There was another matter that had her completely panicked, and she’d had a very difficult time hiding her emotions from Lucas. But tonight he’d gone to the gym with Derek and Kade, so she stopped at the drugstore on the way home and bought a pregnancy test. Panic didn’t begin to describe the feelings swirling inside her, from the butterflies in her stomach to the actual nausea still plaguing her to sheer fear.
She didn’t want to be pregnant. She was petrified of going through another almost full term, getting attached to the life inside her, only to lose everything to something beyond her control. To be plunged into the black hole of depression once more.
Alone in the bathroom, she pulled out the box with shaking hands and proceeded to follow directions, although she’d done this before. She knew it was smarter to take the test in the morning, but she was alone tonight, so she was going to get this over with. She’d been nauseous long enough, her breasts hurt, and she just had a gut feeling. Still, she needed confirmation before she fell apart.
The waiting took forever. She couldn’t even kill time online on her cell phone, checking the clock every few seconds.
Finally, the timer went off.
With her heart in her throat, she looked at the stick. She’d purchased the brand that said Pregnant or Not Pregnant instead of a thin blue line to confirm. So when she glanced at the test, there was no doubt. No question.
She was pregnant.
The damned condom had failed her. She put her face in her hands and cried. After the day of worrying and working herself up for this moment, she needed the release.
What a freaking mess. She was just getting her life together after Keith had destroyed the reality she’d known. She had no savings, a job that needed her to be present and focused, and her push for being independent felt like a big fat sham. Because she was tied to another man because of a baby. Except she loved Lucas. It wasn’t his fault she was in no mental state to handle a pregnancy or a baby.
God, what was she going to do?
She wrapped the box and stick in the brown bag and buried it in the kitchen garbage before heading back to the bathroom. She washed her face and patted her burning eyes, staring at her face in the mirror, wondering why things couldn’t go her way for once.
Her cell rang and she glanced down. Lexie’s name flashed on the screen. She sighed, cleared her throat, and answered. “Hello?”
“Maxie, it’s Lexie.”
“And Kendall,” another voice added into the phone.
“Hi,” she said, smiling despite the despair she was feeling. “What’s up?”
“Since Kade is out, Kendall and I decided to go out for dinner. We want you to join us,” Lexie said.
She really wasn’t in the mood to go out and be with people. On the other hand, she didn’t want to sit home and dwell either. She had decisions to make, but none had to be made tonight.
“Where are you going?” Maxie asked.
A half an hour later, she’d pulled herself together, put on some makeup, and headed out to meet the twins at a restaurant near her apartment. Because the location wasn’t far, she decided a walk would clear her head. The last thing she needed was for Lucas to come home to find her with a blotchy face and red eyes and ask questions. She needed time, and keeping busy tonight would buy her some.
She walked out the building’s front door and into the cool evening air, feeling better as soon as the air hit her face. There was something refreshing about an outdoor walk, and if she was lucky, a miracle answer would dawn on her.
She drew her jacket around her and started down the street. As she passed the corner mini-mart, a man called her name.
She turned to see Vincent Bernardi quickly catching up with her. Her heart began to race. “What are you doing here?”
He grasped her elbow. “Keep walking,” he said, pulling her along at a steady clip.
“I thought you said you’d leave me alone.”
“Lady, you’re trying my patience, and I don’t have much to begin with.” Instead of heading straight on the well-lit avenue, he turned into a more dimly lit side street.
Her mouth went dry, and her nausea kicked in again for reasons beyond being pregnant.
“Took me awhile to check all my accounts and stay under the radar, but my funds are missing. Which means either you or your douchebag husband stole my money.”
She dug her heels into the sidewalk and stopped walking. “What? I didn’t even know there were accounts on that drive! I mean, if I were going to take your money, I wouldn’t still be here, would I? I’d be long gone!”
“I don’t give a fuck if it was you or your husband. It was mine and I want it back.” He still held on to her elbow and shook her hard, displaying his infamous temper, and her insides shook with fear. “Lucky for you, your boyfriend is rich. He can repay what his fucking brother stole from me.”
“I—” She didn’t have an answer to that. How could she ask Lucas to step up and pay for his brother’s sins?
“Take my number.” He slipped her a piece of paper. “You have one week, or I’ll be back, and you won’t like what happens if I have to contact you again,” he said, and she knew he meant business.
* * *
Lucas sat with Kade and Derek, having a drink before heading home for the night. All in all, things were going well. Business was on track, new development and improvements in the works, and things at home with Maxie were progressing at a pace he could more than live with. Even his asshole brother’s mess was behind them.
They’d just paid the bill when Kade’s phone rang. “Yeah, baby?”
Derek rolled his eyes, and Lucas couldn’t wait until he was on the receiving end of wanting to get home to his woman.
“What? I’ll tell him and I’ll see you soon. Love you.”
“What’s up?” Lucas asked.
Kade’s brows furrowed. “Lexie and Kendall were supposed to meet Maxie for dinner. She never showed up, and she’s not answering her phone.”
“Shit.” He grabbed his own phone from his pocket and realized he must have turned it off at some point in the afternoon. He powered on the telephone and saw Lexie had called him not once but three times. “I’m out of here.”
