I stopped in front of the gate and shook my head. “What’s your name? I’ll text Brock and see if he can help you out.”
I was pulling my phone from my pocket when it happened. His hand darted through the bars, and he grabbed my forearm and slammed me into the gate.
My heart lurched as my face pressed against the metal bars.
“Listen to me,” he demanded in a rough and scary whisper.
My eyes darted back to Tessa, who was still thankfully focused on her sidewalk chalk Picasso of Dora the Explorer. “Let me go! He’ll kill you if he sees you touching me!” I said quietly so as not to startle her.
His voice was low and desperate as he said, “My name is Roman Leblanc. My wife and I did in vitro fertilization at Peach City Reproductive Center three years ago. The police recently informed us that our embryos might have been switched. And I’m here because I believe they were switched with yours, and I also believe your husband is responsible.”
My lungs burned at the same time my nose began to sting. What was a nightmare within a nightmare called? Because I was currently living one.
“You’re wrong.” I lied. “Let me go.” I attempted to shake his hand off, but his grip tightened.
“I also believe you, much like my wife and I, are an innocent party in this. I’ve heard about your husband, Clare. I know he puts his hands on you. On her.”
As I struggled against his hold on me, Tessa decided to finally look up.
“Mama!” she cried, and his hold on me momentarily loosened at the sound.
I took the opportunity to yank my arm from his grasp, but just as quickly, he caught the front of my shirt.
“I’m a man of resources, Clare. I can save you. I can save Tessa,” he swore, his desperate, gray eyes shining the truth. He believed he could do it.
I believed something a little different. “You’re about to get us both killed! Let me go. Walk away. And forget this address. Now,” I spat back at him.
Tessa careened into my legs, sobbing. I patted her hair down and held Roman’s stare. “Shhh… Mama’s okay. The scary man was just leaving.”
His face was stone, but I saw the wince before he could hide it.
“Leave before he sees you here,” I begged.
He shook his head. “Two choices. You pick her up and get in my car right this fucking second. Or, the next time you see me, I will be taking her without you.”
The blood roared in my ears, and my vision tunneled.
I’d spent my life protecting her from one asshole. I sure as hell wasn’t going to allow another to take her from me.
Years of pain and fear all joined forces in the span of a second, igniting my adrenaline into a fiery rage. My fist flew through the bars of the gate, slamming into his face as I shrieked, “You will not touch my daughter! Ever.”
Surprise registered on his face as he dodged my second scrambled blow. “Then help me get her away from him!” he implored. “I’m here to help you, Clare. I swear on my life I would never let anything happen to her. Or you. Just open the fucking gate and get in my goddamn car.” Anguish filled his voice, but again, even through my fury, I knew he was being honest.
But Walt had held that same truth in his eyes once, and look where that had gotten me.
His hand was still wrapped in the front of my shirt, and even with the adrenaline fueling me, I was no match for him, so I drew in a breath and used the only resource I possessed.
It was wrong, and it felt filthy to utilize it on what seemed like a decent man, but much like the rest of my life, I was out of options. Opening my mouth, I screamed Walt’s name at the top of my lungs.
His eyes grew wide as he started shaking his head. “No!” he growled. Then his anger morphed into pleas. “Come with me. Please.” His eyes flashed to the door behind me.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I waited for my dark knight to appear, swoop me off my feet, and carry me back to the dungeons of Hell.
“Clare, please,” he said, digging into his back pocket and retrieving his wallet. Without releasing me, he flipped it open and shoved it in my face. “This is my wife. Look at her!”
It took a second for my eyes to focus, but when they did, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to see anything else ever again.
Tessa’s eyes.
Tessa’s nose.
Tessa’s hair.
Tessa’s smile.
“No,” I breathed.
With the exception of my eyes, I’d always thought Tessa looked like me. But, with one glance at that woman, I realized just how wrong I’d been.
“Her name’s Elisabeth, and she’s a good woman. I scared you. I’m sorry. But please hear me when I say I can help you. And if you don’t believe me, fine. Give me the DNA. Get the police involved. They can help you. I’m not here to take her away from you. I’m here to get you both someplace safe.”
I couldn’t have answered if I’d tried.
But I never even got the chance.
“Fuck!” Roman barked, letting me go and then hauling ass back to his car.
Walter must have finally shown up to save me—from a man who was actually trying to save me.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No!