Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
“ J ake sent me another text,” Karlie held her phone out to show him. Drew cursed softly and took the phone from her.
“Baby, we are going to get you a new phone today. I’ll keep this one, and we’ll send everything over to Officer Peterson.” He looked at her phone again. “Have you had any contact with your sister or mother?” he questioned.
“No, I have wanted to call each of them so many times over the past month. I know that Jenna is getting close to her due date. Besides wanting to know how she’s doing, I have so many questions about our baby bump.
” She smoothed her hands down over her growing belly.
She was starting to show now, and Drew couldn’t seem to keep his hands to himself.
It was a relief. She was so worried he wouldn’t find her expanding waistline sexy, but that didn’t seem to be a problem.
He was constantly touching the baby and talking to her belly, and she found it completely adorable.
“I talked to my dad, though. He told me that Jenna is doing fine. He also said that just the other day, Jake asked how I was doing. He didn’t think too much of it, but now, with this new message—” she paused, reading Jake’s text again.
Baby, you can’t hide from me much longer. I know you're close. You’re with him, aren’t you? I’ll have you again soon.
God, it made her sick. She put her hand to her belly, instinctively protecting her baby.
“He can’t get to you, Karlie. Only your dad knows that we are here, and he won’t tell anyone.
He loves you and he feels bad about the way they believe Jake over you.
He told me the other day that your mom is starting to suspect that Jake has been lying about things, but she’s afraid to say anything that may upset Jenna. ”
She went over to the sofa Drew bought for their new apartment and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I just want this all to be over, now. I want to go back home. I feel so bad that you have had to hide away with me for the past month. You have a life and a business to get back to. I think that we should just go home. I’ll stay away from Jake—maybe that would work.
” Karlie was worried that Jake would never make a move and that they would be hiding forever.
She wanted to have her baby at home, surrounded by people who would love and care for her, not hiding while looking over her shoulder.
Drew wrapped an arm protectively around her, “Don’t you dare even think about going back there now.
He just sent you another threatening message.
I don’t care about my house, life, or business—all that matters is that you and our little lima bean are safe.
” She had to smile every time he referred to the baby as their little lima bean—it just completely melted her heart.
He had his hand on her belly, and Karlie leaned back against his body.
“Okay, you’re right. I just miss my family, and I want to be there when Jenna’s baby is born.”
“You’re forgetting that the baby is Jake’s, too. He’ll also be there, which means you won’t be.” She knew that Drew was right, but it didn’t make it any easier to be away from her sister and her nephew.
“I’m just glad that Ryan hasn’t been shipped out again.
Having him help my dad to keep an eye on Jake has made me feel a little better.
Thanks for that,” she leaned in and brushed her lips to his.
She couldn’t get enough of him lately. Her OBGYN told her that an increased sexual appetite was normal in the second trimester.
“Karlie,” he warned, “baby, you have that look again. You know the one that you want to eat me alive.”
She grinned, “What a very good idea.” She smiled and started to undress him on her way down to his cock.
“I think I’ll start with this.” She cupped his dick, and he got hard.
“Yeah,” she smiled up at him, licking her lips, “this is the perfect place to start.” She sucked him in deep, enjoying the way he moaned.
She held his shaft in her hand and licked from the base to the tip, enjoying the little drop of pre-come that seeped from the head.
“Umm- you taste good, babe,” her voice was husky with desire.
He yanked her up so fast that she yelped.
“Baby, stop!” He panted. “Someone’s at the door.
” He shoved his heavy cock into his jeans and carefully pulled up the zipper.
She couldn’t believe that she hadn’t even heard the knock.
Whoever was on the other side of the door became more insistent, pounding louder.
Drew opened the door to find his brother, Ryan, standing on the doorstep with a very pregnant Jenna.
Drew pulled his brother in for a quick hug as Jenna walked into their tiny apartment.
“Karlie,” Jenna cried, rushing to her sister.
“I’m so sorry! I should have believed you—that bastard he—he,” Jenna broke into tears, and Karlie couldn’t understand anything else her sister was trying to say through her sobs.
