Page 56 of Rescuing Tobias

When she tilted her head back to look up at him, there was a darkness on his face that said the words he’d spoken were exactly the ones he’d meant.

“What do you mean, too?” she asked, planting her hands on his chest and pulling back a little.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me.” Someone had tried to run them down, the second time for her in a matter of days. If he knew something, she deserved to know what it was. “What did you mean that you wouldn't let me be taken too? Have … have these people kidnapped more of the nurses and doctors you rescued along with me? Is that what you meant? Is that why you came here? Because you know others have been taken and I was in danger too?”

Even though it didn't really change anything it felt like some kind of betrayal. Why wouldn't he have told her that she was in such great danger? Did Connor know? Becca? Was she the only one unaware of the fact that the traffickers really did intend to get her back? Or was she blowing this whole thing out of proportion and making it about her when it wasn't?

“Two other nurses have disappeared,” he somewhat reluctantly told her.

“Two nurses who were with me?”

“Yes.”

“Gone?”

“Yeah, firecracker. Gone.”

“Abducted?”

“One we know for sure, the other seems like the most logical option.”

“So it really was them the other day. I mean, I knew, but … I guess I didn't want it to be true, so I was pretending.”

“Normal, Isabella. We couldn’t prove that the car that tried to hit you the other day was them, but we all assumed it was. It’s what finally made me realize that I can't stay away. I don’t want to lose you. I won't lose you,” he said fiercely. Danger and a deep protectiveness she’d never had directed at her before were both dancing in his dark eyes, and his mouth was set in a stubborn line. “I swear to you, Isabella. I will keep you and our baby safe. Whatever it takes, I will not let those monsters put their hands on you again.”

CHAPTER 17

April 25th

10:57 P.M.

“So much has changedin ten days,” Isabella said quietly as they walked into his apartment.

Tobias couldn’t agree more.

Just ten days ago, he’d come home to find her waiting on his doorstep, ready to drop the bombshell that they were having a baby. If he could go back in time, he would undo how he’d responded. Instead of immediately cutting her off in a desperate attempt to protect her and their child, he would have sat her down and talked everything through with her, let her make her own decisions and choices about what her future looked like, and what she was and wasn't prepared to live with.

Instead, he’d hurt the person who was quickly becoming the most important in his life.

After his injury, he’d pushed away the guys on his team. They’d saved his life, but he was all too aware that it could have come at the cost of their own. His father had enough to deal with since his mom had been in the final stages of her life, and hehadn't wanted to add to that burden. While he liked the other members of Cyber Team, he wasn't close with them because he just hadn't had the motivation to let anyone get close again.

Until a tiny firecracker with wild blonde curls and the bluest eyes he’d ever seen had led him on a chase through the jungle. Her strength and bravery had left a mark on him that night that could never be erased, and he was honored that she wanted to explore a future with him.

“When I walked out of your apartment, I never in my wildest dreams would have ever thought I would be walking back into it one day.”

“I'm not proud of how I acted that night,” he admitted.

“Oh, I know.” Quickly setting her bag down on the couch, Isabella turned to wrap her arms around his waist and squeeze tightly. “I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I just can't get over how different things are now than they were that night. It feels like I've known about the baby forever, yet it’s only been ten days since Becca and Susanna convinced me to take that pregnancy test.”

“Thank you for coming to tell me, even though I hadn't given you a reason to trust me to be there for you.” Pressing his lips to the top of her head, he held them there for a long moment. It would have served him right if Isabella had kept the pregnancy to herself. Since he hadn't replied to her texts, she believed he wasn't interested in hearing from her again. But his girl had done what she believed to be the best thing for their baby, and he was forever grateful.

“If I hadn't wound up pregnant, would we be where we are now? Would you have come to me? Would you have confessed your fears? Would we be in a relationship?” Although her voice was even, Tobias could hear the undercurrent of vulnerability. Not something Isabella often allowed people to see.

“We’d be here,” he answered honestly. “Maybe not this quickly, but I was already at war with myself before you came and told me about the baby. The morning you left, I didn't want to let you go even though I knew you needed to be with people you knew and trusted. I wanted so badly to ask to stay in touch, but I wasn't sure I could have you in my life and not end up right where we are now, and I didn't think that was fair to you.”

“I wanted to reach out so many times before I finally did, but I kept talking myself out of it. I didn't think I was in a place where I could handle a relationship, and somehow, I seemed to know there was no way we could ever just be friends.”

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