Chapter 11
Jewelz Baxter
J ewelz Baxter
Alessandra (Alex)
I squint against the brightness of the sun beaming through the pulled-back ruffled curtains of the living room as I follow Braxton to the kitchen. I know without checking the time it must be mid-morning. I never sleep this late, but at the moment, I feel as if I could crawl right back under the covers for the rest of the day.
Braxton pulls back my chair when we reach the table. The concern filling his eyes tells me he detects I’m not feeling my best this morning, even after assuring him that it is nothing other than my body reacting to the adrenaline rush from the kidnapping and then the lack of sleep.
My lips curl up at that memory. Exploring each other’s bodies was well worth the missed sleep, and when he collapsed next to me, it felt so good to sleep pressed against my man. The world may be falling around us, but with his protective arms around me, I know nothing can touch me. Although I’ve been raised to be aware and defend myself, Braxton fills me with a sense of security like I’ve never known.
Granny turns from the stove as we walk in, wearing her enthusiastic smile. “Thought you two were going to sleep the day away.” She slides a plate piled with food in front of me and another in front of Braxton.
The breakfast Granny whipped up looks amazing. I inhale the steam drifting toward me. The aroma. It’s—it’s... I slap my palm over my mouth as my chair tumbles to the floor. Stumbling around it, I race to reach the bathroom before my stomach purges itself right here in front of everyone.
“Alex!”
Heavy footsteps echo behind me. I know it’s no use closing the door, but I shove at it as I fall to my knees next to the toilet. And just in time.
I hate this. It makes me feel weak. And I am not weak. Strong. Confident. Even stubborn. But never weak.
I’m thankful to hear the faucet turn on. At least the roar of the water may drown out me puking up my guts.
“Baby, are you alright?” Braxton’s touch is so gentle as he lifts my hair. A shiver runs down my back. He places a cold cloth over my neck.
“Should I get Granny? I know shit about this kind of thing.”
“This kind of thing?” I manage to croak.
“You know, the female stuff,” he adds.
Oh right. My period. Or lack thereof this morning. And come to think of it, I’m off schedule. Something else that I’m never.
I roll to the side, landing on my butt. The look on Braxton’s face brings a smile, making me forget my upset stomach.
“I’m taking you to a doctor.”
I shake my head. “I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will. You’re seeing a doctor.”
“I thought we were to keep her out of sight until the threat is eliminated,” Drake remarks from the bathroom door.
“Sounds like you need a disguise,” Granny chimes in. “I’m on it.”
Oh great. I pin a look on Braxton. This place has no privacy.
“I’ll call my doctor too,” Granny’s voice booms throughout the main floor.
I blow out a long breath. I can’t believe I’m here. How the hell did I lose control of my life? When Granny returned armed with a disguise announcing the doctor would see me right away, Braxton would hear no arguments. He practically dressed me himself while barking orders at Drake to get the car ready. I wanted to laugh when he said Drake and Granny were not to be trusted home alone, but I felt my stomach roll again and held back my amusement.
Now, after Granny’s not-so-discreet attempt at sneaking me into the office from the rear entrance, she and Drake are guarding the parking lot and here I am, stretched out in the doctor’s office looking like Mrs. Roper, complete with moo-moo, wig, and God-awful sunglasses. I flip the glasses up into the red locks and smile up at Braxton, waiting for the doctor to return.
“Everything appears to be normal, but let’s take a look to be positive,” the doctor declares as she reappears in the room.
I tilt my head back to watch the nurse rolling in some sort of portable machine behind her. Braxton squeezes my hand, concern still etched above his eyes. The cold, clear jelly landing just below my belly button takes me by surprise, and I flinch.
Braxton leans forward. “You alright?” But before I can answer, he whirls toward the doctor. “What’s wrong with her?”
Dr. McKinsy smiles to punctuate her optimism. “I’m sure she’s fine. We’re just going to take a look since she took a tumble.”
She’s young, the doctor. My guess would be early thirties if I were a betting woman. I know nothing more than that about her other than Granny trusts her, so Braxton trusts her. And I trust Braxton.
“Perfectly healthy,” the doctor announces.
I haven’t taken my eyes off Braxton. His shoulders relax, and he squints at the machine. I toss my head to the side and there it is on the screen, in black and white. A tiny dot that looks out of place.
“Just as I suspected,” Dr. McKinsy begins. “I’d say you’re...”
“Thirty-one days!” I blurt, cutting off her words.
I know because exactly thirty-one days ago, I was in a stranger’s truck bed camper, having a mind-boggling romp with a man I thought I’d never see again. And look at him now, standing next to me, grinning like a Cheshire cat that’s emptied the canary cage.
I know the doctor is talking, and I nod on reflex, but I have no comprehension of what she is saying. My mind is reeling from this unexpected discovery. A baby. Braxton's baby. Our baby. Yeah. I’m not the least bit upset about this turn of events.
Goliath
Today has been a rollercoaster. From the worry that Alex was sick or had internal damage from the kidnapping to the high of discovering I’m going to be a father. Now, throw Miller into the mix, sitting across the table from me, staring me down.
