Semua Bab Marked, Broken and Carrying his Heir: Bab 1 - Bab 6

The day was dragging toward its close when Novalee caught sight of headlights through the rain-drenched windows of the storage facility office. The heavy storm was relentless, sheets of water smattering against the glass, dimming the streetlights into hazy halos. The clock on the wall showed ten minutes to closing, and Novalee had already begun her end-of-shift routine—stacking paper, tidying the cluttered desk, and pressing the button on the coffee machine to set it up for brewing the next morning.That was when the black SUVs pulled into the lot.She didn’t have to know who they were, or who drove them—no one around here had vehicles like that unless they were something else entirely. The men inside were just as imposing as their vehicles. Tall, broad-shouldered figures dressed in dark suits and matching ties, their expressions as unreadable as the glassy rain splattering against the windows. The heaviness of their presence didn't need to be verbalized; it spoke in the way the air s

Novalee adjusted the strap of her seatbelt as they drove down the street toward her parents' house, James' hand comfortably resting on her knee. The excitement of seeing their both families together played in her head, the happy buzz of family, the laughter of her brothers and their wives filling the air like the sound of a familiar song. Her family gathered for their weekly Friday night dinners, a tradition that stretched as far back as when they were engaged.“Don’t forget to ask Mom for more of her mashed potatoes,” James teased lightly, squeezing her knee before his hand slid back to the steering wheel.“I’ve got a plan,” she replied with a grin, reaching over to take his hand briefly before pulling it back, feeling a flush settle over her. “Maybe we can ask for extra to take home. You know how much we both love them the next day.”They pulled into her parents' driveway, greeted by her mom’s familiar scent of baby powder in the air. Her father was at the grill, still sporting his

The apartment was dark and silent when Novalee finally made it home. 2:47 AM. The numbers on the microwave glowed green in the darkness.Sunday. James's day off from Patterson Shipping.He was home.The realization hit her like a fist to the gut. She'd been running on autopilot, her mind fractured and scattered, and she'd completely forgotten. Sunday was his day off. He wasn't at work. He was here, in their apartment, probably asleep in their bed.She couldn't fall apart. Not yet. Not where he could hear her.Novalee stood in the entryway, still wearing her coat, her entire body shaking. She needed to move. Needed to get to the bathroom, lock the door, deal with this before he woke up.She forced herself forward. Coat off—hands trembling so badly she could barely manage the zipper. Shoes kicked into the corner, too loud in the silence. Purse dropped on the chair.The bathroom. She just needed to make it to the bathroom.She padded down the hall as quietly as possible, her breath comi