LOGIN"I don't have any cash," I said, my voice shaking in the quiet space.The leader smirked and held his hand out. "Then give me the bag."I took a step back and shook my head. "No. Just leave me alone."The man did not hesitate.He stepped forward, pulled his arm back, and punched me hard right in the stomach.The air left my lungs in a sharp gasp.Pain rushed through my middle, and my knees buckled instantly.I fell forward and hit the pavement hard.Before they could grab me, I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms tight around my stomach.I curled into a tight ball to protect my unborn babies from the attack.A heavy boot kicked my shoulder, knocking my head toward the asphalt.Another kick landed right in the middle of my back.I squeezed my eyes shut and braced myself for the next hit.I was terrified that I was going to lose my child right here in this dirty alley."Grab his coat!" one of the men yelled.Rough hands pulled at my collar, but I refused to uncurl my body
"I will text you," I promised quietly.He took a step back, and the elevator doors shut.I leaned against the wall and let out a breath while the car went down to the lobby.My stomach was still unsettled from throwing up earlier, but the lunch he forced me to eat helped me stay on my feet.I walked through the lobby doors and stepped out onto the sidewalk.The evening air was cold, and the wind blew right through my coat.I pulled my collar up and hurried down the stairs into the subway station.The tunnel was packed with commuters.The air down there was hot and smelled like garbage.My nausea flared up, making my throat feel tight.I stood on the platform for ten minutes before a voice came over the speakers.The announcer said all trains were delayed by forty minutes due to a signal failure.A groan echoed through the station.I rubbed my forehead and closed my eyes.I could not stand down here for an hour while my stomach churned.I turned around and pushed my way back through th
The sky outside my window was turning dark.The streetlights down on the avenue flickered on one by one.I sat behind my desk and looked through the open doorway.Jett was standing in the anteroom, packing his canvas bag to go home.He folded his jacket and placed it carefully inside the bag.He looked exhausted, but his color was a little better after he finally ate lunch.He zipped the bag shut and slung the heavy strap over his shoulder.A sharp spike of unease hit my chest.It was getting late, and he was about to walk out into the city all alone.Rosalie was still somewhere in town.She made a massive fool of herself in this exact room a few days ago, and she held a deep grudge against Jett for it.Purebloods were incredibly petty when their pride was damaged.They did not just let things go and move on.My inner wolf wanted to grab the car keys from my desk drawer.I wanted to put him in my passenger seat and drive him home myself.I wanted to lock his apartment door and stand g
Thursday morning blurred into Thursday afternoon.I sat at my desk, sorting through a stack of memos.The heavy nausea from yesterday was still sitting in my stomach, but it was just a dull ache today.The door to Ren's office suddenly opened.He walked out holding a large brown paper bag and a cold bottle of juice.He didn't go to the breakroom or stop at the water cooler.He walked straight over to my desk and dropped the bag right in front of my keyboard."Move your hands," Ren said.I pulled my fingers back just before the heavy paper crushed them.The rich smell of roasted chicken and garlic filled the small room."Ren, my break isn't for another twenty minutes," I argued.He pulled the spare chair over and sat down right next to my desk."Take it now.""I am not really hungry today," I lied, pushing the bag back toward him.Ren crossed his arms over his chest and stretched his long legs out."I am not leaving this chair until you finish it, Jett.""You are being ridiculous.""Ea
The door to Ren's office clicked shut, leaving me alone in the quiet anteroom.I stared at the wood for a long moment before letting out a shaky breath.He told me to take it easy, but resting did not make my stomach feel any better.As the morning dragged on, the faint nausea I woke up with twisted into a constant, churning knot.I tried sipping some cold water from my thermos, but even the taste of the plastic made my throat close up.By noon, the sickness hit me so hard I had to push my chair back and literally run down the hall.I pushed the bathroom door open, rushed into the furthest stall, and dropped to my knees.I threw up the small amount of tea and fruit I managed to eat earlier.My chest heaved, and cold sweat dripped down the back of my neck.I flushed the toilet and leaned my forehead against the cool metal of the stall divider to catch my breath.This wasn't just morning sickness anymore.It was an all-day nightmare.I washed my face at the sink and went back to my desk
Brenda was walking down the hall with a thick stack of blue folders pressed against her chest.I stepped out of my office and blocked her path.She stopped fast, her heels skidding slightly on the polished floor."I will take those," I told her, holding my hand out."But Jett asked me to—""I don't care what he asked you to do."I took the files from her arms and walked straight toward the anteroom.Jett had been using her as a messenger for three straight days just to avoid coming into my office.He was putting up walls again, and I was done letting him run away from me.I walked into his space and dropped the heavy folders onto the edge of his desk.The loud smack made him jump in his seat.He looked up from his computer monitor, his blue eyes wide and defensive."Mr. Wilder," he mumbled, shrinking back into his chair. "I thought Brenda was bringing those.""She was," I said. "But you work for me, Jett, not her."He swallowed hard and reached for the top folder, but I caught his wri







