29. Todd
TODD
Ihad rehearsed the conversation a hundred times during the drive to Lake Norman.
None of the versions sounded good enough.
I'm sorry.
I was wrong.
I should have believed you.
I want this baby.
I want you.
Can you ever forgive me?
The words felt inadequate compared to the damage I'd done.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and turned down Cici's road. The familiar stretch of pavement seemed longer than usual. Every second felt like an hour.
When her house finally came into view, relief lasted exactly two seconds.
Her Saab wasn't there. It was probably parked in the garage.
I pulled into the driveway and killed the engine.
Okay, Todd, you do whatever it takes to make this right. Prepare to beg.
I took a deep breath and climbed out.
The front porch was empty. No lights were on inside. I crossed the yard and knocked on the door.
No answer. I knocked again. Still nothing.
I checked my phone. No missed calls or texts. No messages either.
My frustration climbed another notch.
"Cici, where are you?"
The words disappeared into the quiet afternoon air.
I stepped off the porch and headed around the side of the house. The lake shimmered behind her property, peaceful and calm. It should have been relaxing.
Instead, every instinct I had was on edge.
I climbed the steps to the back deck and crossed toward the sliding glass doors. I pressed my hands against the glass, looking for a clear view. Her kitchen was empty, and no movement beyond it.
I knocked on the glass.
Nothing.
My phone rang.
I yanked it from my pocket so fast I nearly dropped it.
Oh thank God. Cici.
Relief punched through me.
"Cici."
"Todd."
Something in her voice immediately set me on edge.
She sounded shaken.
"What's wrong?"
"I just left The Dock House."
I closed my eyes briefly.
"What happened?"
A few seconds passed before she answered.
"A man approached me."
Every muscle in my body tightened.
"What man?"
"I don't know, he didn't give me his name."
Fear threaded through her voice.
"He sat down at my table and said he wanted to chat."
I turned away from the house and headed for the deck stairs.
"What do you mean he wanted to chat?"
"It was really weird. He talked like he knew you."
My pulse kicked higher.
"What else?"
"He said that the last few months have been busy for me. Between the private jets, and Todd Archer. Not in those exact words."
I took the stairs two at a time.
"What else did he say?"
"He knew things he shouldn't know."
Bile rose in my throat. I swallowed it down.
"What else, Cici?"
"He said, 'I'd be careful if I were you.'"
I stopped dead. The words echoed through my head.
I'd be careful if I were you.
A warning.
A threat.
Or both.
I started moving again.
Fast.
"What else?"
There was a pause.
Then she said quietly, "He congratulated me."
I reached my Rover.
My hand froze on the driver's door.
"What?"
"He looked at my stomach and congratulated me."
Ice shot through my veins.
Ethan knew.
The thought hit me like a punch to the chest.
He knew about the baby.
Not because anyone had told him.
Because he'd been watching her.
Watching us.
"Cici."
My voice came out rough.
"What?"
"Do not go home."
Silence.
"I wasn't planning to."
Thank God.
"Drive to the nearest police station."
Another brief pause.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Relief mixed with fear.
At least we were on the same page.
"Good."
"Todd, who was that man?"
I climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine.
"I'll explain everything when I see you. I'm leaving your house now."
"Todd—"
"Trust me."
The desperation in my own voice surprised me.
A beat of silence passed.
Then she said quietly, "Okay."
"I'm on my way. Stay on the line. Stay with me."
I backed out of her driveway.
The tires threw gravel as I accelerated toward the main road.
Every scenario running through my head ended badly.
I should have gotten to her sooner.
I should have called sooner.
I should have believed her sooner.
The road blurred beneath me as I headed toward The Dock House.
A few minutes later, I spotted a familiar vehicle ahead.
My pulse surged.
Cici.
Relief lasted less than a second.
A black SUV followed directly behind her.
I recognized it immediately.
The same black SUV that had been parked outside her house.
CMV2005.
Ethan.
"Son of a bitch."
The vehicles passed me heading in the opposite direction.
I slammed on the brakes.
My Rover lurched as I searched for a place to turn around.
A side road appeared ahead.
I jerked the wheel and swung onto it.
The tires protested.
Seconds later, I completed the turn and accelerated hard.
Now I was behind them.
Cici's vehicle.
Ethan's SUV.
And me.
My pulse hammered against my ribs as I closed the distance.
Ethan stayed glued to her bumper.
Cici stayed in front.
And I was coming as fast as I could.