Page 76 of Tension

He didn’t say anything.

I inhaled slowly.

I needed to be ready to do this alone, just in case.

“I’m keeping it,” I said, now looking at the hospital. Afraid of what I would see in his eyes.

Vel didn’t say anything at first. Instead, one hand slid around my neck, the other around my waist, pulling me into a kiss. It started soft, then deepened. I had to pull back; it started to get too heavy.

Tears were streaming down his face, though.

“Baby,” I whispered, cupping his cheeks. “Why are you crying?”

He laughed through it. “You having a nigga baby, baby.” He shook his head. “I know you overthinking, but all this did was speed shit up. I’m in this with you, Chris. Lowkey proud of my dick. Now you stuck with me, Honeydew."

I smiled so hard my face hurt.

“Why would I ever want to get rid of you?”

“Come on,” he said, squeezing my thigh. “Let’s go feed my babies.”

I did a little happy wiggle, and Vel drove off. His hand was resting on my thigh, pinky brushing my stomach. I felt silly because I had nothing to worry about.

He already loved this baby.

The last streaks of sunset bled across the sky as I waited for Vel in the lobby. The second half of my shift had been smooth. I hadn’t seen Brian again; his wife had delivered safely, and as a NICU nurse, I was no longer needed.

“Chris!” the security guy came sprinting past me. “There’s a pregnant lady in the parking lot.”

I dropped my bag and followed him without thinking. But the farther we went, the slower my steps became. It was fully dark now. The lot was too quiet. No crying, no crowd, no frantic husband pacing. No signs of distress.

Chris stopped beside a white van, its side door open.

My chest felt heavy as I walked toward him cautiously, every instinct screaming. Then he turned and grabbed me.

“Don’t make this difficult, Chris,” he said, yanking me close. “Get in the van.”

I froze. A knife pressed against my stomach, enough pressure to promise damage.

“What are you doing, baby?” I said softly, forcing my voice steady.

I remembered something from a Lifetime movie. You can survive by giving them what they think they want. If Chris was who I thought he was, compliance might buy me time. I needed to fulfill his desires.

“I’m saving you from yourself,” he said.

“All you had to do was ask,” I replied, trying to step away. “Come on, let me get my stuff and go.”

He yanked me back against him. His breath, his scent, the closeness… It all made my stomach turn.

“You really think I’m that stupid?” he scoffed. “You’re the stupid one. Walking around with bruises from that nigga who cheats on you and just had his third child. Hell, he probably has more. Then you give those two idiot nurses more attention than me. You know they have a bet going for who can fuck you first? And now this new nigga! Won’t be long⁠—”

Click.

“Won’t be long till what?”

Vel’s voice was the light at the end of a dark tunnel.

He stepped around the front of the van, gun raised, steady, aimed directly at Chris’s head.