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“Never. Sorry,” I told Sheena, because one of us had to try and keep the crazy bitch happy.

“That’s okay, I have no plans to get caught. We’ll use some of Golden Boy’s money to get out of here, and by the time they find you we’ll be on a beach somewhere sipping ice cold beers. You’ll just be a memory.”

The next few seconds happened in slow motion. Teddy’s hands went to her belly and I knew it was coming but I couldn’t stop it. “And he’ll love being by the side of the woman who killed his first child. Won’t you, babe?”

I knew it would either piss Sheena off or send her over the edge. She shot me a look that dared to cut me in half, then turned back to Teddy. “You’re lying! You’re a lying fucking bitch.”

“Maybe I am, who knows? You’ll only find out after the fact.”

What was she doing? I put up my hand, as if that was going to stop Teddy. She had fire in her eyes. “No, babe. Do you want her to kill you?”

I knew she was a fighter, but it seemed like she was just giving up, asking Sheena to pull the trigger. I’d never felt so helpless in my life.

“I can’t change her mind, Tate, and I refuse to feed her delusion.” Those were the last words she spoke as the front and back door burst open at the same time and a dozen officers stormed the house.

“Down on the ground, right now! On the fucking ground!” I moved slowly, lifting my arms over my head and slid to the floor.

“On the fucking ground!” I couldn’t see what was happening but I heard it all.

“I don’t think so, pigs! If I can’t have him …”

Two shots sounded and a body collapsed to the floor. Teddy screamed.

“Fucking pigs, you shot me! I’ll sue you all!”

“On the goddamn ground right now or I’ll shoot you!”

“I can’t, you asshole!” Teddy’s words were distorted by tears and fear. But at least she wasn’t dead.

“I’m in a wheelchair and I’m pregnant!”

“She’s the vic,” a deep voice I recognized as Detective Haynes said, seconds before he was lifting me off the ground. “You all right?”

My gaze went to Teddy. “I’m fine,” I told him and dropped to my knees in front of her, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Are you okay?”

She nodded quickly. “A little sh-sh-shaken, but okay.” Her smile wobbled, giving away her fear.

“You’re okay, baby. I’m right here, the man you love.”

She laughed. “You couldn’t wait to rub it in, could you?”

“I just want

ed to get it out there on the record.” I turned to see the cops cuffing Sheena, a paramedic attending to her wound.

“With witnesses.” Teddy laughed and it was the sweetest sound, light and airy, full of life.

With her uninjured hand, she cupped my jaw and leaned in for a kiss. “I love you Tate Ellison.”

“Are you fucking crazy? You know she could have shot you.”

“Baby, I looked at her and you and thought about baby Tate and decided I was done being afraid. She’s been ruining my life these last few months and it pissed me off. It was time to take my life back. Maybe I’m pumped with too much adrenaline or baby hormones, I don’t know. But something inside me said enough. I saw she had as much fear in her eyes as bravado and if she gave me the chance, I was going to knock the shit out of her with this cast or die trying. But she wasn’t going to ruin my life anymore.”

I put my arms around her and while Haynes and his team finished up their business, Teddy whispered in my ear, “She had also broken through the security code at the front door and knew the cops were on their way, so I might not be as brave as you think.”

Chapter 24

Teddy