Karlie looked down at her sister’s belly and couldn’t believe how big she was.
She had to be about due now. She started laughing at the way their two bellies were touching.
They could barely hug around the babies.
Jenna stopped sobbing and babbling to look at Karlie like she had completely lost her mind.
“You’re pregnant?” Jenna looked up into Karlie’s face, confused. “How, when—who?”
“Um—that would be me,” Drew helped, sliding next to Karlie and pulling her into his arms.
“Ryan, you knew that your brother and my sister are having a baby together, and you didn’t tell me?” She tried to look stern, but Ryan just shrugged.
“I promised my brother and your dad that I’d keep my mouth shut,” Ryan sat on the sofa and sprawled out.
“My dad knew?” Jenna squeaked. “How is it that I didn’t know?” Again, she was looking at Ryan, accusingly.
“Because you were with that ass hat—Jake, and last I checked, he beat the shit out of you and threatened to come after your sister. Telling you about Karlie’s baby wasn’t part of the plan, little girl.”
“Ryan, please, swear words,” she said, covering her enormous belly as if covering the baby’s ears. “And stop calling me ‘little girl,' it pisses me off. I’m a fully grown, twenty-year-old woman who will be a mother in a couple of weeks.”
“Or sooner,” Ryan teased and winked at Jenna. Karlie didn’t know what the hell was going on, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. Before she could ask, Drew interrupted Jenna and Ryan’s little back and forth.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Drew demanded. Jenna started to protest Drew’s word choice, but then looked at Karlie and started to bawl again.
“Karlie, I’m so sorry! I should have believed you. I should have listened to you from the start. Jake lied to all of us.”
Karlie cocked one eyebrow, “Really, you don’t say.” Her sister looked like she had had a rough time of it, but she couldn’t help her sarcasm. “He was lying the whole time?” Drew chuckled as did Ryan. Jenna looked down at her belly.
“I wanted to believe him because I didn’t want to believe that the father of my baby could be so horrible.
In the beginning, he told me that you two had broken up.
That’s why I hooked up with him; I thought that you two were over.
Really, I should have talked to you before jumping into bed with him, but he was so persuasive, and it happened so fast.”
Ryan moaned. “I don’t need to hear this, Jenna. He was my best friend, and you were just a kid. Maybe I should wait outside.”
“Don’t be silly,” Jenna went over to the sofa and sat down next to him.
“And I’m not a kid,” she put her hands on her belly to prove her point.
Karlie was curious to hear the rest of Jenna’s news.
Drew had sat down and pulled her into his lap, cuddling her, resting his hand protectively on the baby.
“How far along are you, Karlie?” Jenna was smiling at her and Drew.
“About four months now,” she gushed. “I got pregnant the weekend of your—well, what was supposed to be your wedding.” She looked up at Drew, and he kissed her.
“I’m so happy for both of you,” Jenna sounded like she meant it.
“You deserve to be happy. That was all I wanted with Jake, but he wasn’t capable of happiness.
We got married the Monday after he attacked you at the church.
We went to the town hall and had a civil service.
He convinced me that you went crazy, trying to get back at him on the day of our wedding.
He said that you went after him and that he shoved you away, and you fell, busting your lip.
I didn’t know,” Jenna looked down, “I didn’t know that he had been beating you for all those years.
I didn’t want to believe you. I hoped for my son’s sake that you were lying about the abuse.
Dad told me last week that it was all true.
He showed me the texts that you sent him from Jake.
I was so sick and disgusted; I went back home and confronted Jake.
He told me that Dad was a liar. He told me that Dad made it all up to break us apart.
Dad was so good to him. He gave him a job and gave us money for the house.
He did everything to make Jake feel like he was part of the family. ”
“Including alienating me,” Karlie said remorsefully.
“We all did that, and I’m so sorry, Karlie. I can’t ask you to ever forgive how we all treated you. You must hate me.” Jenna was looking at Karlie, so sad and upset. Karlie knew that there was only one thing she could say to her little sister.