He called her as he made his way out of the restaurant, but she didn’t answer. He dialed again as he waited for the valet to bring his car. She didn’t pick up, and it was a long drive home, or felt like one, as he hit every traffic light on his route.
He finally reached his apartment and let himself inside. “Lexie!” he called out, walking quickly toward the bedrooms, finding her in his room, where they slept.
“I am so sick and tired of Keith’s bullshit coming back to haunt me!” She threw a pillow across the room in frustration.
He bent down and picked it up, joining her on the bed. “What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned. He propped the pillow back against the headboard. “Lexie was looking for you earlier. She thought you’d come to dinner.”
“I tried. I was on my way, actually, when our friend Vincent Bernardi showed up.”
“What?”
“Apparently those numbers on the drive were for accounts, and when he went to get his money, it was gone. Thank you, Keith.”
“Fuck.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache already forming.
“Exactly. And guess who he thinks should pay him back?” She met his gaze. “I’m just so tired of Keith coming back to haunt me. And he has no right to expect you to pay off your brother’s debts. It’s just wrong.”
Lucas shook his head. “I was wrong for thinking he’d just go away.” Anger filled him. “I’d pay him if I thought that would be the end of it. I’d do anything to protect you and you know it. I’m just afraid he’d be back for more and we’ll be in no better shape than we’re in now.” He let out a groan. “I think it’s time we did some digging into those accounts.”
“What? How?”
“I made a copy of what was on the drive.” He shrugged. “Call it habit, but I a
lways back things up for safekeeping. I’ll send it over to Double Down Security and see what they come up with. I’ll also give them everything I can on my brother. Maybe Keith had other accounts. One way or another, we need information to take to the police. This money isn’t legal, and that’s the only way to get Bernardi off our backs for good.”
She twisted her hands and nodded.
He pulled her into a hug, inhaling her fragrant scent. “I agree. And I’m reinstating security.”
She winced at that. “I hate knowing someone’s watching my every move. But it’s better than Bernardi coming near me again.”
“I know. And I’m sorry I called them off.”
“No, we both thought it was over. But I’m beginning to think it never will be.”
* * *
Lucas was this close to paying Bernardi and being done with it. The only thing that held him back was the obvious fact that if he paid the man once, he might come back for more. And more. He’d never be out of Maxie’s life, and that was unacceptable. Her safety was his ultimate priority.
So while Tyler Dare’s men searched, Lucas focused on things at home. And he knew something was bothering Maxie. Something beyond the obvious fact that they still had to deal with the looming threat of Vincent Bernardi, a hovering ghost over their emotional and mental states.
But he could sense her distraction was about more than Keith’s past haunting her. She was out of sorts, not in her usual good mood, and when he questioned her, she said she was just busy on the job and more tired than usual.
Too tired for sex.
He didn’t pressure her, instead immersing himself in work and waiting on information. They were working on decoding the information on the drive, and once they accomplished that, they were looking into each account they found.
Lucas was sitting at his desk three days later when he got the call from Tyler Dare.
“Thank God. What do you have for me?” Lucas asked, hoping for good news.
“If I didn’t have the best guy in the business, he never would have found it. Your brother stashed money in the Caymans.”
Lucas jumped up from his seat, practically doing a fist pump at the news. “Thank you.”
“I’m sending you the information priority overnight. Not risking anything in email.”
“You more than earned your money. Thank you again.” Lucas couldn’t wait to tell Maxie. After which, next stop was the cops.
* * *
Lucas and Maxie called the police, detailing Bernardi’s actions from the first time he’d accosted Maxie at the Halloween party and Lucas had met him at the gym to the present. The man already had a record, and the police were all too ready to believe their story. Especially since the authorities were monitoring his actions. They still hadn’t given up on getting him on embezzlement and racketeering charges.
They’d been in a diner, meeting with a plainclothes detective so as not to call attention to the police in case Bernardi was watching. Hours had passed, of phone calls and conversation, when finally Aaron Gold, a Fed in a suit, presented them with a plan.
“You’ll give Bernardi the account number and bank information in the Caymans. We’ll work with our counterparts overseas and be there to take him into custody when he tries to access the account. Easy.”
“Too easy,” Lucas muttered, but he couldn’t deny the relief flowing through his veins.
Maxie placed her hand in his, her own release of tension palpable. “And you’ll contact us when he’s in custody?” she asked.
Gold nodded. “You’ll have done your part, and it’ll be over,” he assured her.
“Fine,” Lucas said. “Anything to get this son of a bitch out of our lives.”
Gold walked out and Lucas turned to Maxie. “Could it be that easy?”
“He sure made it sound that way.” Maxie wound a strand of her long hair around her finger. “God, I don’t even care if you hand Bernardi the information at this point. I want this over with, and I don’t want to see him again. Ever.”
He braced a hand on her knee, leaned in close, and brushed his lips over hers. “As soon as they have people set up in the Caymans, they’ll call and tell us to pass over the information. It’ll be a fast swap like the last time and he’ll be gone. Keith’s mess will finally be behind us. Then we can move forward with our lives.”