“No one knows she is here. She will be safe until you come back for her,” Miller repeats what he thinks will happen.
My focus remains on my president as I fall back into my seat, folding my arms over my chest. Drake fills the corner of my vision. His smug grin is evident; he knows what’s about to come, but he won’t say a word. We agreed to keep the baby a secret until this fiasco is buried. Knowledge of a new heir to the Allegrini empire would put Alex in more danger.
“Not happening. Alex goes where I go,” I grind out, punctuating each word with a pause. How can I protect my woman and my baby if they are not with me?
Miller mimics my posture and locks eyes with me. After a moment, I can feel my lips betraying me. Each flash of that ultrasound screen fills my mind, and the corners lift ever so slightly. My mind focuses again on that tiny speck the doctor pointed out.
Miller narrows his eyes, leaning closer. “What did you do?”
I say nothing. I want to. This is my best friend, but I made a promise to Alex, so I keep quiet. My jaw tightens, hoping to control the full smile threatening to take over.
Drake throws an elbow on the table, dropping his chin onto his palm. His fingers hide his amusement, but I know he’s enjoying this loyalty war waging inside of me.
“Where is she?” Miller asks.
“Resting.”
I know Miller as well as he knows me. I watch the wheels begin to roll through his mind. He cuts a look toward Drake, who only pulls an imaginary zipper across his lips and looks away, then refocuses on me. It takes only a moment, but there it is.
Miller drops his head with a low chuckle. “Damn your timing.”
Relief settles in, relaxing my shoulders. “My little swimmers would argue that.”
“Your little swimmers should have been harnessed.”
I finally give in to my proud papa face, beaming from ear to ear. “Ah, what fun would that have been?”
I feel Alex’s hand on my shoulder. I should have told her to stay put when I came downstairs. But then again, I didn’t know Miller would show up with information. It must be important too, for him to take the time with a manila envelope.
“I don’t know if I should say congratulations or sorry you’re tied to this asshole for the next eighteen years,” Miller jokes with Alex.
“You should be resting. Doctor’s orders,” I remind her.
“I got lonely.”
I can’t resist those kissable, pouty lips; I tug her to my lap. “Baby, this is Miller. Been best friends since forever. He knows me better than I know myself.”
“If I have to do eighteen, I might as well do life,” Alex prods right back at Miller, bringing a chuckle from him.
“What you got?” I jut my chin toward the envelope, still protectively resting under Miller’s hold.
He studies the envelope, most likely deciding how much to say in front of Alex. This involves her, so I plan to hide no secrets. He must decide the same as he ticks open the flap.
“I’ve been digging on my own. Alex,” he pushes out a breath before spilling the news, “your place has been watched the past two days. No doubt, they are the clean-up for the botched kidnapping crew.”
I feel Alex’s body fill with air as she inhales deeply, but I keep my focus on Miller across from us. She pushes it out and says nothing.
“I followed one of them back to that ruse of a mechanic shop you two discovered,” Miller explains, his gaze darting from me to Drake.
“Do you know who they are?” Drake speaks up for the first time.
“No. But I did manage to get photos. Not the best, but it’s all I could get.” He dumps the contents of the envelope onto the table. “I’ve seen three different men.”
I study the photos as he lines them up. It is the same men we watched the day Drake got picked up to save my ass. Even with the close-up photos, I can’t say who they are.
Drake shakes his head, leaning close to the lineup. “Same men,” he announces what I know but nothing more.
Alex leans from my hold, and her fingertip drags the photo on the right closer to her. “I’ve seen this one.”
“Do you know who he is?” Miller asks.
I can tell Alex is studying the photo and running the image through her memory. She has an eye for detail. She sees something .
“I don’t know a name. Never met him, but I recall he was sitting at a table with my uncle. I was on a holiday break from college, so I was fairly distracted and never questioned it. My uncle is always meeting someone, and he likes handling deals over dinner or the occasional coffee so it wasn’t unusual to what he did when I was still living at home.”
“There’s our Alabama-New York connection,” Miller exclaims. “Whatever is in that building holds all our answers.”
“Think Wash could be there?” Drake asks what I’m thinking.
I doubt Wash and the others are anywhere nearby. But then again, he was dumb enough to cross us; he could be foolish enough to remain in reach.
Alex twists on my lap, her eyes begging. For what? I don’t know but I don’t have a good feeling about it.
“I can lure out my uncle.”
“No,” I snap. No way is she putting herself in danger. “Enzo and Dante will find him. Your father has the right to handle that.”
“And so do I. Listen to me. He doesn’t know where I am. Or that you know about him, right? I can reach out to him pleading for help to find my parents. Drawing him out could lead to your men also.”
“I don’t like it.” I don’t like any of this, but remembering that Wash, Dawg, and Rabbit took shots at my woman has me fuming again. I want them myself. “I say we raid the shop and clean out our own. Leave Carlo high and dry.”
“Stand down.” Miller leans forward. “She may be on to something.”