Page 28 of Nothing is Free

“I don’t think I should leave you so close to your due date, Baby Girl.” I pull Freeya in closer to my chest, my legs on either side of hers. Water sloshes up and out the sides of the claw foot tub from the movement as she relaxes into me. Our little Beta has been complaining of lower back pain this week, so to ease the ache she’s been soaking in a nice warm bubble bath. Tonight, I decided to join her because I’m a clingy mess and in need of her.

She tilts her head back and looks up at me, one eyebrow raised in question. I can’t help myself; I lean forward and kiss her lips. Freeya hums in satisfaction and I purr, feeling her contentment through our bond. With her hair piled on top of her head, I’m in awe of her. Her full breasts float above the water, her baby bump cresting the top.Goddess.She’s even more stunning pregnant with our child. She is giving us the world and I want to give it right back.

“Do you think you will find him?” she asks after a while, shifting slightly, her ass brushes my cock and I stifle a groan. I wrap one of my arms around her waist to stopher from sliding, determined to make my dick behave. Contrary to what my cock believes this bath is not about sex. I can feel her exhaustion and I just want to take care of her.

“He was spotted in the area three days ago,” I say as I take my other hand and press it against her lower back, massaging slowly. Freeya moans. “If he’s hiding out, he should still be there. I don’t want to miss this opportunity. I trust Quincy and Beckett, Baby Girl, but this is personal.” I mindlessly work her muscles. Freeya relaxes further, she’s putty in my hands. When I pull my hand away, she tilts her head back again, rewarding me with a beaming smile.

Her face sobers when she replies, “Then you know what you have to do. You protect this pack, Dez. You can’t be everywhere all at once, and your guilt resides in that fact.” She pauses, giving me a chance to reply, to defend myself, but I stay quiet. She’s right. There is no argument for it. The guilt of her abduction haunts me every day. Especially when I have to watch her suffer and struggle with the trauma of the fallout. My guilt for Omari has faded. It’s still there, always in the back of my mind, plaguing my thoughts with questions and what ifs. Sometimes things happen and I have no control over them. I know this, yet I can’t seem to let it sink in and be okay with it.

“A very astute observation, Baby Girl. You should become a therapist,” I tease, making her chuckle.

“Seriously, Dez, I want this to be over. I want him out of my head. . .he’s taken up residence and I just want him gone. Knowing he’s out there. . .” she trails off, not wanting to voice her fears. But I get it. She is doing so well with her therapy. She’s starting to leave the house for a few minutes at a time. We are all so proud of her progress. But Damyn is an unknown. She feels she can’t move forward with him still out there. With our baby coming in a matter of days, I feel thesame way. I want us to get past this. I know once I’ve eliminated him from our lives, then true healing can begin.

“Baby Girl,” I say softly, and she hums in reply, eyes fluttering sleepily. “I make no promises, but I will find him, and when I do, I will end this.”

Her eyes close and I know it’s time for me to put her to bed. She yawns, “If not you, then one of us will.”

I carry her from the bath, dry her off and put her into bed. It’s not until I am suited up and ready to go that I analyze her last words. The thought sends a chill down my spine and I’m hit with a sense of foreboding so strong that it makes me want to turn around and go back inside. What does she mean? I want to march back inside, wake her up and ask questions. For a moment I stand outside the penthouse door, my hand on the doorknob and I have second thoughts. My phone rings suddenly and I turn away from the door to answer.

“Yeah,” I say by way of greeting.

“Target is still in the vicinity,” Beckett says. “We are ready when you are.” This information is all the confirmation I need. I push the nagging feelings down deep and get to work.

“I’m on my way,” I say, feeling confident that finally, I can end this, for good this time.