He slid his hand up her thigh and she stiffened.
He stifled a curse and removed his hand. He didn’t know what was going on with her or how to break through the wall she’d put up. For no reason, as far as he could tell. But his gut told him not to push. Not until this outside stress was behind them and they could truly focus on what was important.
Them.
Twenty-four hours later, Lucas got the phone call to deliver the account information to Bernardi. Grateful Maxie didn’t want any part of the exchange, he met the man outside Blink.
“You’re handing me cash out in the open like this?” Bernardi asked.
“No. I’m handing you my brother’s secret account in the Caymans.” Lucas held out a piece of paper with the information written on it. “This account has your money. The amount you told Maxie she owed you. Go find a way to retrieve it, and get the fuck out of our lives.”
Bernardi stared at the paper in Lucas’ hand, as if he was undecided. Clearly he’d thought he’d be getting cash out of Lucas.
Well, tough shit. “That’s the money you asked for. It’s the best you’re going to get from me. I’m sure you’ll have no problem managing to finagle your way in to claim that money. Regardless, I’m out. Done.”
Bernardi snatched the sheet from his hand. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you and your lady.”
Lucas frowned, watching as the large man walked away. With any luck, never to be seen again.
* * *
While waiting for word that Bernardi had been taken into custody in the Caymans, Lucas kept security on Maxie and his parents. He was no longer worried, certain the man had left the country, but having bodyguards was the prudent thing to do.
Waiting kept him busy. Not busy enough, because he still drove himself crazy over the way Maxie had withdrawn. It reminded him of the time after she’d lost the baby, only not quite as dark.
He struggled to find a way to approach her, but he didn’t want to drag her back to that time for no reason. Everyone was entitled to downtime. Maybe work was hard on her.
Or maybe she was feeling confined, living with him, sleeping with him, and she needed space. He considered that possibility and discarded it, if only because Maxie was strong enough to tell him if the relationship wasn’t working for her. She certainly hadn’t held back when he’d fucked up.
None of which helped him figure out what was bothering her now.
Or what to do about it.
Finally, bright and early in the morning, Gold called him with the news that Bernardi had been taken into custody by island police at the Cayman Island’s bank while trying to access Keith’s bank accounts. Lucas assumed they would extradite him to the U.S. He didn’t know the details and he didn’t care. Gold promised that with the information they’d amassed, the man was going away for a good long time.
That same day, Maxie begged him to let the bodyguards go, and with Gold’s assurances, there didn’t seem to be a reason to keep them on.
* * *
Maxie scheduled a doctor’s appointment with her old obstetrician, needing to confirm her pregnancy before she accepted it in her mind and could bring herself to discuss it with Lucas. She was exhausted, not sleeping, worried about being pregnant, concerned she couldn’t carry to term and the doctors wouldn’t know it until it was too late.
She feared accepting the idea of this baby, getting emotionally attached, something she thus far refused to let herself do, and having her heart and guts ripped out again. And thanks to her worries, depression was beginning to settle over her like an unwelcome, long-lost friend.
Fate was on Maxie’s side. The day of
her ob-gyn appointment, she found out Bernardi was out of her life for good, and she could finally put Keith behind her. And she could go to this appointment without worry that a bodyguard would report back to Lucas about where she was. She wanted to tell him on her terms, in her own time.
She headed to the doctor’s office, a medical building with multiple doctors on every floor, and exited on three. She checked in, and after a little while waiting, she was brought into the exam room, where she undressed and put on a robe. She sat twisting her hands, trying to remain calm, when the doctor finally walked in.
“Maxie, I’m so happy to see you again.” Dr. Mendez had been her regular obstetrician with her first pregnancy.
She hadn’t been on call the night she’d lost the baby. Dr. Mendez was a pretty, dark-haired woman in her late thirties, and Maxie had always been drawn to her warmth and caring.
“How have you been?” the doctor asked.
“Umm … things have been a little crazy lately,” Maxie said, thinking that was an understatement.
Dr. Mendez laughed. “Well, let’s see what’s going on. Now remember what I told you when you came to my office after … last time. There was nothing you could have done to prevent the miscarriage, and you aren’t in a high-risk category should you get pregnant again. Of course, we can discuss extra testing…”
The doctor went on, but Maxie’s ears were ringing, and she had trouble focusing. Just one reason she shouldn’t have come alone.
“So let’s move on to the exam. Your urine test already confirmed that you’re pregnant, but let’s do an exam and put your mind at ease.”
Maxie’s palms were sweaty as, a few awkward minutes later, she found herself in an all-too-familiar position, on the doctor’s examining table with a sonogram screen to her side.
Alone.
Keith had never made the time to go with her to her appointments, and she’d chosen not to have Lucas here today. Something she’d regretted the minute she stepped into the room and the walls seemed to close in on her.
The doctor chatted as she worked, and soon Maxie saw the flickering on the screen and the tiny image of her baby staring back at her. Her stomach flipped, and at that moment, she realized she’d been lying to herself. She didn’t have to worry about getting attached to this baby. She already was.
Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 2) Page 14
