “How do you expect me to concentrate on the road when I have to listen to those slobbering sounds?” He fakes a shiver. “Gross.”

“I happen to like slobbering all over your sister,” Kai retorts, pressing his lips to my collarbone, eliciting shivers all over my skin.

“I’ve noticed,” Drew deadpans.

“He’s helping distract me,” I say, rushing to Kai’s defense. “Unless, you want me bouncing off the seats the entire journey.”

“Are you okay?” Drew asks, his attempt at humor drying up as he runs his eyes over me from head to toe, checking to make sure I’m okay.

“I feel fine, honestly. I don’t think this is anything bad.”

“I hope you’re right,” he says.

Silence engulfs us for a few beats until I break it. “If I’m right, it means he lied. Why would he do that?” I rub at a tense spot between my brows. “I mean, I know he’s a sick fuck, and he’s not above toying with me, but what does he have to gain by this?”

A dark glare crosses Drew’s face. “Maybe he’s hoping you’ll stop using birth control and that Charlie will get you pregnant?”

Kai growls. “If you want to get out of this car in one piece, I suggest you don’t repeat that statement.” He tucks me in under his side. “Although it sounds like something your twisted father would dream up, I think we should keep our theories on hold until we find out what we are dealing with.”





“Relax, Abigail,” the good-looking doctor says, rubbing the gel-like substance all over my flat tummy. “I won’t bite.” He glances at Kai. “Unless you ask nicely.”

“And I won’t beat you to a pulp if you stop flirting with my wife and get to it,” Kai says, sounding like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth as he delivers his threat.

The doctor friend of Rick’s chuckles. “Rick told me you were possessive. Just wanted to test it for myself.”

The doctor runs the handheld device over my stomach, squinting as he stares at the monitor. Kai has a tight grip on my hand, and we’re both barely breathing. “Well?” I rasp, unable to stand it any longer.

He turns to me with a smile. “Everything looks perfectly normal.”

“You mean?”

“You still have a womb and ovaries.” He wipes the gel off my stomach, and Kai pulls my shirt back down, looking as shell-shocked as I feel.

“What?” I rasp, sure my ears must be deceiving me.

He pats my hand. “Everything is as it should be. In full working order.” He smiles. “You can conceive and carry as many children as you like.”

My lower lip wobbles, and the tsunami is growing in strength inside me, building and building until it explodes, ripping through me with violent energy. Everything I’ve worked hard to contain releases in a rush, and I burst out crying, trembling, and shaking as powerful emotion takes control of me.