“I’ll go back to your house and pick them up for you,” Ryan offered.
“You shouldn’t go alone,” Drew chimed in. “Jake still has the keys to their house. We can grab her bags and then call a locksmith to have the locks changed.”
Jake and Ryan agreed on the newest plan, even if the plan seemed to change from second to second. Karlie was so excited to meet her nephew, she’d do whatever it would take to keep Jenna calm. They got Jenna settled into the prenatal wing of the hospital. She was all hooked up to baby monitors and an IV by the time the guys left to grab her bags. The contractions were coming so fast and hard that the nurse didn’t want to call for an epidural until the doctor had a chance to examine her. Jenna was trying to breathe her way through, but Karlie could tell that she was in a good deal of pain. Karlie rubbed her baby bump and worried about what was to come.
“Karlie, you still have time before your little one will be here,” Jenna said, seeming to read her thoughts. “It’s not that bad,” she lied. “Once I get the epidural, everything will be great, you’llsee.”
Karlie nodded, “I know, but I’m still worried about you. You’re my little sister, and I don’t want you to have any pain. Where is that doctor?” Karlie looked out the door as if willing him to appear.
“Why don’t you go and get something to eat and drink? I am probably going to be here for a while. I read that first-time deliveries can take days sometimes. You need to take care of yourself and your baby,” Jenna insisted.
Karlie thought for a moment, trying to decide what to do. “Karlie, Jake can’t get to me here. Ryan and Drew warned security, and they have a guard outside the pregnancy unit and outside of Mom’s door. We are all safe—please go eat something.” Jenna grabbed the bed rail and started breathing. When the contraction was over, she smiled at Karlie as if trying to ease her worry.
“Okay, if you’re sure, I’ll go grab a quick bite. I won’t be long.” She walked over to Jenna and kissed her sister’s cheek.
“We’ll be right here, but give the nurse your cell number, just in case your nephew decides to come a little more quickly.” Jenna gave her another shaky smile.
∞
Karlie was hungry. In fact, she was starving. It was like someone turned on a light switch, and her hunger was out of control all the time. Her stomach growled as if on cue, and she patted her belly. “Okay, baby girl, we’ll get something to eat in a minute.” She was just about to go to the hospital’s cafeteria. The floor she was on was all but deserted since it wasn’t quite lunchtime.
“Aww, how sweet—talking to the little bump.” The voice behind her made her jump and squeal—Jake. How did he know where to find her? Did Jenna tell him that she was in labor?
“Jake,” she whispered, “How did you—”
“Find you, baby?” He reached to tuck her hair from her eyes, and she tried to block his hand. Jake grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back, making her cry out in agony.
“Honey, I’d find you anywhere. I told you that when I texted you. You belong to me. I’ll always find you, baby.” He released her arm, pulling her closer into his body. His hold was so tight that there was no way she could have gotten away. She was afraid of struggling, not wanting to give Jake a chance to hurt her baby.
“No,” she spat, “I don’t belong with you. Drew will find us, and he’ll kill you for what you have done.”
Jake laughed, “Honey, no one can touch me. I have you as my insurance policy, and I’m sure that big, bad Drew won’t do anything to hurt his baby.” He patted her baby bump, causing her to swallow back bile.
“Don’t touch my baby,” she yelled. “Keep your fucking hands off her.”
Jake laughed again, “She’ll need to get used to her Step daddy touching her. You will be mine, Karlie. She will be mine, too.”
“No,” she screamed, “you will never take her.” Now, she started to struggle. If Jake had planned to take her, she would fight like hell before she would let that happen. Karlie started to scream, and Jake put his hand over her mouth.
“Shut your fucking mouth,” he hissed. Karlie bit down, causing him to scream in pain, and he took his hands off her. Sheturned, starting to run toward the elevators. She didn’t get far; he reached her so easily. She forgot how crafty Jake could be.
“Please just let me go. I won’t tell anyone that I saw you. I need to get back to Jenna.” She cringed with her last statement, not meaning to alert Jake to his baby’s birth.
“Jenna? Why is Jenna here? Is it the baby? I knew that beating the shit out of her precious mother would bring Jenna home. I never imagined that you would come along, too. I was hoping to finish what Jenna, and I started. That little bitch knew where to find you, but she got out of the closet before I could get it out of her.” Karlie quickly looked around, trying to find a way to get away from him. The elevators hadn’t opened in what seemed like forever. The stairs were her only option. If she could just keep him talking, she could distract him enough to get free.
“Jenna didn’t know where Drew and I were. Ryan brought her to us,” Karlie whispered.
Jake’s hold tightened around her, “Why the fuck is Ryan involved in this? Ryan is my friend. Why would he be helping you?”
“He’s Drew’s brother, and you’re a psycho-douche. Why would Ryan choose you over his brother?” Karlie questioned, taunting him. Her words seemed to just anger Jake; he pulled her hair back so hard that the pain made her tear up.
“It doesn’t matter, Babe. You’re here now, that’s all that matters.” He kissed her mouth, and she felt sick. She struggled, trying to pull away from him. “Oh, we’re just getting started, honey. I’ve been waiting a long time for this. I want to take my time with you. I have a special little place I’ve set up, and we’re going to get nice and cozy again.” She was crying, in pain fromthe grip he had on her hair, and scared of what he had in store for her. Where was Drew? Why hadn’t he found her yet?
“Please find me, Drew.” She must have said that out loud because Jake started laughing again.
“Oh, honey, Drew’s going to be a little busy for a while. He won’t be finding you—ever.” Karlie wanted like hell to believe that Jake was wrong. Her only hope now was Drew finding her because she was too afraid of Jake hurting the baby to do anything for herself.
∞
