Beast's Demands (Crude Hill High 3)

Part of me wanted to be happy he’d asked at all, but I didn’t want to get married because of a child.

I loved Earl, so damn much. It hurt to be around him. My emotions were all over the place, loving and hating him with equal measure.

It was good to be in his arms. At the same time, I also hated it. This was my time to get over him, and now he was back and I was pregnant. Everything seemed so … hard.

“Do you realize our kids are going to be close in age?” Emily asked, changing the subject.

This, I could handle.

I released a laugh.

“I know, right.”

“Ashley, I know it doesn’t seem it right now, but everything is going to be okay. I’ve got a feeling.”

At this time, I had nothing but the knowledge the only man I’d ever loved was back, and this wasn’t over. I was pregnant, and everything was so chaotic, I couldn’t trust a single thing.

****

For a week, Earl didn’t show up.

Not at my work.

Not at my apartment.

Nor did he appear randomly on the street.

I had him for approximately twenty-four hours, tops, and he was gone. I’d already booked my appointment at the maternity ward at the local hospital. The doctor had called back the following day to give me all the details of what I needed to do next.

My appointment wasn’t for another couple of days. I had no way of reaching Earl to let him know. He was the dad and had a right to be there at each appointment.

After a long shift at the restaurant and trying not to throw up, I was more than happy to get back to my apartment. I’d removed my jacket and toed off my boots, heading into the kitchen when my door was knocked.

I removed the band at the back of my neck, loosening my hair. I needed a bath, food, and some sleep.

Opening the door, I stopped when I caught sight of Earl. He looked good. A pristine suit, his hair slicked back, but it didn’t appear to have any gel in it.

“Earl,” I said. “What are you doing here?”

I should have been screaming at him for abandoning me again. For leaving me alone to deal with everything. The truth was, I wasn’t the kind of woman to hold a grudge for long. I’d already sent Caleb and the rest of the Monsters a gift basket. A personal card to Caleb, apologizing for blaming him for everything that had gone wrong.

I’d been angry, hurt, and heartbroken. When he’d been trying to talk to me, I’d wanted someone to blame, and it was so easy to put it on him. He’d put me in Earl’s path, but I was the one to fall in love with him.

“I want you to come with me. There’s something I need to show you.”

“Can it wait?”

“No. Once this is over, I’ll have to wait for the next one.” He held out his hand.

Something in his voice told me to follow him. I quickly put my shoes back on, even as my feet cried at the injustice of it all, and I went with him to his car.

I had no idea where we were going until we ended up at a dock near the south. Earl tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he looked ahead.

Following his gaze, I saw a whole load of cop cars.

“What’s going on, Earl?” I asked.

He climbed out of the car and rounded the vehicle, opening my door and holding out his hand.

I placed mine within his and climbed out of the car.

Earl wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and the cops allowed him to go past. I didn’t like this. My heart raced.

We came to a stop near several containers, and that was when I saw it. A cargo hold had been open. Women were spread out. Ambulances were close by, and six men were on the ground, in handcuffs.

“Should you be here?” I asked.

This was part of Earl’s life. Why would he bring me here? He was going to get arrested. He’d pissed me off. Made me angry and hate him, but the last thing I wanted was for him to be arrested.

Fear worked its way up my spine as each police officer passed. This was too much. I fisted his jacket.

“Let’s go before they arrest you,” I said.

I couldn’t have him thrown in jail. I loved him so fucking much, and it hurt being around him and knowing there was a chance he was only saying all the right things for the baby. But I just couldn’t do it.

There was no way I was going to be able to survive without him.

One of the officers seemed like a serious-looking man, high up in the ranking.

I felt sick to my stomach as he approached and held out his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Valentine, for your full cooperation.”