Chapter 8 #2
“I don’t know. Anyway, let’s go over the checklist,” she said, and I stood up, my stomach roiling again.
“Let’s do it.”
Kate looked worried for a moment but didn’t ask questions. I was glad for that. We went to the back office—the secure one, where nobody could listen in. I was grateful for that because I wasn’t sure what was about to happen.
“Are the guys going to be here?”
“No, it’s just you and me.” Daisy smiled.
“We’re friends. Yes, I’m your boss, and yes, my cousins own the company with me, but we’re not firing you.
I promise. We’re just going to go over what you want to do because our job can be dangerous.
I want you to be able to work and not feel that you need to put yourself in any situations that will be too much.
I’m not going to tell you what too much is because that is up to you. I promise.”
For some reason, tears stung my eyes. I wiped my face.
“I know that. I knew that. I don’t know, I was just really worried about sitting in here in front of a bunch of men, men who happen to be my friends, but I didn’t want to have to explain my body to them.”
“You’re not explaining your body to me, let alone being in a room alone with dudes. No, what’s going to happen right now is you will tell me what you want. Or nothing. Just talk, Jen. You’re the one who wanted this meeting.”
I sighed and rubbed my temples. “I’m pregnant.”
Daisy smiled at me, her face going soft. “I know.”
“I haven’t really said it out loud too many times. I’m pregnant. I’m having a baby. With Gus.”
“Why do you sound so incredulous about that last part?” Daisy asked with a laugh.
“Because we only had sex one time.”
I wasn’t about to tell her where.
“Wow. Should I tell him he has strong swimmers and you have a very strong uterus?”
“Dear God.”
“I know. This just went way past weird into what the hell. Seriously, though, congratulations.” She paused. “Is it a congratulations? I never know what to say. Usually, people who tell me they’re pregnant have been trying, at least in my small circle of friends.”
“I think I’m happy.” I sighed and sipped my tea. “I always wanted to be a mom. To find the perfect man and get married and have a baby. In that order,” I said sarcastically.
“Well, you found Gus. I guess that counts as some form of order.”
“Only we haven’t even been on a date.”
Daisy’s eyes widened, but she didn’t ask any questions.
“We’re figuring things out. We haven’t given any declarations, and it’s way too early for that I think, but we’re friends. And we’re partners. And now we’re going to be partners in a different sense. We’re going on a date tomorrow.”
Daisy grinned. “See? That works.”
“I hope so. I hope we don’t screw everything up at work or anything.
But speaking of work, I want to make sure I don’t partner with him.
Would that be weird? Gus and I discussed it.
At first, I thought I wanted it because he keeps putting himself in the line of fire for me, but then again, I want to do the same for him. But it’s not just me anymore.”
Daisy nodded. “Ford and Noah are only on the same assignments when we have a large group. They don’t go out together anymore.
So, no, you two won’t be assigned to the same cases.
It’ll help keep some separation for home-life versus work-life, as well.
But you guys are professionals, and I trust you.
Now, do you want to be out in the field? ”
I shook my head. “No. I want to do installations, and I want to work in the office. I’ll do training, and I can help any of the recruits we have coming in. But I don’t want to be in a situation where I feel like I could have gotten me or my baby killed again.”
“No pipe bombs with walls falling on top of you?” Daisy said dryly.
“And no warehouses that explode when you take a step in,” I said cautiously.
Daisy’s eyes tightened, but she nodded.
Daisy still hadn’t talked about the attack. She needed to. She was my friend, and I would force her into it soon.
“So, we’ll make it work. You’re amazing at what you do.
And the thing with this business is that we’re not out there playing James Bond.
We’re keeping people safe, but we also work on installs and surveillance for new buildings and companies.
Hell, the Cage brothers own enough companies and businesses out there to keep us in the black for the rest of our lives.
You could just work on those installs and still not get them all done in your lifetime. ”
“That’s good to know,” I said with a laugh.
“Right? If you think the Montgomerys are taking over the world, you haven’t met the Cages yet.”
“That’s one thing down. Now to figure out the rest.”
“I know I was out there saying I’m never going to find a man and everything’s hard because they don’t see me, but Gus sees you. He sees all of us. We’re very lucky with the guys we work with. It just sucks that most happen to be related to me.”
I smirked as we stood up and made our way out to Kate.
“We’ll find you someone.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I’ll be the spinster aunt.”
Kate cleared her throat. “Actually, I think you might be too old to be a spinster now. There’s an age limit on that.”
“You know, I was just starting to like you, Kate.”
“Oh, I love you, too.”
The door opened, and I looked up, expecting to see a client or maybe even Gus, but I froze, recognizing the man.
“Mr. Davis, what can I do for you?”
Davis, as in the man who’d hired us for our ill-fated job. The one who’d lied to us. Who’d put in motion the actions that had nearly gotten me and Gus killed.
That Mr. Davis.
The same Mr. Davis who now held a gun on us, sweat beading on his brow, and a snarl on his face.
“You’ve ruined me, you stupid bitch. You ruined me.”
And then he fired.