Page 31 of Derecho

“With what money?” I laughed, but tears stung at the corners of my eyes. My throat felt like it was still so raw from all the crying I’d done last night. And I had told myself no more. No more feeling sorry for myself. No more panicking. No more tears.

But here I was, still on the verge of more falling.

“What do you mean?” Beau asked.

“You have your business money, don’t you?” My sister stared at me, worry written all over her face.

“Greg took it all. The cash I’d been saving. The money in my bank account. Everything.”

“How?” Birdie looked like she was about to be sick, and I felt the same.

“He looked at my phone. I was dumb and saved the login information, and well…he told me last night he transferred it all out. I don’t have the money I was saving to pay you back for your investment, or the money I was hoping to rent a place with, or even enough money to cover giving birth in a few weeks. I don’t…I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“That’s another crime we can add to the list. He won’t get away with it.” Lachlan moved to me, his hand resting on my shoulder. “I promise. He won’t.”

I knew that was a promise he couldn’t keep. Not really. But just hearing him say the words, knowing he wanted that for me, it made the panic fade.

“Go get something to eat. Beau and I will figure out what needs to get done and how we’re going to do it.”

“I don’t think anything’s broken.” Birdie poked at my cheekbone, and I winced. It was still really tender, and I hated that I didn’t have any makeup with me to cover it up. “I wish I had my doppler with me…are you having any pains? Has the baby been moving around like usual? Did Greg…did he hurt you anywhere else?”

“I’m okay. I promise. The alien, too.”

“I don’t get why you call him that.” Birdie chuckled.

“Because, it feels so weird that he’s in there, moving around! You’ll see when you get pregnant. It’s a weird feeling.”

Birdie laid her hand on my belly. “I think we’ll bring you up to the house before we go to pick up your things. That way I can just give the two of you a once over for peace of mind. Unless you think you need to go to the hospital? I can call the office and see if they can fit you in at the clinic. I know I don’t have rights there anymore, but Dr. Witten will take you on as a patient as a personal favor to me if I ask.”

I covered her hand with mine. “I don’t need to go anywhere. I’m fine.”

Birdie nodded, then paused before asking, “Why didn’t you tell me things had gotten so bad?”

My fingers found the edge of Lach’s shirt and rolled the hem, as if fidgeting would save me from one of the hardest conversations of my life.

“I didn’t want you to know how bad it had gotten. How bad it always was.” The space invader bounced in my belly, and I moved my hand over the spot where I could feel his hiccups. “You’ve always made the right choices in life, and I always screw everything up. I know I made it seem like Greg and his family were being wonderful about the baby and the wedding, but I don’t even think they know I’m pregnant. I didn’t realize how isolated he was keeping me until it was too late.”

“Lainey…”

I took a deep breath. “I just need to figure out what happens next. Where I go from here.”

“Beau and I can⁠—”

“No,” I said sharply.

“No?”

“No. I’m not staying here. With you and Beau, or anywhere on this ranch. I’ll figure⁠—”

“The hell you’re not,” Lachlan grumbled as he walked into the kitchen. “She’s right, Birdie. You and Beau have no room at your place. But she’s wrong about not staying here.”

“Lach, I can’t⁠—”

“You’re staying here. Where I can make sure you’re safe, without having to run out of here to get to you.”

“Yesterday…” Beau chuckled as he rested his shoulder against the wall and smirked after setting Juniper on the floor. She immediately took off toward Birdie, her bum scooting across the floor with a big smile on her face. “That’s where you were.”

“Yeah, and I should have stayed,” Lachlan muttered.