Page 66 of Beautiful Killer

Zeke looked down at me. “Pack a bag. Enough stuff for a couple weeks. You’re done with this place until we know for sure you’re safe here.”

What?

“I am safe here. I won’t answer the door next time,” I said, and there was no missing the desperation in my voice.

“I don’t trust him. I’m not letting him hurt you to get to Julia.”

There had to be somewhere else. I knew I couldn’t go back to Zeke’s, sleeping in his bed, pretending I didn’t care as much as I did. I couldn’t do it. I’d go anywhere but Zeke’s house—because I wanted to so damn badly. I wanted to rely on him. I wanted to let him protect me and take care of me, crawl into bed with me every night and blow my mind, then hold me while I slept. But it was all a lie and the more I lived it, the harder the hit of reality would be when this was over.

“I’ll stay with Julia,” I said. “Her place is only small, but it’ll be fine for now.”

He stilled, brows lowering. “No. You’re coming with me . . .”

“You can get me to Julia’s without Bobby following, yes?” I pushed.

His jaw hardened. “You’re not going there.”

“Her place is safe, has decent security, you made sure of it yourself. I’ll be okay there.”

He stared down at me, eyes a little wild. I stared back and inwardly pleaded for him to see it. To figure it out without me having to say the words. My phone started ringing and I was glad for the interruption. The last thing I wanted was to share my stupidity, that even after everything he’d said, I’d still fallen for him. I checked my phone.

My doctor.

“I need to take this,” I said and pulled free of his hold.

He still hadn’t said anything, was still watching me as I put my phone to my ear. “Hello.”

“Hi, Sunny. Dr. Evans here. Sorry I didn’t call your results in earlier. Things have been a little hectic here today.”

“It’s fine, really.” I walked down the hall to the kitchen and out of Zeke’s earshot.

“Sunny,” she said gently.

Oh God.

“You are pregnant.”

I grabbed for the counter.

I stood in stunned silence as she made me another appointment, so we could work out my dates, and discuss what I wanted to do. Then she disconnected.

I stayed where I was, staring blindly out my kitchen window.

Pregnant.

A baby.

Zeke’s baby.