Page 77 of Protective Phlox

She sucked in a deep gasp and grabbed my arm, her eyes wide with sudden terror. “Was I, am I? Please don’t tell me….” Savannah’s eyes filled with tears.

“You didn’t lose the baby. You’re both fine.” She slumped on the bed and closed her eyes.

“Thank God. How much rehab time?”

“Doc says three to six weeks, so it’s a good thing you’re still early in the pregnancy. I can’t believe we didn’t know. I can’t believe my mom knew and said something.”

“Right? Nothing like being outed in a car full of people. But honestly, I’m happy. Are you happy?”

“Right now, I’m very fucking happy about a lot of things. The fact that you’re still alive is at the top of the list. Fuck you scared me, but yes, I’m happy about the new addition.”

“What, no comeback about what great swimmers you have or that you knocked me up in one shot…again?”

I smiled wide. “I was thinking it.”

“I bet you were. Are you still going to be smiling if we have a girl?”

I shuddered as Savannah laughed and then winced. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”

Cupping her cheek, I leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. “I love you, Savannah.”

“I love you,” she said, tears leaking from her eyes. “Where is Cutter? Does he know what happened?”

I shook my head. “No, Ivan brought him to my penthouse not far from here. When they had him call me, I just told him you were injured and had to go to the hospital, but you were going to be okay.” Savannah’s eyes fluttered closed. “I should let you rest.”

She held my hand tighter. “Please don’t go.”

“Don’t worry, my beautiful wife, I’m not going anywhere. I was just going to get changed and let you sleep.” She shook her head and refused to let go of my hand. “Okay, I won’t go.” I’d paid for the largest room they had and the fanciest bed the hospital owned, so it was wider than most. Getting up on the bed, I stretched out beside her and kissed the top of her head. Savannah leaned into my chest, and a moment later, I felt her body trembling as she cried.

I didn’t want to hurt her, but I held her as tightly as I could, letting her vent what she was feeling.

“I’m so sorry. I never thought my father would go to such lengths to harm his own family,” I said. She lifted her head and looked at me. Her eyes broke my heart all over again with the raw emotions that were laid bare at my feet.

“What are you talking about?”

“I shouldn’t have said anything right now.” Even wounded, she was scary as she glared at me. She was the perfect wife, my partner in every way. “My father made a deal with another family for more business opportunities in exchange for outing you and Cutter.”

“The Mancinis? He made a deal with them?” I nodded, and the anger that burned in her eyes wiped away the sadness in a blink. “Cutter and I would have been killed if it wasn’t for you. He was willing to lose his grandson for a deal?”

“Yeah, he said that he would’ve preferred that he didn’t, but if so, it would be justified. I have no idea how that man is my father. I thought I was a prick, but he is a level all on his own.”

“Are you going to kill him?”

Sighing, I shook my head. “No, not yet. First, I’m going to tear down everything he’s built. It’s what means the most to him, even over his own life. I need to take a trip to Russia and make my own deals to circumvent my father. Right now, he still has the family backing, money, and power. That means if I kill him, they’ll retaliate.”

“So, you’re going to cut off his legs and then crush him.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. That man has always underestimated what I can do, but he’s about to learn that I’ve been holding back. No one goes after you and Cutter, and walks away. I will kill him, Savannah, that I promise you, but I need to be smart about it.”

“Good. What he set into motion got my partner and friend killed. I found out when I resigned. Marko’s family was outed because of this deal. I know that we have lived on different sides of the line, but…Marko was like family to me and Cutter. He sacrificed years of his life, away from his three children, to try and stop Aldo’s sex trafficking ring. It’s not right. Matthews couldn’t even tell me if it was just him or if they killed his whole family.”

“I’m sorry, Savannah, I didn’t know anyone else was at risk. I only just found out that my father knew all along that you were pregnant and purposely kept the information quiet. If I had known, I would’ve come for the two of you sooner. For all the good it did me, you’re still here in this hospital bed.” Her skin was cool against my knuckles as I ran them over her cheek. I wanted to wrap her up tight in my arms and never let go.

“What happened was not your fault. Unless I had a wall of soldiers, body armor, and never left the house, this was inevitable. But I can’t live in that house with him, Nathan. I just can’t. I will kill him myself if I have to look at his face.”

“I’m already moving everything out. You never have to see him again.”

“I was so scared that I was never going to see you and Cutter again,” she said and buried her head into my chest as a fresh wave of tears gripped her.