Page 31

“You’ve been looking different lately.” His gaze travels down my body in a way that makes my skin crawl. “Different in a good way. Softer.”
My hand moves instinctively to my stomach, and his smile widens. The gesture is unconscious and protective, but it tells him everything he needs to know.
“You’re pregnant,” he says, and it’s not a question.
I don’t answer, but I don’t need to. He can see the truth in my face, in the way I’m standing, and in the defensive posture I’ve unconsciously adopted.
“That’s what I thought.” He takes a step into the office, and I take a step back. “Been watching you for weeks, trying to figure out what was different. Makes sense now.”
“I really need to go.” I try to push past him, but he catches my arm.
“Not yet.” His grip is firm but not painful—yet. “We haven’t finished talking.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Please let me go.”
“Sure there is.” He pulls me closer, and I smell alcohol on his breath despite the early hour. “See, I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. Wondering what it would be like to get to know you better.”
The panic that’s been building in my chest explodes into full-blown terror. This isn’t just an uncomfortable conversation anymore. This is dangerous. “Let go of me.” I try to pull away, but his grip tightens.
“Now that I know you’re pregnant, it makes things even more interesting.” His voice drops to a whisper. “Pregnant women are so much more sensitive. So much more responsive. Such a shame I have to do this, but if you’re pregnant, that’s it…”
That’s when I see the knife.
It appears in his free hand like magic, the blade catching the fluorescent light from the office ceiling. It’s not particularly large, but it doesn’t need to be. Sharp metal is sharp metal, and I’m trapped in a confined space with no way out.
“You’re going to come with me,” he says conversationally, as if he’s asking about the weather. “We’re going to go somewhere quiet, and you’re going to let me show you how much I appreciate pregnant women.”
I look into his eyes and see something that makes my blood run cold. This isn’t a crime of opportunity or a moment of poor judgment. This is planned, deliberate, and he’s thought about this scenario enough to bring a weapon. For some reason, I’mconvinced it isn’t even about raping me. There’s something more going on.
He’s going to hurt me. He’s going to hurt my baby.
That realization triggers something primal and fierce in my chest. I might be pregnant and vulnerable, but I’m not helpless. I’ve lived in this neighborhood long enough to know how to protect myself, and I’ll be damned if I let some predator touch me or my child.
“Okay,” I say quietly, letting my shoulders slump in apparent defeat. “Okay, you’re right. Let’s go somewhere quiet.”
He smiles and relaxes slightly, thinking he’s won. That’s his mistake.
I drive my knee up into his groin with every ounce of strength I have.
He doubles over with a strangled scream, and the knife clatters to the floor. I don’t wait to see if he recovers. I push past him and run toward the main area of the club, screaming for Eli.
“Help! Someone help me!”
Carl recovers faster than I expected. I hear him behind me, cursing and stumbling, and then his hand closes around my arm again. This time, his grip is painful and desperate, his nails dig into my skin.
“You stupid bitch.” He spins me around to face him. “You think you can?—”
I don’t let him finish. I rake my nails across his face, aiming for his eyes, and when he flinches back, I drive my elbow into his solar plexus.
He staggers but doesn’t go down, and I realize with growing horror that he’s much stronger than I am. I’m desperate, but he’s stronger, and I’m fifteen weeks pregnant, which means I can’t fight the way I normally would. I can’t risk taking hits to my stomach or falling wrong.
He shoves me hard against the wall, and my head hits the concrete with enough force to make my vision blur. For a moment, I think I might pass out, but the fear for my baby keeps me conscious and fighting.
“You’re going to pay for that.” He’s panting as he presses his body against mine to pin me in place. “I was going to be nice, but now we’re going to do this the hard way. I just have to bring you in alive…”
The realization of what he intends to do makes me fight even harder. I claw at his face, his arms, or anything I can reach, while screaming at the top of my lungs. “Eli, help me please!”
But the music in the main area is loud, and I don’t know if he can hear me over the sound. Panic starts to set in as Carl pins my wrists above my head with one hand and fumbles for something in his pocket with the other.