Chapter 54
The car stopped at the curb outside the pharmacy, and I turned to Wade. "I want you to stay calm," I said. "We'll figure out what happened, get her, and leave." But her eyes were blazing with anger, her whole body trembling. I doubted she even heard me.
I gently held her face, urging her to focus. "This could just be a misunderstanding."
"If there's even a single mark on her, everyone here is dead. That's not a misunderstanding," she snarled, leaping out of the car before I could respond. I followed as she marched inside, straight to the counter.
"Excuse me, are you—"
"You accused my wife of stealing?" she commanded, her tone sharp and teeming with menace.
The boy stammered, his eyes wide with terror. "I—I'm not the one who... the guard... he's the one who noticed... suspicious activity."
"Where is he?" Wade growled, giving him a hard shake. "Bring him here. Now."
"I... I can call him," he managed.
"Then do it!" Wade's voice echoed through the store.
"Mo-Moses!" he shouted, his voice wavering.
"Louder!" She demanded loudly.
"Wade, take it easy," I said, gently prying the terrified clerk from her grip, though she kept her fiery glare fixed on him.
The guard, Moses, appeared a moment later, his face lighting up with recognition. "Oh, you're here! I was just—"
"You laid a hand on my wife?" Wade growled, ambushing toward him.
"She was caught trying to steal a pregnancy test," he replied defensively.
Wade and I exchanged a glance, our disbelief turning to fury. Wade didn't hesitate—her fist connected with his face, sending him stumbling backward.
"So, you thought it was okay to manhandle my possibly pregnant wife?" she spat, seizing him by the hair and dragging him toward the back. I turned to the cashier, holding his gaze.
"Don't even think about calling the cops, or you're next."
He raised his hands and pressed himself against the wall, nodding fearfully. "Good," I muttered before following Wade to the back.
"Let her the hell out," she demanded.
I gasped as the bloodied guard was dragged past the bars of the cell. I backed away, then saw Wade's familiar, furious expression, and relief flooded me. I rushed toward her.
Wade scanned me from head to toe. "I'm fine," I said with a small smile, trying to reassure her. But that clearly wasn't enough. She drove her foot into the back of the guard's leg, making him cry out as he buckled to his knees. His hand fumbled to grab the cell bars for support.
"Let her out, now!" she barked, her voice shaking with rage.
Jager appeared behind her, her expression equally intense.
"I'm okay," I repeated, though it didn't seem to calm them much. The guard, hands trembling, reached for the keys at his side and tried to fit one into the lock.
"When she's out, you're going to apologize," Wade growled. "Do you understand me, you spineless coward?"
"Y-yes, ma'am," he stammered, his hands shaking as he unlocked the door. He swung it open, and I instantly fell into Jager's embrace, letting her warmth soothe my shaken nerves.
"I was trying to reach you all day," she murmured, holding me close.
"All day?" Wade asked, her face darkening.
"He had me locked in here the entire time," I replied, feeling a rush of anger myself as I remembered the long, lonely hours.
"He did what?" Both women's voices held a fierce edge, and I nearly took a step back, the intensity of their rage a little unnerving.
They exchanged a quick glance before Wade stepped forward and delivered a swift kick to the guard's back, sending him sprawling into the cell. She slammed the door shut, locking it behind her and pocketing the key.
"Let's see how long it takes them to get you out now," Wade sneered.
The guard grabbed at the bars, pleading, "Please! Let me out!" Wade ignored him and twisted his arm through the bars, forcing another pained scream from him as he dropped to his knees.
"Maybe you'll think twice before harassing another woman," she snapped. "Especially one of your own."
With that, they took me by the hand and led me down the aisle, past shelves of products. Wade stopped by the section with pregnancy tests. "Pick out whatever you need," she said gently.
I looked between the two of them, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Did the guard tell you?" They both nodded.
I sighed, glancing at the rows of tests. "Maybe another day. I don't even feel pregnant," I said, hoping to avoid the situation for now. Wade, ignoring my reluctance, picked up several boxes.
"It's alright. Let's just be sure," Jager said, pressing a comforting kiss to my forehead.
They paid, and we stepped outside into the night, heading back to the car.
We sat in silence on the drive home, all of us deep in thought.
I silently prayed for a negative result, dreading the answer more than I wanted to admit.