CHAPTER THREE #2
A midwife steps into the room and calls my name. My stomach swoops. Pete stands instantly, offering his hand. I hesitate, just for a heartbeat, before taking it.
The sonographer is kind, warm-eyed, and bustling in a reassuring medical way. She hands me a towel for my lap and gestures to the reclined chair.
“Hop up when you’re ready, dear.”
Pete awkwardly hovers near the chair, hands shoved in his pockets.
“You can sit,” the woman says, pointing to the seat beside me. “She might want someone to hold her hand.”
My cheeks heat, and Pete coughs. “Right. Yes, ‘course.”
I settle back, lift my top, and the cold gel hits my skin with a sharp gasp.
“Sorry, love,” the sonographer chuckles, “always a shock the first time.”
Pete’s gaze flicks to my stomach. He’s wide-eyed with excitement.
“Alright,” she says, positioning the probe. “Let’s meet your little one.”
The screen beside me flickers to life.
And then, there it is, curled but unmistakably human. A hand drifts upward, giving me a flutter of movement, and my breath catches. “Oh,” I whisper, tears springing to my eyes. “Oh my god.”
The sonographer smiles softly. “There’s your baby, growing beautifully.”
Peter inhales sharply. “Wow.” He rubs his jaw like he’s trying to process what he’s seeing. “That’s incredible.”
My chest tightens because I’m happy. Truly, achingly happy.
And also heartbroken because this should be a shared moment for me and Kade. He should be sitting where Pete is. He should be seeing this. He should be squeezing my hand right now. He should be laughing under his breath, pretending not to cry.
Instead, he’s in a shirt with another woman under his arm.
My eyes sting.
The sonographer continues taking measurements, clicking buttons. “Heartbeat is strong. Baby is growing right on track. You’re doing everything perfectly, mum.”
Mum. The word cracks something inside me. I blink rapidly, wiping tears before they fall.
“Are you alright?” Pete asks quietly.
“Yes,” I whisper, though emotion clogs my throat. “Just . . . overwhelmed.”
He nods. “Makes sense.”
The sonographer turns the screen so I can see better. “Would you like a picture?”
I nod immediately.
She prints a few black-and-white images and hands them to me. I hold the top one carefully, like it might crumble under too much pressure.
My baby. My beautiful, perfect baby.
When the sonographer cleans the gel away and gives me privacy to dress, Pete steps into the hallway to wait. I slide off the chair slowly, my legs trembling.
I tuck the images into my bag and step out to meet Pete, forcing a smile.
“Ready?” he asks warmly.
“Yeah,” I say, holding the strap of my bag a little tighter. “I’m ready.”
KADE
I’m meant to be paying attention. Meant to be listening to Juan José talk through shipments, ports, schedules, security protocols, all the shit I normally absorb without effort.
But today, the words won’t stick. Because something feels wrong, off, heavy in my chest in a way I can’t explain.
I sit at the long mahogany table in the hotel’s private conference suite, Anika to my left, Juan José and his men opposite. Everyone looks polished, sharp, and expensive.
Meanwhile, I feel like I’m under water.
“Presidente Kade,” Juan José says smoothly, drawing out my name. “You agree with the revised timeline, sí?”
Anika shoots me a warning glance. Focus.
I force my jaw to unclench. “Yeah. Fine by me.”
Anika leans in slightly. “Try to at least pretend you’re present,” she mutters under her breath, her smile never slipping.
I don’t bother responding because I don’t give a shit about her deals right now.
Or her father’s empire. For the hundredth time, I wonder how I’ve ended up here in meetings, schmoozing clients.
This isn’t how it was supposed to be—take shipments, shift them cross country.
Now, suddenly, I’m needed to oversee this shit, like I’m meant to give a fuck.
“Mr. Kade,” Juan José continues, folding his hands, “I look forward to a long and prosperous partnership.”
I nod, the motion stiff. “Likewise.”
Anika beams as the deal wraps, slipping her arm through mine like she owns me.
She shakes hands with the Colombians, flirting with calculated precision, soaking up every scrap of attention.
Meanwhile, I’m clenching and unclenching my fist under the table, trying to breathe past whatever the hell is twisting in my ribs.
The second the men leave, she spins towards me, arms crossing sharply.
“Are you sulking?” she asks, her voice slicing through the fog in my head.
“I’m not in the mood,” I warn.
“You’re never in the mood,” she fires back, heels clicking closer. “But try to remember you’re here for a reason.”
I step away from her reach, jaw tightening. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
She arches a perfectly plucked brow. “Are you? Because you’ve looked miles away all morning.”
“You’ve dragged this deal out for far too long,” I snap. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”
Her lips curve, all faux innocence. “And what’s that?”
“Keeping me here. But now it’s done, I’m heading to Louth.”
She rolls her eyes dramatically, turning back to the table as she gathers her files. “Louth, Louth, Louth. It’s all I fucking hear.”
She leans forward, palms on the wood, chest pushed out just enough to try and draw my eyes. “What I’m offering you, some men would kill for.”
“I’m not interested in what you’re offering,” I grit out. “I can’t make it any clearer.”
“So you keep saying.” Her smirk widens. “But we’ll see.”
She breezes out the boardroom, and I follow, already mapping out a handover with Diesel in my head. I need to get on the road. I need to get to Eden.
“We have business in Grimsby,” she calls over her shoulder. “My father will contact you about it.”
I grab her arm, and she stops instantly, her gaze dropping to where my fingers touch her before lifting with slow, dangerous amusement.
“I told you already,” I say, keeping my voice low, “I’m going to see Eden. I’m not doing business.”
“It’s half an hour from where you’ll be,” she argues. “It makes sense.”
“I said no.” The snap in my voice echoes down the corridor as I stomp ahead, pulse racing. The last thing I want is more business and delays when I’m about to walk into Eden’s life to try to prove I’m ready to be a father.
Her voice trails after me. “How long will you be gone exactly?”
“As long as it takes.”
Her heels click as she closes the gap between us, her eyes narrowing. “You know my father won’t like that.”
“I’m not asking for permission.” I shoulder past her, ignoring the heat of her stare on my back.
I’m back at the club, going over things with Diesel, when my phone buzzes. I eye Nathan’s name as it flashes across the screen.
“Ignoring it won’t help,” Diesel mutters.
I accept the call, putting it on loudspeaker. “Nathan,” I greet, “You’re on loudspeaker. Diesel is here. I’m just updating him on the deal with Juan José.”
“I’m sure you’re leaving things in capable hands,” he replies. “I have some business in the docks at Grimsby. I believe Anika mentioned it.”
I roll my eyes and Diesel smirks. “Unfortunately, I need to put all my focus into Eden.”
“Unfortunately, business doesn’t wait.”
I clench my jaw. “I can send someone to deal with it.”
“It needs a personal touch. Anika told me how you pulled the final deal off with Juan José, and I need a similar sort of deal doing at the docks. If we can secure this, I can have your lorries picking it straight off the ship. No customs, less risk. So, I’ve arranged a meeting for you and Marco Reid, along with Anika, this coming Friday. ”
Diesel’s eyes widen, and I feel the anger rising in my chest. “Impossible,” I snap.
“Make it happen, Kade.” He disconnects.
“Fuck,” I hiss, running my hands through my hair. “I just want to see Eden without this shit touching her.”
“It doesn’t have to get anywhere near her, Pres,” Diesel says with a sigh. “Go see her, nip off on Friday, do the deal, and go back to her.”
“That’s if she’ll even entertain me at all,” I mutter.
“Only one way to find out,” he replies, patting me on the back.