CHAPTER NINETEEN
Levi
“I don’t care what you have to do, bring that fucker here! Hog tie his ass to a saddle and have him ride here on a black stallion for all I care, but get him here!” I blast to Mitch and Ryan.
It’s been two days since Saylor was released from the hospital and we found out that she was pregnant.
When Dr. Hampton told me the news, I was over the moon and couldn’t believe that we were going to be giving Halo a brother or sister, but as a few moments passed, a flash of that asshole’s face came into the picture and my world was thrown into a tailspin.
I felt as though the Hulk was about to burst out of my skin at the thought of Saylor having another baby that wasn’t half mine.
It took Mitch putting me in my place to bring me off the ledge.
I had so many emotions running at the same time; joy, heartache, rage, fear.
Dr. Blake got an earful and after a long session, I finally realized that it didn’t matter that the baby might not be mine.
The baby was going to be a part of Saylor and that was all that mattered.
She was my whole life, and I’d accept the child as I do Halo.
But I wasn’t going to accept that little smarmy fucker, who I know purposely switched Saylor’s pills, in hopes of tying her to him for the rest of his life.
Saylor decided that staying at Grandma and Grandpa’s house was too risky and didn’t want to put them in harm’s way, so we’re holed up in the penthouse apartment on lockdown.
I know she’s scared, and I hate that I can’t do anything right now but say words and not be able to take action.
Once again, we’re playing the waiting game to see if any other threats are going to arrive.
Everly’s dad has offered for them to come and stay at his cabin in Janesville for a little while, but I’m not sure if security would be able to monitor everything as well out near the forest.
The only upside to all of this is that Saylor is sleeping, not only under the same roof as me, but in the same bed.
I could tell she was trembling when it came close to bedtime and so I scooped her up and led her to our room.
Of course, Halo sleeps right between us because we didn’t want her far from us, so the only logical way was to have her with us.
I’ve never slept better in my life knowing my family is close to me, even when I catch a hand to the neck or a foot to the nose when Halo ends up turned upside down, with her head towards the footboard.
I find myself with an arm over her body and my hand is securely resting on her stomach.
“Sir, Colbert and the team have landed and are heading over to the ranch to get Brody.”
“Good, let me know when they’re in the air.”
A thud on the door interrupts our meeting and before I can reply, the door flings open and Halo comes toddling in on a mission, with Saylor right on her heels. The tapping sound from the dogs nails follow closely behind. They are always around, making sure to stay close to my girls.
“Halo Thorne!” Saylor lectures, but her voice says that even though she’s trying to reprimand her, she doesn’t really mean it.
“Hurry baby doll! Quick!” I shout and throw my arms out to catch her.
“Dada! Hep, hep!”
“I got ya.” I twist in my chair to turn away from Saylor, like she’s the big bad wolf.
“Ugh,” Saylor groans and plops down on the sofa that I have in the office. “Tag you’re it. She’s all yours.”
Saylor is definitely showing all the signs of being pregnant; I think we all thought it was the stress of our fucked-up situation, or the move. She looks tired, and I don’t think that it has anything to do with the threat.
“You feeling okay, baby?” I ask but don’t look over to the area she’s in, because my little doll has my pen, trying to scribble all over my desk.
I think I’ll order Halo her own desk filled with colors and books, just for her.
She might want to be a lawyer one day too and will need her own little space to flourish.
No, she can be whatever she wants, no pressure.
“Just tired,” she pauses, and I see her throw her arms over her face out of the corner of my eye.
“You have a nap and this little girl and I will solve world peace.” I quickly distract Halo and swipe my pen from her hands before she pokes her or my eye out.
“I spoke to Dad before we came in here,” Saylor mumbles.
“And?” I knew it would happen eventually. I’m channeling all my inner Dr. Blake techniques so as to not show any harboring dislike towards the man. “I’m sure that was exciting to hear from him.”
Halo wiggles out of my grip and rushes over to Ryan, wanting him to pick her up.
He bends down and she yanks on his tie to make him eye level with her.
We all know what she wants and he immediately tosses her up in the air, giving us a moment to talk before she’s on to the next amusing adventure.
