He hadn’t said a word. He had simply walked away. I had stood there speechless, expecting something, anything. Instead he had just walked away.

I went to bed immediately after that, taking some time before I fell into a fitful sleep. There were a million thoughts in my head. I felt like my brain was being torn in different directions as I went from thinking about what I would name him or her to how in the world I was going to provide for my child. I even thought about Phoenix and felt my eyes well up with tears. I forced thoughts of him away and then finally drifted into an exhausted, troubled sleep.

And to my surprise, when I rolled over later on that night, the smell of musk awakening me, I bumped into something solid and immediately sat up. I opened my mouth to scream when I realized who was sitting on my bed with me. It was one of Marquez’s thugs from the other night.

My attempt to scream was immediately silenced as the tall one slapped me across my face, knocking me back against the bed. He slapped me so hard that I saw stars and I blinked trying to focus. I groaned and tried to sit up only to fall off the side of the bed.

I heard laughter and then someone said, “Uh oh. Looks like Phoenix’s whore had an accident.”

I hadn’t grown up in the best of foster homes and truth be told, some of the people who took me in weren’t exactly upstanding citizens so I always took a weapon to bed. And I must say, the habit hadn’t died once I became an adult. My weapons had evolved over the years and it was a habit I hadn’t been able to break, even when married I never told Tommy. Some people took a blanket or slept in a favorite shirt. I slept with a Taser tucked between my mattress and box spring. So when the dreadlock dude rounded the corner to pull me off the floor. I had something waiting for him and he didn’t even expect it as the electrodes shot out and hit him dead in the chest. He shook for a second and then hit the ground and his partner dove for me. I dove under the bed, scampered up and went to run for the door when the tall one grabbed me by my hair and attempted to yank me back.

It was then that I started to scream: Loud angry screams as I wasn’t hurt, but I was worried about my baby. I fought and kicked with all my might and when he slapped me again and tried to pin me down, I bit him and this time the blow he dealt me knocked my head back into the floor and I saw darkness.

And then suddenly, the weight of the man on my chest was gone and I blinked and saw Phoenix suddenly there. He had the man against the wall and was mercilessly hammering the man’s face with his fist, followed by blow after blow of his elbow across his face. And when the other man tried to stand up, Phoenix stomped on his hand and kicked him in the face, sending a tooth flying across the floor.

I scrambled for my phone and with shaking hands I called 9-1-1. But there was no need; the man who had struck me was nothing but a bloody mess. His face was barely recognizable as Phoenix punched him unconscious and then slammed his body into the floor.

“Don’t get back up,” he growled to the other man whose mouth was full of blood.

It was then that Phoenix looked at me and I watched his eyes grow wide with fear as I felt consciousness slipping away. “Bree! Bree! Stay with me! Bree!” I could hear him shouting from a distance but it was too late. I was already gone.

“She’s coming around!” someone whispered excitedly and I brought my hand up to touch the side of my face and opened my eyes. Jacinda and Milton stood there staring down at me and Jacinda started to cry. Milton placed his arm around her and Jacinda took my hand.

“Oh my God, I was so scared. I’m so glad you’re alright.”

“Jacinda?”

“Yes, hon,” she said tears now streaming down her face.

“What are you doing here?”

“Phoenix called us,” Milton answered readily.

“He called you guys? I didn’t even know you were back. Oh no, did you come back for me? Did I ruin your honeymoon? I’m so sorry.” I felt drowsy and my words sounded slurred to my own ears.

“No. I mean yes. But I don’t care. As long as you’re safe.”

“I’m safe, but what about...oh my God, my baby. Is my baby okay?”

“Phoenix said that you and the baby are fine,” Jacinda assured me and then smiled, “Congratulations by the way, you’re going to be a mom.”

I started to cry and she hugged me and whispered, “You are happy about this, right?”

I nodded, unable to speak and then said half-sobbing, “happier than I ever thought I could be.”

I felt Milton pat me awkwardly on the back and then Jacinda pulled away slowly. “You’ve been really busy since I’ve been gone.”

“Apparently.”

“Hey Milton, can you go find us a couple of bottles of water? Bree looks thirsty and I don’t trust the tap water around here.”

“Sure, sweetie,” He said disappearing without another word.

Jacinda looked at me thoughtfully and said, “Ok. Tell me everything. What’s going on here?”

I blinked at her and said, “I thought Phoenix told you everything.”

She sat down on the bed next to me. Her eyes looked tired and I could tell that she was worried. “Yeah, he did. His version of events, but I can’t help but be worried. Look at you! You’re pregnant and battered! And you never told me you were seeing someone. Did you meet him the night of my bachelorette party? If so, I feel partially responsible for the mess you’re in.”

