Risk (Desired Affliction Book 3)

by C. A. Harms

  The door came open before I even knocked and there before me stood Breann. She had a black eye and a busted lip. She attempted a small smile. “Hi, Adam. How are you?”

  I wasn’t here for small talk. I wasn’t here for her. “I guess Brock isn’t the only one Nate beat up on. Where is he?”

  “He’s not here. He got arrested that night and when he got out, he came home angry.” She pointed to her face and continued. “He left last night and I haven’t seen him since. Do you wanna come in?”

  I shook my head, “No, I’m not here to see you, Breann. I’m here to do what I should’ve done a long time ago.”

  I turned and walked toward the car when I heard her shuffle after me. “Adam, I messed up so bad when I hurt you. I was lonely, and I know that doesn’t make it right. I just need you to understand that I’ve never stopped loving you.”

  I shook my head and jerked open the car door. “I don’t give a fuck, Breann. You did me a favor when you fucked me over.” I turned to face her. “Natalie is the best thing that ever happened to me. She’s sweet and gentle and I’m so in love with that girl. What I have with her just makes me realize that you and I were never truly meant to be. You made your choice, you have Nate now.”

  I drove away, leaving her standing in her front yard watching after me. I wasn’t here to save her. That was up to her.

  I spent the next four hours sitting next to my brother’s hospital bed, listening to him and my father bicker back and forth. Apparently, there had been a lot more going on with him than what I knew. Brock had been getting into a lot of trouble lately with drugs and alcohol and this was the end of the line for him. Dad was giving him no other choice but to get help.

  It was heartfelt and almost broke me when I watched my brother cave. The moment his six-foot two, two hundred and forty pound body hunched over into his hands and lost all sense of control. He cried so hard his body shook and I know no one in the room had dry eyes after that. Brock never cried. Brock was the toughest of us three kids. He had the ability to control every emotion within him, and always seemed unaffected by everything around him.

  I placed my hand onto his back and he gripped my other arm and pulled me into his body. “I’ve really fucked up my life. I think I need help. I need help, Adam.”

  “I’m here, man. We’ll figure it out. I promise you that we will figure everything out.” That was all I could get out because this exchange with my brother had me completely choked up and at a loss.

  ***

  I felt like everything fell into place when I walked out of the hospital a little after 6:00 in the evening and came face to face with Nate. He had a bag in his hand that looked like a prescription and I figured he had just gotten something filled.

  “Hey Nate. How’s it going, buddy?” I said with sadistic grin.

  I gripped his shoulder tightly from behind and shoved him forward into the side of his truck. I heard him grunt loudly and I lost it. I swung once, twice and the third time, dropping him to the ground. “How does that feel, you motherfucker? You can attack a man when you’re with a friend, hell, you can even hit a woman. You got anything for me, you fuckin’ pussy?”

  He lay on the ground looking up at me with blood gushing from his nose.

  Spitting blood, he quickly kicked his leg, knocking mine out from under me and I came down hard on my side. Before I knew what was happening, he was swinging on me. My lip burned and my jaw ached with the connection of his fist.

  “Fuck you, Adam. Your fucking punk brother deserved that shit. Little fucker got what he needed,” he growled.

  Nate disappeared quickly and I shook my head focusing. Someone had pulled him off of me. He slammed into the side of his trucked and I watched my father punch him in the stomach.

  “Get the hell outta here, you piece of shit,” he seethed. I could tell he wanted to do more.

  Nate climbed into his seat and backed out, speeding away.

  My father helped me from the ground. “Come on, son. I need to get you home and cleaned up before your mother sees you. She doesn’t need anything more to cry about.”

  Chapter Forty

  Natalie

  It’s been three days since I talked to Adam. Yeah I got daily texts from him apologizing and telling me he loves me, but we hadn’t talked. I’d heard from Kate every day, though. I know she must have been secretly checking up on me for Adam because some of the questions she asked were the same ones he always asked me.

  Are you drinking enough water?

  Do your feet hurt or are they swelling?

  Did you remember your vitamins?

  Yep, Adam was checking up on me through his sister, and I couldn’t help but smile about that. I was trying really hard not to take any of this personally. I knew Adam had a history with Nate and Breann that wasn’t easy.

  I really missed him and his voice. I could cave and call him, but I was entirely too stubborn to do that. I wanted him to grovel and beg for forgiveness. I wanted to feel needed and loved because I was feeling extremely needy.

  Classes had been dragging and nights had been so lonely. Lexi and Megan had been trying to entertain me, but frankly they weren’t what I needed right now. I needed my caveman to possess and consume me. I craved his kiss and his embrace. I missed his strong arms around me and the way I would wake up to find him watching me closely.

  I fell asleep on the couch because sleeping in our bed just made me miss him even more. The sheets smelled like him and I didn’t like how empty it felt.

  I woke up on Saturday morning to the sound of my phone ringing. I figured it was just Kate checking up on me once again, but then I recognized the ring tone. My heart raced with the thought of hearing his voice.

  I quickly grabbed my phone from the counter, “Hello?”

  “Hey, baby, did I wake you up?” he asked

  “It’s okay.” I sat back onto the couch and pulled the covers up over me.

