Page 5 of Katie 3

I smooth out my skirt as if Henry or Brad will notice or be surprised that Carter and I were naughty in the car. My face pales, then immediately heats. Anyone could have seen us. They could have watched us come. We need to be more careful, even if there’s something exciting about getting caught.

“I already have! I said it’s my fault! But if you’re asking me to regret it then—”

“I’m telling you, youshouldregret it! It’s only a matter of time, he’ll press charges. He won’t let it go! Kidnapping, holding someone hostage, assault, assault with a deadly weapon, battery, you tortured him!” Henry says, throwing a paper at Brad as I stand there stunned.

Brad’s eyes flick to me and his anger ebbs. He promised he’d be a better man. He promised he’d be better for me and the baby. Our eyes clash and I do see regret. Not for what he did, but because of how it could hurt us, hurt me.

“If they’re successful, you’re going to jail. Not for a year either. We’re talking about a decade. So your job is to apologize, admit to nothing, and do what you’re told. Pretend to be someone who deserves some sympathy,” Henry orders and my throat closes. He can’t go to jail. I know what he did, but I can’t live without him. He has a part of me, a shard of my soul, and I need him to breathe.

Henry turns around, his gaze shifting between me and Carter, and then he clears his throat. “The baby?”

“Healthy,” I say softly. “Five weeks along.”

He rubs his jaw. “I need to go take care of this. Askhimfor details.”

Henry starts to walk past me, then lingers beside and kisses my temple. He doesn’t say another word, he just heads out. I glance back towards him until I realize Carter isn’t next to me.

“It’s fine, it will be fine,” Brad says. “He hasn’t pressed any charges yet.”

“Let’s hope it stays like that. We don’t want him calling Katie in as a witness,” Carter adds.

A witness… Panic settles, breathing stalls, and Brad closes in. “Don’t worry, it will be okay.” He cups my face, a teasing smile on his lips, and the tension in my body fades slowly. His lips press on mine. His hands smooth down my back until he palms my ass and pulls me against him. He’s been at least slightly gentler.

“Brad,” I breathe. I want to talk; I need to know more about the possible charges. I need him to say them.

He gets down on his knees and lifts my shirt, kissing across my belly. “Don’t worry,” he says again as his hands graze over the back of my thighs, then arches an eyebrow when his fingers tease the inside of my upper thigh. “Someone’s been naughty.”

“A little,” I whisper, letting his touch lure me away from my thoughts.

“More than a little if I feel wetness here, my good slut,” he purrs. “Did you make Carter come?”

I nod.

“Good girl,” he praises, licking up my belly in a move that’s meant for me, not the baby. I shudder in response and he grins. “You want more, don’t you?”

“We need to talk about this,” Carter says evenly. “You and me specifically, Brad.”

“About what?”

“Evidence,” Carter answers.

Brad and I both look over at him. He meets Brad’s eyes and I see Carter slip into work mode. The way he gets authoritative and demanding with just a look is so sexy. Brad clearly doesn’t see it that way because he squares his shoulders.

“Well, you tied him to a fucking tree—where are the ropes? The blindfold? His clothes? We’ve got to talk about the evidence that could be leveraged against you. What did others see? These people he has listed,” Carter rattles off.

Brad squeezes my ass. “I think it can wait at least until—”

“Do you want to be in jail when the baby is born or do you want to get away with this, lessen your charges, leave nothing for a case to be built off in the first place?” Carter asks.

My breath hitches. The reality of it all is like a punch to the stomach.

“Yeah,” Brad says, staring back to me. “You’re right.”

“Let us focus on this, Katie. Please don’t worry, not yet,” Carter says and motions me to head upstairs.

So I do and take a shower to think about what life would be like with Brad in jail. Would Henry blame me? Obviously, I didn’t do anything with Dan. I didn’t use him to make Brad jealous. But if I wasn’t involved with Brad, he wouldn’t have had a reason to go after Dan. If I wasn’t involved with all of them, Henry would stillbe married and there wouldn’t be any problem, at least none of the current problems.

After going through my homework, I lie in bed, looking over a book about pregnancy. I need to know what to expect, what I’m getting into. So I skim through the book and take notes until I feel a hand along the inside of my ankle. Looking back, I see Brad.

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