Page 110 of Rum & Coke
“I can’t—”
“Mateo will take you to the appointment.”
“You’re not going?” I asked.
He caressed my cheek. “Business calls. I need to stay here and handle some things.”
“Okay,” I responded, knowing not to question him, and also knowing it had to do with cocaine and not Red Diamond.
Sebastian kissed my lips softly and then walked back up the stairs. I was surprised Mateo was leaving his side. Maybe it was because he was Sebastian’s right-hand man, the one he could trust to keep an eye on me—as if I’d run and leave Colton behind.
I kissed Colton on the head and then followed Mateo into the garage. This would be the first time I would ride in a car since the night I arrived in captivity. It would be the first time I set foot on the street since that night. It would be the first time I would get a chance to run.
But, I wouldn’t run. And while Mateo drove me to the doctor’s office, I realized I couldn’t check the box on the intake form indicating I was in danger because Sebastian had ordered Colt to stay with Valentina. It proved Sebastian was smart, but one day, I’d be smarter.
Or dead.
Mateo stayed in the waiting room when I was called back. I didn’t expect him to go inside the room with me, but I wasn’t sure what Sebastian would have ordered him to do. A part of me thought he would pretend to be my boyfriend so he could go into the exam room, but he didn’t. He sat quietly reading a magazine, and when I was called back, he didn’t even look up.
After I went through all the standard procedures with the nurse, I was taken into an exam room.
“Why are you here today?” she asked.
Apparently she hadn’t read my intake form. Or maybe they were required to ask? “I think I’m pregnant.”
“Congratulations,” she gushed.
We went over some things like when my last period was so she could make notes for the doctor. When she left, I stripped my shorts off, covered myself with the blue disposable sheet, and waited for the doctor. On the back of the door was a poster asking if I was in an abusive relationship. Asking if I was in danger. It didn’t ask if I was being held hostage, raped most nights. I had no idea what would happen if I told them I was. Would the cops storm in, want to whisk me off to a safe house or something? I couldn’t do that because Colton wasn’t with me. If he were, I wouldn’t hesitate.
After some time, Dr. Peirce came in. “Hi, Teresa. How are you?”
I smiled warmly. “I’m good.” I wasn’t, but it was how I was used to replying.
She moved to the computer, pressed some keys and said, “I see you think you’re pregnant.”
“I took three tests.”
“Well, let’s examine you, see how far along you are. I’ll also do some blood work to test your blood sugar and check for any abnormalities, and then have you meet with my obstetrics nurse so you can go over follow-up care and whatever questions you may have.”
“Sure.”
I lay back, spread my legs and waited. Every woman hated this, and I hated it even more given my current circumstance. The wand entered me, and I waited some more as I looked at the screen. There wasn’t much to see, but I saw it. I saw the gummy-bear-like shape.
Dr. Pierce clicked some buttons.
“Looks like you’re about eight weeks along.”
There was a flicker of hope inside of me at the news that this might not be Sebastian’s baby. “Okay, great,” I replied.
“You don’t seem too happy,” she observed.
“Just—shocked.”
“Not planned?”
“Nope.”
“Do—”
