Chapter 6 - We Need To Talk

Tessa’s POV

Grayson’s hand tightened around my neck. My fingers clawed at his wrists, my nails dug into his skin, but he still didn’t let go of me.

My eyes burned, spilling tears I couldn’t stop.

“You’re going to pay, Tessa,” he hissed, his voice low and venomous. “You and that bastard in your belly.”

“Get your hands off her!” My father barked, trying to swing at him.

Grayson barely flinched. He shoved Dad back onto the bed so hard the rails rattled.

“Somebody—” Dad’s voice cracked, raw and desperate. “Somebody help! Please! Help us!”

The shout tore through the hospital walls. A door down the hall slammed open. And footsteps pounded.

Grayson’s hands dropped away like he’d been caught in a crime scene.

The door swung open. And two nurses rushed in, one shoving between Grayson and me, while the other grabbed his arm.

“Sir, you need to leave—now!”

“I’m not done with her!” Grayson roared, struggling against their hold as more staff appeared.

His voice rose into something wild and unhinged. “You hear me, Tessa? You think you can hide from me? Never!”

My knees buckled, and I caught the side of the bed for balance, the ghost of his grip still burning my throat.

Security followed, taller and broader, pinning his arms back.

“You think this is over, Tessa?” He shouted. “I’m not done with you. Just wait and see. Wait and see.”

He struggled against their hold, shouting over the chaos.

“I’m not done with you, you hear me!”

I flinched. Heat crawled up my throat, my pulse thundering so loud I couldn’t hear the rest of his threats.

They dragged him toward the hallway, his curses echoing off the white walls until they were swallowed by distance.

I ran to my father. “Dad, are you okay?” I asked, helping him get onto the bed.

Dad’s gaze snapped to mine, his chest heaving.

“Tessa… what’s going on? What was Grayson talking about?”

**********

Roman’s POV

I sat in my dimly lit office, nursing another glass of wine.

I wasn’t the kind of man to second-guess myself, but Tessa’s calls were gnawing at me.

I told her not to bother me unless it concerned the baby.

Yet she had called. Twice.

I’d let the first ring one ring out. Declined the second. Now, staring at the phone on my desk, I wondered if I’d been too quick to shut her out.

With a quiet curse, I grabbed it and hit redial.

But it went straight to voicemail.

I tried again — same thing.

A sharp unease settled in my gut.

What if something had happened?

I checked the call location. The call had come from a hospital. My brows drew together.

Why the hell was she in a hospital? What was going on?

I didn’t bother with another drink. I was already on my feet, grabbing my keys.

Fifteen minutes later, I was walking through the glass doors of the hospital, scanning for anyone who could answer me.

A young nurse at the desk looked up and stared.

“Tessa Quinn,” I said, without wasting any time. “She was here earlier.”

The nurse hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, she came in with her boyfriend. Her father is admitted here.”

I raised my brow in shock.

So I was right, Tessa was just a gold digger looking for a way out with her pathetic boyfriend.

“Are you sure?” I asked the nurse. “Her boyfriend?”

“Yes, they’ve been here together too many times.” The nurse nodded. “There was… an altercation earlier, but it’s been handled.”

Altercation.

The word hit me like a slow punch.

My mind went back to the bruises on her lip, the way she’d lied through that mouth, without hesitation when I asked her what happened.

“Where is she now, what’s her address?” I asked, adjusting the collar of my coat.

“I’m sorry, sir. Hospital policy.”

I leaned forward, my voice dropping. “Do you know who I am? I own half this building, and your boss is a personal friend. Now, before you make me call him, answer the damn question.”

Her face turned pale.

“She gave us a temporary residence the last time she checked in, so I’m not sure—“

“Just give it to me!” I snapped, already running out of patience.

She glanced around, opened the log book and then scribbled an address onto a slip of paper and slid it across the counter.

“Please don’t tell anyone I—”

“Relax,” I said, pocketing it.

I was already walking out before she finished her sentence.

The night air bit at my skin as I stepped out of the hospital. My mind wasn’t on the cold, it was on that nurse’s words.

Boyfriend.

What the hell did she mean by “boyfriend”? And was Tessa playing me?

Sliding into the back seat of my car, I found Davin waiting, one arm draped over the wheel.

“Everything alright, boss?”

“No.” I shut the door hard enough to make him flinch. “Something’s going on.”

His eyes flicked to the rearview. “Tessa?”

“Yeah.” I handed him the folded slip of paper. “A nurse just told me she came here with her boyfriend.” My jaw tightened. “And that there was an altercation.”

Davin frowned. “Boyfriend? Now that doesn’t sound—”

“I don’t give a damn what it sounds like,” I cut him off. “I want to know who the hell he is, and why she’s lying to me.”

I leaned back, my gaze fixed on the narrow streets ahead.

“Drive,” I ordered, my voice cold. “We’re going to pay Miss Quinn a visit.”

Davin didn’t ask another question. The engine growled to life, and the car shot forward into the dark.

**********

Tessa’s POV

The living room smelled faintly of chamomile tea and ginger, the kind of calm Gina always surrounded herself with. But nothing in me felt calm.

I sat curled on the edge of her couch, a blanket over my legs, pretending to sip the tea she’d handed me.

My mind was still trapped in those last minutes at the hospital—Grayson’s voice, his grip, the venom in his eyes as they dragged him away.

I could still hear him.

“I’m not done with you… Or that bastard you call a child?”

A shiver rippled through me.

I had to lie to my father saying it was all a misunderstanding, but it wouldn’t be long until he found out the real truth.

“You’re quiet,” Gina said softly from the armchair across from me. “What’s the matter?”

My lips parted… but what could I say?

That my ex had just threatened my unborn baby in the middle of a hospital? That I was terrified he’d come back?

I forced a small smile instead. “It’s nothing, Gina. Just tired.”

Gina pressed her lips together, she didn’t look convinced, but before she could ask me anything more, a firm knock rattled the front door.

Gina stood, brushing her hands on her jeans, and went to open it.

The moment she did, her voice lifted in caution. “Who are you?”

“I’m Roman Blackwood.” The voice said. My eyes shot up in surprise. I put the cup of tea down gently, taking in a deep breath.

“I’m here to see Tessa Quinn,” Roman continued, his tone deep and serious.

Gina hesitated, glancing back toward me. “Tessa—”

My heart skipped.

I got up slowly, every step feeling heavier than the last.

When I reached the door, my eyes locked onto his, and I could tell he wasn’t here to joke.

“Roman, what are you doing here?” I asked.

He tilted his head like my question insulted him, then he spoke.

“We need to talk… now.”