Disa laughed. “You might be,” she declared.
I groaned. “I couldn’t help it. I just love being inside you.” I pressed my lips to her cheek.
“I can’t breathe,” she said.
I pulled out of her and rolled to my back. She got up to go to the bathroom. I laid there, my hand tucked behind my head and counted my blessings. I had the girl. I had a beautiful daughter and we were going to be a family.
Ron Parson just needed to be dealt with soon.
Disa crawled into bed a few minutes later. She had taken her hair down while she was in the bathroom. She kissed my chest before she laid her head near my heart.
I played with her curls until she was sleeping. Soon, I followed her. Her next to me, relaxed me. I slept like the dead until morning.
Chapter 20
On Sunday morning, we got up, showered together. I was still smiling about that experience. Disa slippery and wet in my arms. Up against the shower wall. I sighed.
She laughed at me. “Stop,” she said. We were heading to Heath’s cabin to pick up Asia. Then we were going to church with Rachel. The walls of First Church of God were going to tumble down because Ben Hatfield was going to church. I rolled my eyes. I hadn’t been to church since I was eighteen and old enough to say no.
I found a job where I could work every Sunday morning. I don’t know why me, and God had a falling out. It was just that way for us. Religion was important to Disa so apparently it would be for me too.
She wanted to talk to the pastor about getting married soon. So, here I was wearing my best jeans and a cotton, button, down shirt on my way to get Asia before church.
Shit. I hated church. I had since I was a child. I believed in the higher power and all that. I had faith out the ass but sitting through boring services week after week was not my thing. “Couldn’t I have a personal relationship with God? One on one?”
Disa chuckled at me. She told me we had to set a good example for our children, reminding me that we might have made another child last night. I cleared my throat. Wanted to ask her what the possibilities were and decided against it. Better to leave the unknown alone until it happened.
I looked in the rearview mirror. People tend to do that from time to time. Realized we were being followed. I detoured and Disa looked at me strangely.
“We have company,” I explained. “I can’t lead them to Heath’s house. Call Heath’s number for me.”
I wanted to focus on the road and the SUV behind me. Nondescript vehicle. No plate on the front bumper. All black. Driver only person in the vehicle that I could see.
“Hey, little brother. When are you coming for your kid?” Heath asked.
“I’m not just yet. I think Disa and I will go to church without her, if you don’t mind. We’re being followed.”
“Describe the vehicle.”
His voice was hard and his tone cold. He was all business right now and my child was with him. I should be scared but somehow that notion calmed me. Asia was safer with Heath than anywhere because Heath Hatfield would die before he let anyone hurt my baby.
“Black SUV. Looks official but I’m pretty sure it’s from the compound. No plate on the front bumper. Driver is wearing sunglasses. Black t-shirt. Military haircut.”
Heath snorted. “I’ll bring Asia to Mom’s for brunch.”
“We’ll see you there,” I replied.
“Call me if anything else happens.”
“Will do.”
The vehicle followed us not trying to hide that it was all the way to the church parking lot. I parked right in front and stopped. I had a gun in my glove box. I had a permit and that weapon was fully loaded and ready to use if needed.
I hopped out and looked at Disa. She had her hand on the door handle. “Nope, you stay put.”
“But Ben.”
“Disa, stay put. Call Heath if anything goes South.” Her lower lip trembled. She was playing with her ring. “I’ll be back, I promise.” I locked the truck and shut my door.