The world kept dancing in and out of focus.

My head fell forward, eyes closing.

I slept.

I don’t know how long but something clattered, and I jerked my head up, startled awake. My neck was killing me.

It was dark, and for a moment, I had no idea what was going on.

I tried to move, and everything came to me, the world snapping back into sharp focus. I wanted it to go back to the way it had been just a few minutes before.

Man, how could this be happening?

I was tied to a chair.

My head was pounding, my mouth was dry, and I hurt in ways I didn’t think it was possible to hurt. Stefano hadn’t even laid a hand on me. Neither had Camry. I’d just been forced into this unnaturally still position, unable to move for hours on end.

And they were waiting for Kaleb to show up with money he didn’t have.

And I was pregnant.

Maybe not, I tried to tell myself. That test had boasted it was ninety-eight percent accurate. What about the two percent? Were they false positives or false negatives? I tried to remember my classes in biology, but nothing was coming to me. The tests were based on the human growth hormone that kicked on in pregnancy, right? So…could there be a false positive? Or was a false negative more likely?

I didn’t know.

Fear was a sticky, metallic taste in the back of my mouth.

I was most likely pregnant and trapped in a building with a man who cared more about money than anything else. Sadly, it was a mindset I understood. There were too many people in my life who cared more about the almighty dollar than anything else.

How could this be happening?

Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back. Crying wouldn’t help anything and would probably make that bastard happy. No way was I going to give Stefano that satisfaction.

I managed to fight them down and get myself under control, and I was happy with it. It was a small victory, but in these circumstances, every damn victory counted.

I felt somebody watching me, and I searched the dim room with my eyes, trying not to move any more than I had to.

“Your boyfriend isn’t helping things out much here, sugar,” a low voice drawled.

I managed to control the flinch, and I swallowed, trying to unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth. “Can I get some water?”

“I look like a fucking maid to you?”

“It’s probably escaped your notice, but I’m not exactly able to do it myself. If you were to untie me–”

“Fat chance. Just be quiet, okay?” He sounded far less cocky now, and I wondered if I’d missed something during the brief patches when I’d dozed off.

I set my jaw, looking away, but to my surprise, Camry came over.

“Hey,” Stefano snapped.

“She’s pregnant, okay?” She held a can in her hand and lifted it to my lips. “It’s ginger ale. Might be better for your stomach. I don’t know if you’re feeling sick or not, but just in case.”

I didn’t want her being nice.

But the ginger ale settled on my stomach far easier than water would. A little bit of it ran down my chin, and she used her sleeve to wipe it off. “Better?” she asked.

Her eyes were heavy, and when I looked at her, she averted her gaze.

“Oh, I’m just peachy,” I said sourly.

She gave me a jerky nod, and I could see the guilt in how she held herself, how she was moving.

“He ain’t responding to my texts anymore, sweetie. Why do you think that is?” Stefano demanded.

“I don’t know. Maybe his phone died.” I was so tired, I couldn’t think of anything better.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Camry sit down and Stefano hold out the metal box from earlier. She licked her lips, eying it nervously. Her gaze came to me, but she wouldn’t look directly at me.

“Come on, sugar. Been a while. You gotta be needing something,” he said in a tone far more gentle than even before. “Try this. It’ll make you feel unlike anything you’ve ever felt.”

“Yeah, yeah, alright.” She accepted the tube he offered and snorted the white powder.

My belly heaved, and I willed down the nausea through sheer determination. I was being held hostage, and she was shooting up.

But in a way, he’s holding her hostage too, a soft voice murmured.

I ignored it. I didn’t want to feel pity for her. Not now. Maybe not ever.

I don’t know if I ever want to feel sympathy or compassion for anyone again and that utterly infuriated me. It was like they’d broken something vital inside me.

Stefano continued to glare at me, the insolence returning to his eyes and I thought he knew exactly what I was thinking. Camry’s lashes fluttered down, and a smile drifted over her face.

“Oh, that’s better,” she murmured. “That’s so nice.”

“Why don’t you come here, baby? Gotta be tired.” He guided her close, and she laid down. He rubbed her shoulder and before long, she was asleep. Must be nice, being able to get lost in herself.

Exhaustion pressed in on me, and I could feel my own eyes growing heavy again, but just as my head started to droop, Stefano said, “You know, if I don’t hear something soon, it ain’t gonna go well for you. I don’t give a fuck whose kid you are.”

“You don’t think you can do something to me and just get away with it, do you?” I glared at him, so tired of this whole mess that I could feel the grip I’d held on my temper and my fear sliding away from my grasp.

“Ah, I’m just gonna…disappear. See, if he don’t show up, you’re dead.” He mimed making a gun with his hand and pointed it at me. “And you can’t tell them shit. And my girl here…?”