“I’ve already forgiven all of you,” Karlie whispered. “I love you; you’re my little sister. How could I hate you?” Jenna met Karlie halfway across the little living room, their bellies bumping as they hugged and cried.
“I hate to break this up, princess, but we came here for a reason. You need to speed this story up.” Ryan looked over at Drew, causing him to frown.
“There’s more?” Drew questioned, concern in his voice.
“Yes, and you’re not going to like it.” Ryan was sitting on the edge of the sofa now. “Jenna, park your little ass over here and finish your story. The sooner you get done, the sooner Drew and I can work out a plan.” Karlie looked at Drew, worried as she returned to his lap and arms.
Jenna waddled back over to the sofa and turned to face Ryan, “I told you to stop swearing in front of the baby. And stop calling me all those mean names. I am not a princess.”
Ryan smiled at her, “Sure you’re not—princess.”
Jenna frowned at him and shook her head, giving up.
“Well, I went home to confront Jake about the texts, and he told me that Dad was lying. I told him that I didn’t believe him and that I wanted him out of our house.
Dad gave us the money, and the house was mine.
That’s when he went crazy. He grabbed me by my hair and knocked my head into the wall.
I must have passed out because when I woke up, he had locked me in the closet.
I was so afraid that what he did would hurt the baby,” Jenna paused, rubbing her belly.
Karlie was furious. How could a man do that to a woman who was pregnant with his child?
Drew was nothing but gentle with her and their baby.
Drew must have felt her tension and started rubbing her back.
Jenna went on, “It felt like he left me in the closet for hours. I’m not sure how much time had passed.
Dad was the one who found me. He took me to the hospital and had me and the baby checked out.
We were both fine. They kept me overnight, in case of a concussion.
When I got home the next day, Officer Peterson was at my house, asking if I wanted to press charges.
I did, Karlie, and I think you should too.
The officer told me that you didn’t press charges against Jake because you didn’t want to hurt me.
Jake will hurt both of us if we don’t put him behind bars.
I think he’s coming after you, Karlie. That’s why Ryan and I are here; we wanted to warn you. ”
Drew’s hold was so tight on Karlie that she almost couldn’t breathe. “I got another text from Jake, just before you got here. He threatened to find me.” Karlie couldn’t help but notice the look that Drew shot at Ryan.
“Baby, Ryan and I are going to go to the kitchen and talk. Why don’t you and your sister catch up out here?” Drew and Ryan started for the kitchen.
“No fucking way—sorry for cursing, Jenna—are you two leaving us out of your plans?” Karlie hissed, causing both men to turn and face her.
“We’re the ones that got ourselves involved with a crazy man, not you,” Karlie went on, “he's our problem, not yours. So, you two running off to fix our problems isn’t going to work for us.” Karlie and Jenna were now standing united, in the middle of the room, holding hands.
“Not our problem?” Drew stalked toward Karlie, anger clear on his face. “I thought that you and I decided that we are a team.” He stood, towering over both of them, looking down at Karlie, who stood up a little taller.
“Exactly,” she spat back, “we did decide that we are a team. You and me,” she motioned between her and Drew, “not you and Ryan running off to the kitchen while us pregnant womenfolk stay here and chat.”
Drew smiled down at her, softening immediately. “Smart girl,” he said, leaning in for a kiss. “You’re right—this is between all of us, not just me and Ryan.”
“Although, I’m not too sure why Ryan is here,” Jenna questioned.
“Well, someone had to keep your ass out of trouble. Your dad and Drew asked me to keep an eye on you. After Jake attacked you, your dad told me to get you out of there. He’s the one who told me to bring you here.
Only he and Officer Peterson know where we are.
” Ryan turned to Drew, “So what’s the plan for keeping the women-folk safe?
” Ryan cringed when Jenna smacked him, seeming to expect it.
He grabbed and gently held her hands in his and laughed.
Drew looked at Karlie and cocked an eyebrow. “Well, this is unexpected,” he whispered in her ear.