That’s easy for him to say. He’s not breaking laws and hearts.
As a father?“Whatever, man, I have to go. Remember, office all day. Phones. Right now. Tomorrow I’ll see if I can get up there after morning muster.”
There’s a room of computers that doesn’t have windows. Five computer stations line one wall and exposed pipes run along the opposite wall. I sit down in front of one and type out an email to Chase. I explain about the paternity test and ask that he checks on the results and get them to Jonas as soon as possible. Since the fire at Aara’s complex, Chase has been MIA. The officers are still investigating and as far as I know there haven’t been any leads. Not that I speak to Chase frequently when I’m out of pocket, but he usually sends an email to wish me goodbye. It’s been weeks of no contact and I pause before I hit send.
The metal port door creaks open and Hoffer pops his head in. “There you are. We need you. Broken ankle, we think. Doc is tied up at the moment.”
“Tied up with what?” I mutter, hitting send, and rising from the folding chair. “I’m a medic, not an X-ray machine.”
Hoffer looks at me sideways as I pass by and hit the stairs at a quick clip. “We figured you’d have a…special interest in making sure she’s taken care of.”
My stomach drops completely. A wave of nausea makes me sway when I shoulder the last door and sunlight drenches me. Her. Her. Her. There can only be one. Only one that they think I’d give a shit about. Everyone knows it.
“Where is she?” I ask, keeping the terror from my voice.
“She was running down from the office. Seemed upset about something and tripped on that last stair, you know the one, and uh, went down hard.” Hoffer is talking with his hands, obviously nervous as fuck. “I don’t know why she was upset. The meeting went well. We secured the target. The pirates are going down tomorrow as planned. I thought it was only good news.”
I raise a palm to silence his insufferable garble. Hoffer shuts up. I make my way to the front of the boat, toward the office fucking Dagger is supposed to be in. He’s not though. I see him as I jog by and he looks terrified of my reaction. Aara talked to Liam. Her dad told her about the baby. No one else will know that though and by the crowd surrounding her at the bottom of the stairs, I realize this has the potential to be a tsunami. One in which we both drown. She’ll be professional. I’m sure of it. Then she spots me jogging toward her. I read the betrayal in her eyes and my chest hurts. This play isn’t going to be easy to fake.
“Medic, medic,” I call so men move out of my way. I stoop down and bark out an order for more space without meeting her gaze. She pulls away when I grab her foot. Someone removed her boot and sock already. The pant leg is rolled up.
“I’m fine. I’ll wait for the doctor,” Aara hisses, yanking her leg away from me.
I swallow down a lump. “Let’s get you to medical then. You can wait for him there.”
It’s a small shitty room in the middle of the boat. Ironically, when Dagger has to go there for his seasickness, it just makes him sicker.
“It’s pretty swollen.”
I meet her eyes and see that they’re watering. “Don’t need a qualification to know that, do you?”
Thankfully, everyone scattered at my first command so it’s only Hoffer lingering, waiting for an order.
I whisper. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. It’s not what you think. It’s not for certain.” Only a fool outs himself first—without waiting to hear the accusations. That’s how fearful I am of losing her.
She sobs quietly, pulling her foot to her chest, pretending pain is the source of her tears. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“It was her again,” I say. “She’s trying to ruin my life.”
Aara shakes her head. “I know Marissa can’t leave her post right now, but Hoffer can take me to medical. There’s nothing you can do.”
“Actually, protocol says I have to be with you until Doc gets here.”
“Hart.” It’s a stern warning. “Let me go.”
“What does that mean?” I hiss as she jumps up on her good leg and hobbles toward Hoffer.
I hate that he touches her. Despise that she wraps her arm, my arm, around his neck as he guides her away. I follow behind them and when Aara is perched on the table in medical, I give Hoffer the meanest look I can muster. He scampers.
“I meant it. I don’t want to talk about it, Hart. You should go. What will people think if they knew we were in here together alone?”
“That I’m a medic and you’re hurt. It doesn’t have to always be something else. Talk to me.”
“Is it true?” Aara winces. “Is that woman’s baby yours?”
I lick my lips as my pulse hammers in my ears. “No. I mean, I don’t know, but no, I don’t think so. The timing is right, but that’s the only thing that adds up.” I hit my knees in the warm room. I shake my head and press my hands together in front of my chest. “You have to believe me, there’s no way the baby is mine. It doesn’t feel right. Forgive me. Please. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. You mean everything to me. I didn’t want to lose you for nothing. She took a paternity test yesterday and Jonas will get me the results. Just let me get the results before you make any decisions about us.”
She’s full-on crying now, her face red and blotchy. “What do you want me to say? That I hope you get the news you’re hoping for?”
