THREE

I clean the dishes, then hear the phone ring down the hall, making my body flinch and the plate in my hand almost slip.

"Hello?" Effie answered the phone. I listen. "Hi, Tita Helen. I'm good; the baby is good too. I just had a check-up the other day. Yes, he's with me 24/7. Don't worry." She chuckles. I can sense she is annoyed by my mother not liking the idea of her niece pregnant and eighteen, not ready for the real world. That is so like my mother.

So judgmental.

"Claire? Tita, I told you she isn't here. If she were, she would have called us. Yes, I will. Thea, Ares and I are out looking for them. Yes, yes, I will. Okay, yes, bye, Tita."

I peer my head and see Effie sigh. She brushes her hair back and then finds me standing as she smiles. "Your mom called...again."

"Just keep telling her that Leo and I aren't here."

"She's going to keep calling."

I lean against the wall and cross my arms. "I know."

Since my escape, my mother quickly realized Leo and I were gone and probably had everyone looking for me. After a month of freedom, she finally called the Reids' house.

Every day she talked to everybody here asking about my whereabouts, and I had them all lied for my sake and my son's. My mother is going bonkers and demands to know where we are. She will never give up.

I told my mother everything about Eddie, how he hit me and Leo. My mother has pride in herself and her money. She taught me not to anger him again so he wouldn't hit me. In her eyes is money, and not purple and black bruises.

My mother adores Eddie. Even before he and I dated, she wanted him to be part of our family just because his family was wealthy. His grandfather owns the bank where my father works, which is why my mother is fond of him. She will never take my side and tell me to brush it off and be a good woman to my fiancé.

"CJ, what's going on?" Effie suddenly asks. She and her sister have been interrogating me upon our arrival, and I always give them the same answer.

"Nothing is going on," I say, returning to the kitchen. Effie, follow me.

"Something is going on. You didn't contact your parents, and avoiding your mom. You won't even tell us why you canceled the wedding two weeks before."

I scrub the plate with a soapy sponge while the water runs.

"And I remember you saying that he would hurt you." She continues. "Who's he?"

I stopped everything I was doing and felt my chest tighten. I didn't explain much that day. She doesn't need me to explain. Effie and her siblings need to know because they are the people who I trust in my life. I can tell them anything. They are family. But in this situation, I wish they weren't involved with my affairs.

Tears are already sliding down my eyes. I wipe my hands dry. I keep my back facing Effie.

"I met Eddie six years ago," I begin with a brief history with my ex-fiancé. "His grandfather owns a bank in London where my father works. He was sweet, generous, and funny. He is very sophisticated in his job as an investment banker. I would bring lunch for my father daily from the food I made, and Eddie and I would get to know each other. Then, we fell in love and started to date. My parents loved him and already considered him their son-in-law. I had never met a man like Eddie and fell too deep for him. After a year of dating, I was pregnant with Leo, and Eddie wanted me to live with him which I reluctantly agreed."

I begin to bring up happy memories with Eddie. I somewhat curve a smile just thinking of them.

"Everything was a dream living with the man I loved until after Leo was born, everything changed. He made me quit my job at the restaurant where I was training to make me stay home because he could provide us with a good life and have nothing to worry about. His true colors were revealed when I argued that I wanted to return to work."

I let out a shaky breath and grip the edge of the sink tight.

"I just wanted to work, and he..." I bit my lower lip. Pinching it with my teeth as I recall Eddie's fist making contact with my face. I cover my face preventing the sobs from being heard by Effie.

"CJ?" My cousin came to my side. "Is he...hurting you?"

I whimper and look away.

"Oh fuck no! Logan!" She called her boyfriend, and Logan appeared in panic mode before I could stop her.

"What happens, babe?" He breathed and checked Effie out to ensure she and the baby were okay. "You okay? Is the baby okay?"

"I'm fine," gently push his arm away. "I'm going to London tonight. Drive me to the airport so I can take Grandpa's jet."

Logan needs clarification on Effie's declaration. "Why?"

"To shoot someone."

Logan rubs his face and yawn. He was sleeping upstairs with Zara taking a nap from working late at their gym.

With the help of Lily's dad and his company and the financial from Odin, Effie's grandfather. The Wolfe boys had built a large gym not for them to work more on their abs and muscles but for others to work out. They are still renovating and incomplete at the time. But Logan and his brothers, Donovan and Liam, ensure everything is as designed from the blueprint before they have their grand opening next year.

"Babe, why would you fly to London to shoot someone?"

I nudge Effie not to answer. But she did anyways. "I'm doing this for her." Pointing to me. "I can put my aiming practice to good use."

"Babe."

"No, Logan," she shushes Logan. "Take me, or I will go there myself."

While she's pregnant?

She is dead serious. Even with a baby inside of her, she will do it. It's the hormones talking. I understand completely; I had Leo for nine months. I know the mood swings.

"Effie," I tug her arm and beg. "Please don't."

"No, CJ. He hurt you." She pauses, and she gasps after realizing something. "Does he hurt Leo too?"

I didn't say anything, and it gave away. Effie read my face like a book. Her nose flared, and her eyes squint to a glare. "I'm going to shoot him twice. One in the face and one in the crotch."

Logan let out a low wince and put his hands between his crotch. I held back a laugh, but I didn't proceed.

"Effie, please." I sigh and grip her arm, not too hard or soft. "Don't say anything. Not to Ace, and not Thea. She will destroy the whole country to get to him."

"If she doesn't, then I will," Effie states. I can tell how serious she is. Before, she was the sweet and quiet girl I knew who loved to sing and dance, but now, I feel she is a whole other person.

"Please," I beg. I plead with her and Logan to give Effie the sense that I don't want any trouble for my son and me.

"Ro, just listen to her."

Effie stay quiet, closes her eyes, and exhales. She takes my hand and lets out a wry smile. "Okay, I won't say anything."

I sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"But I can't guarantee of keeping it a secret. You know Thea has a sharp sense. One hint from you, and it's over. You will have to come clean."

I nod. "I understand."

"And your mom," Effie continues, looking distraught about bringing up my mother. "You need to call her so she won't be worried and call here daily. I'm sorry, CJ. She's my aunt and family, but your mom's voice sounds like Fran Drescher. I love her and her shows like The Nanny and Living With Fran, but I do not want to be related to one."

Now I laugh. I crack up and hold my hand over my heart. I wipe the tear from my eye. "That's a good one. No one dares make fun of my mother's voice. Even my father doesn't say anything. He has earplugs as his secret weapon when she nags at him most of the time."

Effie and Logan laugh.

"Thanks, Effie." She hugs me and rubs my back.

"Everything is going to be okay. We will protect you and Leo. Your family. We got your back."

I say nothing and hug her back. I look at Logan and smile at him. He reaches and pats my head as if I were a child. I'm older than him, but his gesture comforts me.

"But I still want to shoot him." She announces.

"Babe," Logan groan, and I scoff a laugh.