"Don't. I don't want you to hurt yourself." I said, trying to move his hand away. However, he remained persistent and ran his thumb over my cheek."I don't care how painful it is. Nothing will ever stop me from taking care of you. I've been a dick to you in the past. But still, you love me. Lord knows I don't deserve it, but I'm thankful you're giving me, us, another chance. You are by far the most important person in my life. That will never change." Damian replied, holding my head tight against his chest. I sucked in a breath but let him take care of me. We remained silent for a while before the car stopped. I looked up and saw that we were downtown, about twenty minutes from the library. "Let's get off here." I replied. Damian nodded, then I helped him to stand up, letting him lean on me for support. We took a few turns outside the underground station until we came to a bus stop. We climbed on board until our next destination. I needed to get us outside of the city. There was a
We'd been driving for a few hours already. The trip had been mostly silent. Damian forced me to pull over and eat. I was happy he didn't ask where we were going. "Hey, do you think we could call my brother so that he knows I'm ok?" Damian asked after a while."Sure. Use mine. It's a burner, so it's untraceable. Just don't tell him about anything that happened. Also, don't mention you're with me. It will only put their lives in danger.""What can I say then?""Tell them that you were sure you found me but got stuck behind some cars in a traffic jam and lost me. Say that you think you may have a lead, but want to be sure before you say anything."Damian nodded his head and did just that. He called his brother, who was, in fact, worried, and calmed him down, telling him he was safe. We needed to keep them out of the loop for now. It was already dangerous enough to have Damian involved. I couldn't risk the Cobras going after them as well. After Damian ended his call, he passed me back th
The car had gone quiet after my response. There was nothing that either of us could say. I knew Damian was just as worried as I was, if not more."Anyways, Kayden thought it was in my best interests to learn how to protect myself. The first was always knowing where exits were located at all times. I make it a habit not to go in any building I haven't had a chance to memorize the schematics for." "Kayden also taught me to always have a backup plan. We can never know where they're at all times, so it's best to have an escape route planned in advance.""That explains the library, the subway, and the bus. Wait. What about the airport?" Damian asked as if only remembering it now."What about the airport?" I asked."What even happened back there? How do you go from asking for a Taxi to getting in a plane a moment later?""Oh, that. It's spy talk. Kayden taught it to me. There are safe places spread throughout the country. He made me memorize each one in case something ever happened. Kayden
...Damian POV...I have a son... I'm a father... Haley was pregnant... I have a son... I'm a father... Haley was pregnant... I have a son... I'm a father... Haley was pregnant... I have a son... I'm a father... Haley was pregnant...My mind continued to swirl on repeat. The words made sense, but it was as though my mind couldn't compute the meaning. My brain had shut down altogether. So much had happened in a few short hours. My brain was trying its best to keep up with everything as it is. But now this?I was still trying to wrap my mind around what was going on, so I decided to take a walk. I needed some air. I wasn't sure if I was even ready to have kids. But now I don't have any choice. I'm not upset with Haley. I understand why she never told me. Hell, I would've done the same thing if I were in her shoes. I'd completely ruined any trust we had in our relationship. So what else was she meant to do? But as if that wasn't enough, the Cobras have been after her. I wish I'd known. I
"Follow me." Kayden said as he turned away from me. I did exactly that, using my foot to kick the door closed. Kayden led me to a small room, and I placed Haley on the bed. I wrapped her in a blanket and tucked her in. "Don't leave." Haley whispered out. My heart broke from her admission. I kneeled on the ground and kissed her forehead. "I'll be right back, my love." I cooed in her ear.She nodded her head, then closed her eyes.I ran my fingers through her hair. A gesture I knew she loved. Soon, she was fast asleep. I turned to see Kayden watching us. He looked at me and silently nodded for me to follow. I nodded my head in response, then turned to look back at Haley. I leaned over and kissed her cheek, then walked out of the room. I gently closed the door, careful not to wake her. I could see through Kayden's expressions that I wasn't his biggest fan. But that didn't concern me. He could hate me for all I cared. Gawd knows I deserve it and so much more. So long as he cared for H
I spent the next while going over every detail of the bets with both Haley and Kayden. Kayden, however, didn't seem the least bit surprised, which made me wonder how he knew. But I didn't focus on that. Rather I focused on Haley. Her movements, reactions, everything. I tried to reach out to her. However, she pulled away from me. I felt absolutely gutted seeing her react like this to me."So all this time, I was nothing but a bet to you? A way to gain a position and further advance your business?" Haley replied, outraged."No! I swear! I truly love you!" I shouted, walking closer to her, hoping to wrap her in my arms. However, she backed away from me, holding a hand up, preventing me from getting close."And you! I trusted you! You knew about this and didn't tell me?!" Haley shouted incredulously at Kayden.Kayden's eyes went wide. He also tried to get closer to her; however, she backed away once more."Hales." I began, but she cut me off. She looked at me with daggers in her eyes. But
I looked to the street once more, hoping Haley would return any moment now. Seeing that she wasn't going to, I followed Kayden back into the house."Sorry, man. That wasn't my intention when I brought it up." Kayden explained, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck uncomfortably. I could tell he was upset and felt bad for how things played out.I nodded my head at him. I didn't blame him. It was my own mistake. I should've been truthful with her long before now. "Do you mind me asking why you asked then? Cause you already seemed to have known all about it." I asked, hoping to change the subject."Yes, that's true. I did know all about it. I asked because I have questions about the bets. Or rather one in particular." "Which one?" "The one with your friend, Lucas." Kayden said, making my eyes grow wide."What about it?" I asked, growing curious."Can you go over the details of the agreement itself? Because something isn't adding up."I eyed him but agreed, telling him in full de
...Haley POV...I was so hurt. Before I had walked in on their conversation, I was planning on asking Damian to rest with me. I was exhausted and needed him at my side. Part of me still felt on edge. As though I was in a dream, and when I woke up, Damian would be gone again. I couldn't rest easy knowing that Damian was in the other room, and Maverick had been taken from us. He had become my world, and I was at a loss with him gone. I didn't even know where to begin to get him back. I knew Kayden would've already begun to look for solutions. I would give him whatever he needed to get my son back, and Kayden knew that. We'd gotten close, and he knew that money wasn't an issue for me. So when I walked into the kitchen and heard them talking about bets. I was absolutely floored. But mostly, I felt like an idiot. Here I was, about to ask him to sleep with me, when all this time I was nothing but a bet to him. Not just one but two bets. He not only agreed to be in a relationship with me bu