Saylor was right; an apartment is a horrible idea for a little girl who’s had acres and acres to roam freely.
“He wants me to swing by Glammy’s house with Halo in a couple of hours. Dad wants to meet his granddaughter.”
“Did you tell him about the threat?”
“I mentioned that someone had sent something targeting us, but not in any detail. He was pushing that it was safe there with him, and more room to roam for a two-year-old than in a stuffy apartment,” she says looking over at me. “He’s not wrong. Kids need fresh air and to run all that energy out.”
“Do you want to go?” Please say no! I hate that Adam has so much animosity towards me and we haven’t even had a proper introduction.
He is her father, and I think it’d be healthy for her and her dad to rekindle their relationship, if it can be managed.
I just hope we can let the last few years be water under the bridge and move on from all of that.
If not, then it is something I’m going to have to deal with for the rest of my life, so I need to just suck it up for her sake.
“I’d love to see my dad but don’t you think it might be dangerous to be out in public?” I can see it in her face that she’d love to go and her body perks up. I’d do anything to see her happy.
“Mitch? Can we get a team together and have it work?” I ask after picking up the phone and calling him into the office.
“You’re going too, right?” Saylor questions, then sits up.
Halo makes a break for the door, where Tina has milk and cookies, and Ryan is hot on her tail with Ginger following right behind them.
That man is worth his weight in gold. I didn’t think it was possible for a person to have as much energy as a toddler, but Ryan seems to be on the same level as her.
“Mitch and I’ll swing by later. We’ve got something coming in that needs tending to.
” Her face drops and I get up to make my way over to her.
Lifting her up and placing her in my lap, I cuddle her tightly to me with my hand over her slightly raised bump.
I missed a lot when Halo was growing in her belly and my baby or not, I plan to be there every step of the way.
“I promise to only be a couple hours behind you. You know I can’t be that far from you and Halo, now that I’ve got you back. ”
“I know, I just hate that we have to go separately. It’s weird, I’ve been away from you for over two years and now, I can’t think about being away for even a few minutes.”
“It’s not weird, it means you’re just as obsessed with me as I am with you.
Besides, you’ll only be across town.” I kiss the end of her nose and move to her lips.
It was supposed to be a light peck but fuck it, we’re back together finally and I’m not wasting any more time.
As soon as one of us moans, a throat clears and I remember Mitch is still with us.
“Sorry, Mitch,” Saylor says as she buries her face in my neck, but I can tell she doesn’t mean it.
“I think we can work something out if you want to go and see Adam.” Mitch never looks over at us on the sofa, but continues to type on his phone.
“Really?” Her voice goes up an octave in excitement.
“Why don’t you go and pack a bag for you and Halo, while I talk out the plan with Mitch. Maybe I can convince Linc and Everly to go out to Janesville for a few days and look at a few properties out there to buy. Let Tina watch the baby, so she doesn’t unpack everything you put in the bag.”
“Are you sure?” she asks with a huge smile. I know she loves being outdoors just as much as I do. Being back in the city just doesn’t feel like it used to and I think we, as a family, would flourish more being out of here.
“Yeah.” I give her a nuzzle on the neck and plant a kiss right under her ear in the spot I know drives her crazy. “Maybe we can have a few minutes alone before you leave,” I whisper.
Standing with her still in my arms, I place her feet on the ground and swat her fine behind, then adjust my dick.
“Why Mr. Thorne, are you saying you can only go a few minutes now? Maybe it’s time to trade you in for a new and younger stud who can last longer.” She giggles.
I growl then lunge, but she manages to whip around Ryan, who comes in at that exact moment blocking me. Damn that woman! I’ll show her how long I can really go and she’ll be begging for mercy.
Once she’s gone, the room goes back to business.
“What’s your thoughts Mitch?”
“I’m sure you don’t want to bring Brody here to confront him under the same roof as Saylor right now; I think letting her go would be the ideal situation.
” He’s right, I don’t want my wife anywhere near that asshole at the moment.
One sniff of her and he’d think she’s the one who requested him here.
Plus, one mention of the baby and he’s never going to leave us alone.
He’ll think he has a chance to worm his way back into their lives.
“You’re right, what are the plans on getting her and Halo there safe?”