Page 54 of Playing For Keeps
“No. This is the first I’m hearing about it.” Aiden stalks over to me. “It was bad enough and now this? How could you keep something like this from us?”
“I didn’t know.” I peek over at Mel with the question in my eyes.
Her mouth gapes open, and her eyes are the size of saucers. “Jami… Wow.”
“Did you know?” I ask as my pulse races.
She shakes her head. “I swear, I knew nothing.”
It doesn’t make sense. Dori would’ve told me if she were.
I face Hardman. “Why do you think she’s pregnant?”
He shrugs. “By luck, there was an undercover sting going on with this group of traffickers. One of our guys was working with them. When we took him in for questioning, he told us everything. He said she told him right before they tried to sell her in an effort for him to stop it from happening.”
The magnitude of the last few days takes hold, and my legs nearly give out. I sit in a chair and bend over, scrubbing my face with my palms.
Dori had to endure all that terror while pregnant. She must be a wreck.
But why wouldn’t she tell me about her pregnancy? Was she considering not having it? Was she going to tell me?
None of it makes sense, but I need to push that aside and focus on her well-being. That’s the only thing that matters at this point.
The others move around the room, discussing all that’sgone down during Dori’s time away, but all I can think about is if she and our baby are okay.
I rub my chest over my aching heart. Neither one of us can take another loss like we had when she lost our first child.
A gut-punching thought comes to mind.
I rise to my feet. “You said there was an undercover agent there. Did he say if she was assaulted?”
Silence and heaviness fill the room. Hardman assesses us as he stalls for a beat.
“Not that I know of, but they stripped her of her clothes and were in the process of selling her when the raid took place.” He pats Aiden on the shoulder. “Sorry, man. I know this can’t be easy.”
Just hearing how they violated her has me seeing red. I’m about to blow a gasket when Melanie runs her hand over my back.
“Jami, she’s strong, and she’ll be okay.”
Hunter squares his posture. “How long before the assholes are locked away for good?”
“They're in custody and will be in front of the judge by Wednesday.” Hardman dips his chin at Aiden. “The charges are solid. And your sister already gave her statement, which can only help the case. I expect they’re all in for lengthy sentences.”
Aiden’s brows pinch together. “Do they have enough to hold everyone?”
“Yes. The agent working the case has been filtering details to the department for a couple of years. There’s plenty of evidence to nail them all to the wall.” Hardman’s phone rings. “I’ve got to take this, but I’ll keep you posted.”
He answers his phone on his way out.
Hunter rubs his neck. “Once we know more, I’ll help any way I can.”
“Thanks.” I want to protest, but I can use all the help I can get to make sure his sick mother and Isabella burn in hell.
He glances down then scans the room. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure the police keep Isabella safe. She may deserve to rot, but until my son is born, I need to…”
Mel nods. “We understand, Hunter. Go take care of your son.”
He lifts his chin higher and takes a deep breath as determination sets on his face. He spins on his heels and disappears out of the room.
