I suck in a deep breath and pant quickly, holding my stomach as I stare toward Hawk. “I can’t let him out. This isn’t going to work.”
Hawk’s heavy brows narrow. “What do you mean this isn’t going to work? You have to make it work. The baby is coming out. You can’t give it back. You’re going to be okay.”
Okay?Why doesn’t that help? I huff out a final sigh of panic and look up at the ceiling, watching the fan spin in circles. Dodge would know the right thing to say. He’d remind me of all the good that was about to happen. He’d hold me and kiss the top of my head. He’d tell me all the qualities that would make me a good mom. I try to think of them myself, but I have no luck. I’m too panicked. What if Mark is weirder than I thought? What if he hurts Dodge? What if Dodge isn’t answering the phone because he’s hurt?
Another contraction tightens around my stomach and an unbearable urge to push takes over.
Hawk rounds to my side and grips my hand in his. He looks like a man who’s about to see God, but in the most terrifying way. “Are you ready to push?”
I shake my head. “No. I can wait for Dodge. Call him again.”
Hawks big hand runs down over his beard. “I’ve called four times already, and I texted twice to tell him what’s going on. When he looks at his phone, I assume he’ll call us back.”
I pant quickly and wipe sweat from my forehead. “What do you think happened?”
Hawk looks toward me, his green eyes reflecting in the dim light of the room. “Dodge is a strong man, with a lot of skill. I’m sure he’s on his way back now.”
I suck in a deep breath and bear down.Hawk is a terrible liar.
Chapter Eight
Dodge
Mark is tied to a tree outside when I get the text from Hawk.
Hawk: Ash is in labor. Get back here!
Hawk: What the hell do I do?
In labor?My chest tightens and a wave of heat rushes over me. The stress of tonight must havecaused an early labor. I want to text back, but I only have one free hand. The other is holding a pistol to Mark’s head, the safety off. I’d love to say I’m a guy who loves second chances, but I’m not. I don’t give a fuck about Mark, his agenda, or the life he leads outside of this. If he came after Ash once, he’ll do it again. Next time, she’ll have the baby in tow while he does it. I’m not letting this asshole interfere with their happiness.
Mark narrows his brows. “What the fuck do you want? You’re going to do all this for some cheap fucking whore?” His voice grates against my nerves and my index finger pulses against the trigger.
“Call her a whore one more time and I’ll stopthinkingabout killing you. I promise you that.”
He’s quiet for a moment.
“I can delete the fucking video. Hand me my phone.”
I grin. “That’s not enough. It’s out there, and everyone in town has seen it by now. I figure the only way we get through this is if you die and I toss your body in the quarry for the wolves.”
He laughs and rolls his head to the side, keeping his eyes on me. “Do what you gotta do.”
I could pull the trigger right now. I want to. I’d be doing the state of Colorado a favor.
He opens his mouth to talk again, her name on his tongue, and rage shivers through my body.
I pull back my hand and hit him in the head with the butt of the pistol. The force is great enough that his eyes close and his head hangs low. At least I won’t be hearing from him anytime soon. Tucking my gun into the back of my jeans, I do the right thing and call for some assistance.
I need to get out of here and I know Kane is all about vigilante justice. He rides with Rugged Mountain MC, and though he’s a good guy, his morals are questionable when the reasoning makes sense.
“Hey, man,” he answers on the first ring. His voice is rough like I’ve woken him up.
“Sorry to bother you so late. I’ve got a guy tied to a tree here at the lake. He was stalking my girl and posted a bunch of shit about her online. She’s pregnant and he—”
“Woah, you got a girl pregnant? Why didn’t you tell me? I didn’t even know you were seeing someone.”
“Not that simple, but she’s in labor right now, and I have to get back to her. You have any medics you can send up there?”