He laughed and nodded his chin toward the box. “I got all sorts of goodies for her. She won’t ever wake up. I made it look like she’s the one who’s been sending the texts, see? And I’ve got a hundred people who’ll vouch that I was anywhere but here.”

“You’re a bastard.”

“Be nice.” His eyes glittered with malice, face mostly lost to shadow. “Be nice, honey, and maybe you won’t suffer too much.”

I opened my mouth – and nothing nice was going to come out – but was saved from my own stupidity by a heavy knock on the door.

I whipped my head around, fear skittering through me. The tense muscles in my neck screamed out at me, but I ignored it as I watched with trepidation Stefano get up and make his way to the door.

“Who is it?” he shouted, still several feet away.

“Kaleb.”

My heart lurched into my throat.

“I’ve got your fucking money, so open the damn door.”

“Alright, alright…” A bright, sharp smile split his face and Stefano turned to look at me. “You just sit tight, sweetie. I’ve got to check a few things.”

He went closer to the door. “Just hold your horses, pretty boy. Gotta make sure you’re being legit and alone, okay?”

I panted, blood draining out of my head and leaving everything looking fuzzy.

Stefano had the gun in his hand, didn’t he?

I thought he did. I was almost positive.

“Kaleb! He has a gun!” I called out.

“Be quiet, bitch.” A moment later, I felt the gun press against the back of my head. “You be quiet, or I’ll just put a bullet through the door and him. You got me?”

The words were delivered in a lethal, deadly voice. I swallowed, slowly nodding and hoping he didn’t pull the trigger when I moved.

Be careful, I thought. Please be careful, please, please, please…

A moment later, Stefano knelt beside me, jerking at the ropes. “You get your wish, princess. I’m untying you. I’m going to let you open the door so you can tell your boytoy to come in. Then we’ll get down to business. If you as much as flinch, I’ll put a fucking bullet through your little pretty head, you understand?”

“Yes.”

He jerked me up, and I stumbled.

“Stop playing around,” he yelled.

“I’ve been tied up for hours,” I snapped before I could stop it. “My legs are asleep, and nothing wants to move, dumbass!”

I froze instantly, wishing I could yank the words back.

To my surprise, though, Stefano grinned at me. Man, he was crazy. Still grinning, he reached up with both hands and framed my face. I could feel the cold metal of the gun digging into my skin. “You’re one tough piece of ass, you know that? I almost had fun with this.”

Before I could respond, he let me go and spun me around. “Move.”

I stumbled again but steadied myself. I did not want him touching me.

Each step had more sensation returning to my legs, and it was like a thousand pins and needles were stabbing into me, but I gritted my teeth and ignored it.

The door was ten feet away, then five, then two…

“Open the door. Just a little. Stay behind it.”

The gun’s muzzle was pressed tight against the back of my ear, making it clear that arguing would be a little bit stupid. So I did exactly what he said.

Kaleb slipped in through the narrow opening, carrying a duffel bag.

The sight of him hit me hard in the chest, and this time, no matter how hard I fought, I couldn’t hold back the tears.

“Kaleb,” I whispered.

His eyes came straight to me, and he started to take a step in my direction, only to stop as he realized a gun was pressed to my head.

“Let her go,” Kaleb said roughly.

“In a bit, in a bit.” Stefano kicked the door shut and locked it then jutted his chin toward the table. “Let’s sit down and get to business. Don’t try any bullshit or your pretty little wife here will get a third eye.”

“There’s no business left. I’m taking Piety and my sister and getting out of here.”

His eyes flicked to me, and he stared at me for a lingering moment before looking back at Stefano.

“Well, see…your little sister is taking a nap.” Stefano laughed and gestured toward the couch. “Tell you what…you can take one of them, after we’re done doing business. Whichever one you want.”

“Asshole,” I muttered.

He ignored me and gestured to the table again. “Come on. Let’s sit. I want to check the money.”

“It’s all there,” Kaleb said. “Let Piety go now. She’s about to fall asleep on her feet.”

“Sit,” Stefano said again, an edge to his voice.

Kaleb sat.

But when I went to take a step closer, Stefano pointed the gun in my direction. “Keep a few feet away, sweetie. I want to check my money.”

“It’s all there,” Kaleb said again.

“Yeah, yeah. Put the bag on the table. Unzip it.”

Kaleb sighed and did so, his eyes searching the room. I knew the moment he noticed his sister. His mouth went tight.

Then he looked at me, and again, our gazes caught and lingered. His gaze tracked to the front door, then back to me. What? I wondered. What are you trying to tell me?

“Man, I knew you’d come through,” Stefano said, that sly smirk firmly back in place as he looked at us. “I should have upped the dollar amount. You made this look easy.”