  “I miss you, Nat. I’m sorry I was a jerk.” His voice was hushed. I blinked past the tears that built in my eyes.

  “I miss you.” It was all could manage at that moment.

  “I wanna come home,” he whispered. “Can I come home, Nat?”

  “Yes, please.” I wanted that too. So much.

  I heard the key slide into the door and a few seconds later, Adam came in the front door. The moment our eyes connected, I lost it. I never tried to stop the tears that fell. He dropped his bag at the door and made his way to me. Kneeling before me, he wrapped his arms around me. “Are you crying happy or sad tears?”

  I smiled against his shoulder. “Happy. I’m so happy you’re home.”

  “Good, because I wasn’t sure I could’ve handled it if you were sad. I was such a dick to you, Nat. Damn, baby, I am so freaking sorry.”

  “I know you are. I understand,” I assured him.

  I heard another noise behind me and I turned to find Brock standing just inside the door. I knew a look of confusion crossed my face.

  “Hey, don’t mind me, I was just letting you two love birds have your moment.”

  I turned back to face Adam. He smiled up at me. “He needed a change so I told him he could stay with us for a little while.”

  I wasn’t sure how I felt about this, but I forced a smile. Adam and I had just recently moved in together and now a roommate. Where were we all gonna fit once the baby arrived?

  ***

  Over the next two weeks so many things changed. Adam and I bought a new car. He convinced me that with the baby coming I needed something more reliable. We traded in my old car and his car for a small SUV. We spoke with the landlord about us getting a three bedroom once one came available, and what do you know, we got a call last night. We could move in the next week after they got everything cleaned up from the last tenants.

  Brock was now going to the center for counseling. He was getting help for his addictions and trying to turn his life around. He was really different from the Brock I had come to know during my visits to Memphi
s. Now he was so friendly and easy to talk to. It really wasn’t that bad having him around.

  He enrolled in some online courses through the college and signed up for the upcoming semester, wanting to get his life on track.

  Adam made me stop working because he said I was on my feet too much. Most of my nights consisted of Brock and I getting dinner ready and watching television until Adam got home from work.

  Brock would be starting at the gym next month. Kole found a spot for him to assist. I know he secretly did it just for Adam, but it warmed my heart that Kole was so kind.

  Who would’ve thought things would turn out the way they had?

  I thought back to the day Adam walked into Kate’s kitchen carrying his cocky little grin. Kole’s instant reaction to him made me laugh now. They were always looking for ways to push one another’s buttons. Now they were friends, close friends, actually.

  ***

  Today marked my thirty-seventh week of pregnancy and things were getting so close. My friends and family surprised me with a baby shower last week. Now, thanks to everyone, I had more than enough to bring this little kickboxer into the world.

  I was just getting out of the shower when I felt a sharp pain shoot across my stomach.

  I braced myself against the sink. “Arrghh.”

  It was that moment that I felt something trickle down my legs and pool at my feet. I took a few deep breaths and grabbed the towel on the side of the sink. I wrapped it around me and made my way to the bedroom to find my phone.

  Adam’s phone rang four times before it went to voicemail. Suddenly another sharp pain hit me and I rolled to my side to ride it out, panting and groaning. There was a light tap on the door before I heard Brock on the other side.

  “Natalie? Hey, are you okay in there?”

  “No!” I growled out and I curled my toes as I gripped the sheets.

  The door slowly opened and he rushed to me quickly. “Do I need to call Adam?”

  “I tried already, he didn’t answer.” The pain had subsided and I rolled over to find Brock hovering over me. “My water broke and I’m having contractions.”

  His face was white as a ghost and he looked like he might get sick.

  I grabbed for my phone and groaned out at the ridiculousness of this big burly guy not being able to handle a girl in labor. I quickly typed out Lexi’s number and put the phone to my ear.

  “Hey sexy ass, what’s up?” Her spunkiness never irritated me, until this very moment.

  “Well for starters, my water broke and I’m in fuckin’ labor. I tried calling Adam, he won’t answer and to top it off, Brock is being a damn pussy boy. I. Need. Help!” She fucking laughed. I wasn’t exactly sure what was so funny about this situation. “What the hell is so funny, bitch? Get over here.”

  “I’m on my way, babe. What’s so funny? I was just thinking about how fun it’s gonna be to watch you tear into Adam when we finally get ahold of him. You’re always feisty, Nat, but hell, this is just intensifying it.”

  I groaned. “Whatever, just hurry the hell up. I need help getting dressed.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  Adam

  I had just sat down at my desk when Kole came barging through the door. “Dude, you are in a shit load of trouble.”

  “What? Why?” I asked completely oblivious to what I could have screwed up now. “What the hell did I do?”

  “Well you need to get to the hospital. Lexi just called. She had to take Nat to the hospital. Her water broke.”

  I jumped up, grabbing my keys and ran from the room. I heard him hollering after me but I never paused to listen to anything else he had to say. I needed to get to Natalie.

  ***

  After running around from floor to floor and nurses station after nurse’s station, I finally found Natalie. The moment I came through the door I debated on turning back around.