CHAPTER 18

FREEYA

It’s the pain that wakes me. My eyes spring open and my stomach contracts, the squeezing sensation comes on like a wave, starting from the pelvis and rippling upward. Then it’s gone. I take stock of my body. The pain is mild, but enough to wake me up.Braxton Hicks?I read about it in my baby books and my midwife told me that faux contractions were normal. It explains the reoccurring back pain this week. I let my eyes adjust and scan the room, noticing it seems darker than usual. There is always some light coming from somewhere in the house. At least one of my mates is busy doing something at all hours of the night. Their schedules are so varied, it’s never really quiet. Tonight is different. It’s too quiet, too dark. The only light in the room is the moonlight coming through the windows. The first thing that comes to mind is maybe there’s been a power outage and the guys went to check it out. I settle back into my pillows and wait for one of them to come back, closing my eyes once more. Not even a minute later, my stomach contracts, the pain a little more noticeable, making me struggle out of the bed to stand. I lean against the post and place my hand on my belly.I can feel the tension underneath my palm, the way my stomach contracts, then releases.

“Well, shit,” I mutter, hissing through clenched teeth. I breathe through the pain, in and out, until it passes. I turn and eye the open door of my room and the darkness beyond and decide to go in search of my guys. I reach the doorway and listen for soft murmurs of conversation from somewhere downstairs. Or maybe the clicking of the keyboard coming from Avion’s office, considering he might be up working because his business is in France. I hear nothing. The silence is deafening. That’s when it hits me, just like it does every time. I begin to panic and spiral, silence and darkness. I know I’m not asleep, the pain from earlier is enough to ground me.

I step out into the hallway and walk toward the stairs, but I pause. I turn and do a penguin waddle walk to the bedside table and grab my phone. Once I’m back in the hallway, I turn the flashlight on and use it to guide me toward the steps. The last thing I need is an accidental fall. I get to the door of Avion’s office, the door is closed. Out of habit, I give it a little knock, then try the doorknob and find it locked.

“Avion,” I whisper, pressing my ear to the door to listen in but I’m greeted with nothing but silence. Fear grips me then. I attempt to push down my panic but it’s winning. I’m alone, it’s dark, too quiet. . .too fucking quiet.

I point my phone down the hall and call out, “Omari! Avion! Vic!” I’m trying to rationalize this and come up short. They wouldn’t leave me here alone. Vic works late but a quick glance at my phone shows me it’s after midnight. Avion is not in his office. He’s always in his office. I remember Dez putting me to bed and at some point I know I felt Omari in the bed behind me. Where are they?

I reach the steps and slowly make my way down. I’m grateful for the wide open planned space below because themoonlight shining through the big ass windows is a lifesaver. Looking left I scan the living room, nothing is out of place, except for Vic’s e-reader on the glass coffee table. He must have been listening to another audiobook before bed. I look right and the dining area is clear as well. Feeling more confident I move a little faster and decide to text Dez.

I raise my phone and almost drop it as I brace against the railing. Another contraction hits me. My knees tremble as I barely manage to keep myself upright. “Shit. Shit. Shit, that hurt,” I say as I try to remember how to breathe. I slowly slide down until I am sitting, grimacing as I go. Okay, so, not faux contractions then. In and out. In and out. It takes a few minutes but eventually the pain subsides and I send Dez a message.

Me: The powers out in the penthouse. I can’t find Avion, Vic, or Omari. I think I may be in labor, but I’m not sure.

Dez: What the actual fuck? Hold on, Baby, let me call Avi.

Me: He’s not in his office.

Dez: His cellphone, Baby Girl. Don’t worry, they might have stepped outside to check to see if the entire block is without power.

Me: I’m worried. Scared.

I hear Avion’s phone ringing from upstairs and my entire world begins to spin. Avion always has his phone, it’s his third appendage. My fear is instantaneous and it’s the first time I allow myself to consider something is terribly wrong. My heart rate spikes as my phone chimes in my hand. I raise it to my face with shaky hands.

Dez: He didn’t pick up.

Me: I just heard it ring upstairs. His office is locked. I knocked. No one answered.

---