“Yeah, it was a real walk in the park. Are we good now?” Kaleb asked, sounding bored.

“Hmmm.” Stefano slowly zipped the bag, shaking his head. “What are you looking so smug about?” Stefano asked? He studied Kaleb with narrowed eyes, a look on his face that I didn’t like at all.

But the question made me wonder. Kaleb did look really, really calm.

Swallowing the knot of nerves in my throat, I tried to move to where I could watch both, but the room was only so big, and every time I moved, Stefano shifted his attention – and the gun – toward me.

“I’m not smug.” Kaleb lifted one shoulder, his face composed, entire body relaxed.

“Well, you look pretty damn chill about all of this.” Stefano looked even more suspicious

“I don’t have any reason not to be chill.” Kaleb snorted, then slid me another one of those piercing looks, before glancing at his sister. “I’m getting what I want. I’m getting Piety, I’m getting my sister and we’re getting out of here, all three of us.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t think your sister is going anywhere.” Stefano looked please with himself as he gestured toward Camry’s unconscious body. She lay sprawled on the couch, one arm and leg half on the floor, her face turned in our direction.

I don’t know if it was my own fear, or something more, but she seemed unnaturally pale, and I stared at her chest, searching for signs that it was still moving.

It did, but that didn’t make me feel any better.

“Don’t worry, I think I can carry her just fine,” Kaleb said, his voice dry.

“And if I tell you that I’m not letting her leave unless that’s what she wants?” Stefano’s brows beetled together over his eyes, an ugly snarl twisting his face as he took a few steps closer to Kaleb.

“You don’t want to do that.” Kaleb just looked at him, looking unconcerned.

“Yeah?” Stefano brandished the gun, holding it sideways, gangster style. I would have rolled my eyes if I hadn’t been so afraid.

Kaleb shot me another look, that intense gaze piercing straight through me. That silent unspoken message was still there.

What? I wanted to ask. What are you trying to tell me?

“You ain’t taking her anywhere she don’t want to go. That wasn’t the deal.” Stefano sounded bored, then his eyes brightened, and he snapped his fingers, like he’d just come up with a great idea. “I know. Why don’t you try to wake her up? If you can, she’s all yours.”

The confidence in his voice, the cocksure tone of it made me worry. He had already planned on killing me and pawning this off on her if things went bad. Was there something wrong with her? Was that why she was so pale? So still?

Had he given her some bad drugs? Or too much?

I knew way too many women and kids who’d gotten a bad mix. I had horror stories I could tell, and I wouldn’t put it past him either.

But I couldn’t voice any of those fears right now, could I? Not with him staring me down, almost daring me.

“Here’s the thing.” Kaleb’s face took on a menacing expression, and he took a step toward the other man.

Stefano’s gun came up, and he leveled it at Kaleb’s chest.

Fear exploded inside me, and I said, “Stop it, okay? Stefano, you got your money.”

“Be quiet, bitch,” he said, not even looking at me.

Kaleb held up a hand in my direction. I don’t know if he was trying to calm me or quiet me, and I wanted to rip out my hair.

“I’m taking both Piety and Camry, and we’re leaving. You got your damn money, so we’re going. If you don’t like it, you go ahead and shoot me.” A bit of a smirk twisted his lips, even as I felt that fear expand and explode like it was going to eat me alive. “But I can guarantee you that won’t go well.”

Stefano laughed. “What, you think you’re Superman? You think bullets will bounce off you?”

They were close now. So close.

Not even two feet separated them, and the gun was only inches from Kaleb’s chest.

I tried to say Kaleb’s name, but I couldn’t even make my damn jaw move. I’d never felt fear like this, had never understood what it was like to be petrified by it.

What happened next was so mind-boggling, I still can’t completely understand it.

Stefano nudged Kaleb’s chest with the muzzle of the gun. “Come on, pretty boy. Do something.”

And Kaleb did. He shot out a hand, twisted and moved. There was a sickening loud noise, and I clapped a hand over my mouth to silence a shriek. Gun, I thought. It was the gun.

But it wasn’t loud enough to be a gun shot.

My brain knew the sound of a weapon. Dad owned a whole room full of firearms, and I’d learned how to handle them young.

It wasn’t a gun.

But in the quiet of the room, it sounded terribly loud.

A split second after that thick, wet, cracking sound, a scream erupted and Stefano just…collapsed. He went inward, going to his knees while Kaleb twisted and moved, all but jerking the man around by his arm, an awkward marionette and his puppet master.

His wrist, I realized. Kaleb had broken the man’s wrist. That horrendous crack I’d heard was the sound of a bone breaking, not a bullet.

Stefano was shouting, voice ragged and hoarse, now on his knees in front of Kaleb.