I shook my head, “It’s not as bad as it seems.”

“Oh really? Because getting the news that you were knocked out and knocked up didn’t sit well with me.”

“I’m sorry he called you guys...”

“I’m not. Would you stop apologizing already and tell me what’s going on. Who exactly is this Phoenix character? Milton told me he recognized him from TV. Apparently he’s one of those fighters who beat each other to death for money.”

I sighed deeply, “It’s not a death match. He’s an MMA fighter. And we umm...did it...outside...”

“What!”

“In the alley…”

“Seriously?”

“During your bachelorette party...”

“Wow, do I even know you?”

“Hey, I was just trying to have some fun...as you advised me remember?”

“Yeah, as in have a bunch of drinks and flirt a little, not have sex with a random stranger in an alley!”

“Shhh...” I said when her voice became raised.

“I’m sorry. I just...I don’t know. I’m worried about you. He seemed genuinely concerned about you and the baby, but what type of lifestyle will you have with someone like him? He’s dangerous and apparently that danger is now in your life.”

She had a point. I had a lot to consider. Those men had entered my home because of my involvement with Phoenix. Maybe Jacinda was right; maybe it was too dangerous to be associated with Phoenix. And I couldn’t just think about myself. I had to think about the little life now growing inside of me.

Before I could say another word I heard someone say, “That’s no longer true.”

Jacinda looked up startled and Phoenix said smoothly as he walked towards us, “I understand your concern. But Bree is no longer in danger."

“How can you be sure? Danger seems to follow your type,” Jacinda said crossing her arms over her chest and moving to stand next to me protectively. I admired her gumption and loyalty.

“Let’s just say the guys who caused me problems are no longer around.”

There was silence and then Jacinda blurted, eyes growing wide, “Did you kill them?”

“No, but I should have,” he said emotionlessly. Jacinda’s mouth fell open and Phoenix took advantage of the fact that she was speechless to say, “Can you give us some privacy?”

She looked at me and I nodded, showing her that it was okay.

“I’ll be right outside if you need me.” She then left, not hurrying as she eyed Phoenix suspiciously.

When she was gone Phoenix grinned and said, “She’s loyal and pretty fierce. I see why you guys are friends. You two have a lot in common.”

“Tell me what happened. Start at the beginning,” I said not caring for idle chatter. I needed answers.

“I paid Marquez a visit. Apparently he didn’t know that his two guys had targeted you as a way to get to me.”

“And you believed him?”

“Oh, yeah. He’s a grandfather who is raising his grandkids on his own. His daughter died in childbirth.”

“That’s terrible,” I said softly, meaning it.

“He doesn’t take kindly to men who beat on women. Anyway, they won’t mess with us anymore. They’ve been permanently eliminated.”

“So they are dead?” I said feeling sick.

He shook his head, “I wish. No, there were warrants out for their arrest. It turns out they worked with a crime syndicate out west and were rumored to have stolen from a pretty nasty drug cartel. Someone made an anonymous call to that cartel and to the police. No clue who found them first, but they’re either swimming with the fishes or will be serving back to back terms in prison. Not that I care about their fates. I only care about you. I’m so sorry for all of this. It’s all my fault. All of it. If I hadn’t walked away, I would have been there with you and they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to hurt you.”

“You’re right.” I said simply. “But you also showed up and saved me. That counts too.”

He shook his head, “Not for much. Please forgive me, Bree. Please. I just was so shocked by you being pregnant. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. So I walked away. But I can do better. I will do better. For you, us and the baby. I’m not going to walk away again, that is if you still want me around.”

I thought about rejecting him, making him hurt like he had hurt me, but I wasn’t a vengeful person and life was too short to hold grudges, especially against the man who had saved my life.

“Please, Bree,” he continued as I stayed silent too long for his comfort, “Just give me a chance.” The last statement was said softly and his voice broke at the end.

I looked up at him, knowing that the emotion in his voice is what truly made me consider his words. A chance? Did he deserve one? I didn’t know the answer to that, but I know I deserved a chance. I deserved a chance to try at love, to try for a family. And part of me, no all of me, knew that I wanted Phoenix to be the center of it. I wanted him to be my rock, my confidant and my lover. And I wanted him to be more than just some guy I’d slept with. I wanted him to be my child’s father in the real sense of the word.

“One more chance, buddy,” I said taking his hand. “But two more strikes and you’re out.”

“I can agree to work with that.” He then bent down to kiss me and I knew as his lips covered mine that life was all about second chances and in Phoenix, I had found mine.