Rugged Daddy

“Hudson called this morning.”

I froze in my spot, the orange juice halfway to my lips. “What’s wrong?”

“They’re in town,” he said.

“Wait. You mean in Whitefish?”

He nodded his head, and it caused me to stumble backward. He reached for the glass in my hand as I continued to back away from him. I thought the threat was localized, still in the outer towns surrounding us. Yes, he’d warned me, but like something in a movie, I didn’t really think the danger would get closer, more immediate.

“I thought you said if we laid low—”

“I know,” he said. “And I’m sorry. I thought if we did stay up here and not go into town, they would trickle off and leave. But that’s not what’s happening, not according to Hudson.”

My hand mindlessly fell to my stomach as Cameron took a step toward me, but I backed up, needing space from him again.

“Heather.”

“Don’t,” I said.

“I know you’re scared.”

“You have no idea what I’m feeling right now,” I said.

“I really do.”

“You’ve lived with this for two years, Cameron. I’ve lived with this for a few days.”

My hand squeezed my stomach as my mind raced to my child. Our child. How in the world was I supposed to protect our child?

“What do we do?” I asked.

Cameron’s silence frightened me.

“They’re on our doorstep, Cameron. What the hell are we supposed to do?” I asked.

“I talked to Hudson this morning, and we’re coming up with a plan.”

“Are you going to tell me this plan?”

“He’s supposed to get back to me within the next twenty-four hours to fill me in on the specifics. When I know, you’ll know.”

Tears rose to my eyes as I turned away from him. My eyes trailed down the hallway as Audrey’s laughter spilled into the room. How were we going to keep her safe? How was I going to keep myself safe? Cameron didn’t even know what in the world to do, so how was I supposed to know? My legs felt weak as I stumbled over to the couch, and I was glad when he didn’t follow me. I needed time to myself to think and breathe without his scent near me.

My hands cupped my stomach as the first puzzle piece fell into place. I didn’t know where Cameron stood with our child, but I knew one thing for certain as danger loomed over our heads.

I wanted to be a mother. As a mother, it was my responsibility to protect my child at all costs, and if Cameron didn’t like the fact that I wanted to stick around after our child was born, then he could fight me in court for custody.

CHAPTER 27

CAMERON

Heather had been distant, but I couldn't blame her. Until I had news from Hudson on what the fuck we were supposed to do, I had nothing to give her. All I could do was keep her here and keep her safe until Hudson told me otherwise. There was nothing I hated more than feeling so helpless. I hated that things had spiraled so far out of control. She walked around with her hands on her stomach like it was the only thing she could do to protect our child, the only thing she had in her control she could still look out for.

Heather and I argued most of the morning. She wanted to go into town to see Nicole, and I told her she couldn't. It was a risk I wasn’t willing to take, and seeing as she was pregnant, it wasn’t a risk she should’ve been willing to take, either. So, I compromised and told her Nicole could come see us, but that didn’t stop me from worrying. I knew she needed her friend, someone other than me to lean on. It didn’t stop me from worrying Nicole would be followed, however. She could be tailed or tracked like an animal. Like I had been for over two years.

I heard a car driving in the distance as my phone rang in my pocket. Heather sprang off the couch and dashed for the door, but I held my hand out to stop her. The look in her eye was nothing short of anger. I didn’t know why Hudson was calling. For all I knew, he’d be telling me to not open the door for anyone.

“It’s Hudson. Give me a second.”