I had no idea how Kaleb had done that. I’d taken several courses in self-defense, and the fluidity of his movements bespoke of the ease some of the martial arts instructors had used.

“Wow. I think you really are Superman,” I said.

There was no chance for him to respond.

Stefano roared and surged back to his feet, fumbling at his back with his one good hand. A moment later, there was another gun, but instead of trying to disarm Stefano again, Kaleb lunged for me.

“TIME!” Kaleb shouted.

It was a huge bellow and within a split second I was pinned under him.

Feet pounded.

Wood crashed.

Voices raged.

Through it all, Kaleb held me pinned to the floor, protecting me with his body. He murmured reassuringly, “Be still, baby. Just…be still.”

At least that’s what I thought he said through the cacophony that followed.

There was more crashing, shouting, and above it all, authoritative voices bellowing out, “Drop the gun!”

That command came from multiple directions, and I could hear more than one speaker.

As I shivered and shook, Kaleb murmured to me, “Be still. Don’t move…you’ll be alright.”

I didn’t have any choice. I was so stunned, I don’t think I could’ve moved if my life depended on it.

“Be still…you’re safe, baby. You’re safe.”

* * *

“Your blood pressure is fine. Your pulse is strong and steady. Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do to check on the baby, but if you’re just barely pregnant, everything should be fine. But it would be a good idea to go to the hospital and get checked out.” The paramedic gave me a solemn smile and held out a lollipop. “Want some candy? Always helped my wife when she was upset while she was carrying our first.” He looked thoughtful for a moment and then added, “And our second. And our third.”

“How many kids do you have?” I asked, shooting out a hand to take the sucker. It didn’t matter that it was just a cherry flavored lollipop.

“Three.” He grinned at me and added, “I’m trying to talk her into a fourth, but she says this third one will be the ruler of the universe, so I’m not sure if I can do it.”

Kaleb sat next to me, rubbing my back. He was listening, sort of. But his eyes were on his sister, and so was most of his attention.

I understood.

Once the paramedic had assured him I was okay, he had focused on her, and to be honest, so had I.

She was still just as pale, just as still as she had been in the house. She hadn’t moved once, hadn’t made a sound.

I’d heard talk that was a little too familiar. The antidote to the overdose they suspected she’d been given wasn’t working.

Her heartbeat was too slow, her blood pressure as well.

The paramedics were worried about her, and they were loading her into the back of an ambulance. They were already prepping a second treatment, and I closed my eyes, resting my head against Kaleb’s shoulder.

Don’t let it end like this, I thought. Not now that Stefano was out of the picture.

I hadn’t told anybody what Stefano had threatened. Not yet. I would, but the cops hadn’t even gotten around to taking my statement yet. They were too busy focusing on Stefano and Camry and gathering precious evidence, but I knew they’d get to me.

He was wailing for a lawyer from the back of a squad car, but the detectives were ignoring him. One told him he could get his phone call once they got to the station.

I had a feeling he wasn’t going to get out of this quite so easy.

Kaleb and the cops had actually been outside for over an hour, he told me, waiting for the right movement. They’d had microwaves up, the kind you’d think would exist in spy movies, and they’d caught the better part of the conversation from the past hour.

The cops probably already knew about his threat to kill me and frame Camry for it. Since he’d decided to go and kidnap somebody this time, it seemed to me he’d have a harder time sidestepping things. And I knew my dad would throw his weight into prosecuting the man too.

For once, I didn’t mind at all knowing that being his daughter was going to make a big difference here. Stefano needed to be taken off the streets for decades, no matter what it took.

“Are you okay?” Kaleb murmured against my temple after the paramedic left.

I laughed weakly. “Okay?”

“Shit. What a stupid question. How can you be okay?” He hugged me tighter and whispered, “I’m so sorry, so fucking sorry you got caught up in this.”

“Don’t.” I turned my face into his neck. “You’re not responsible for this, so don’t apologize.” Then I tipped my head back and smiled at him. “And it could have been so much worse.”

I shook my head, still baffled by everything he told me. I had no idea how he’d done all of this. Saving me. Shifting around, I wrapped my arms around his neck and cuddled close. The tears wanted to come out, but I didn’t want to cry right now. Not here.

Later, maybe. When we were alone.

He nuzzled me, murmuring nonsensical words under his breath. None of them made sense, but they did their job, soothing me when nothing should have been able to. I took a deep breath, and for the first time in hours, let some of the fear inside me drain away.

“Hey, Kaleb?” A watery laugh escaped me. “I think I’m pregnant.”

He laughed too. The sound was strangled and raw. “Really? Huh. Maybe we should have a talk.”

“Yeah, but not yet. I want to stay like this.”