  “You!” she yelled, pointing at me. “You did this!”

  I swallowed hard and Lexi covered her mouth, attempting to hide her laughter. I slowly walked toward the bed when everything inside me was saying, “Run, Adam, run to safety.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t answer. I was with a client.”

  “Fuck you, you left me with twiddle dumb out there and the moment he found out I was in labor, he turned green. The dumbass couldn’t even get up off the floor. I had to call Lexi.”

  Fucking Brock, big burly guy and he couldn’t even get my girl to the hospital. What the fuck was I saying? That was my job. I should have taken my phone into the weight room with me. “I’m sorry, baby.”

  She gripped the side of the bed and squeezed until her knuckles turned white. I rubbed her legs, whispering words of encouragement.

  “Get off me, god damn it, Adam. This is all your fault. We are never having sex again. Never! Do you hear me? This hurts like a bitch and you did it.” Natalie had just become the character in the movie The Exorcist and I was waiting for her head to spin.

  I could still hear Lexi laughing into her hand and I couldn’t do anything but flash her a scowl.

  Once the contraction lessened, she relaxed back onto the bed with her eyes closed. I never spoke for fear of her getting pissed once again. I think I even held my breath, waiting for a sign, any sign, that it was okay to speak.

  When I saw the tear roll down her cheek, my knees went weak. God damn it, this was breaking my heart. She was in so much pain and there was nothing I could do about it.

  I took a chance. “Baby, I am so sorry.”

  Her eyes came open and met mine. “I’m the one that’s sorry. I was so mean to you.” I sat down next to her and brushed the back of my hand over her cheek. “I don’t hate you. I love you.”

  “I know, baby. It’s okay. I know you’re hurting.”

  I turned to face Lexi. “Isn’t there something they can give her?” Natalie gripped my arm tightly as another contraction hit her. “Breathe baby. You’re doing great. Just breathe through it, Nat.”

  “They’re supposed to be getting the anesthesiologist to give her an epidural. They haven’t been back though.”

  I waited for Natalie’s contraction to slow before I stood from the bed. “Lex, come sit with her for a minute.” Natalie looked at me puzzled. “I’ll be right back. I’m gonna go find this damn doctor and get my girl some drugs.” She smiled lightly and Lexi laughed.

  I stormed from the room with determination. They were gonna get their asses in that room and drug Nat up if I had to drag them there myself. They needed to get a move on this shit. I couldn’t watch her hurting any longer.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Natalie

  I’m not exactly sure what Adam said or did, but ten minutes after he left my room, I had drugs flowing through me and I finally was able to relax.

  My dad and grams arrived, and the moment Dad poked his head in the room, the emotions hit me hard. He took me in his arms, and I cried on his shoulder. He told me that my mom was with me today. She was watching over me and that she would be proud of the woman I had become.

  Everyone slowly left the room, except for Adam, when the doctor came in to check on me. It was now a little after 10:00 at night and I had finally reached ten centimeters.

  It was time to meet our son.

  ***

  “He’s perfect,” Adam whispered with a voice that was shaky. “Thank you, Nat, damn, baby, thank you for this.” He brushed his finger over our son’s cheek without taking his eyes off of him. “I can’t believe I’m a dad. I can’t believe he’s ours.”

  When he looked up at me my throat tightened. His eyes were full of unshed tears and it almost broke me. “We have to name him.”

  “Yeah, we do.”

  I watched Adam trace his finger over our son’s forehead and down between his eyes, over his nose and across his cheek. There was nothing like the sight before me. I watched Adam melt and fall head over heels in love with our son right before my eyes. There was no mistaking the admiration that he wore all over his face. Th
is big, built caveman had just become complete mush at the sight of our baby wrapped tightly in his arms.

  “What do you think of Blake?” He looked up at me just in time to see me wrinkle up my nose. “Okay, not Blake.”

  “Reece?”

  “Nat, this little man needs a badass name. One that makes the little girls swoon and the other little dudes wish they were as cool as him.”

  I couldn’t help but giggle. “What else do you got, Daddy?”

  He beamed, “I like hearing that, Daddy.” Adam winked at me and looked back down at our son. “So what do you wanna be called for the rest of your life, little man?” Adam’s lips lifted slightly when a small grunt came from the bundle in his arms. “What do you think of Lucas…we could call him Luke?”

  “I like that…What about Lucas Leonardo?”

  His eyes flipped to me in confusion. “Leonardo?”

  “The artist.” I clarified.

  He smiled, “Yeah, we could call him Luke or Leo.” So the decision had just been made, we named our son.

  Watching the love pour from Adam made every worry I had ever had about us fade away. I knew that life was gonna work out. I knew he would love us and protect us with everything he had. Adam and Lucas were my life, and I was more than ready to live it.

  Epilogue

  (Eight Weeks Later)

  Natalie

  Were we nuts? Completely out of our minds. What the hell were we thinking? Who drove in a car for hours with an infant son? One that felt he needed a boob every half hour. Luke was screaming once again.

  Blood-faced screeching cries.

  “Hey, babe, you can’t really blame the little man, you do have some pretty awesome tits.” I glared at him in the rearview mirror and he laughed.