There it was, the hitch.
"Tricky?" I asked. It wasn’t a word I was used to hearing when it came to this line of work. Either it was dangerous or it wasn’t. “I need the truth, Janson.”
"Nothing for you to worry about. I’ll be fine, but I can’t say the same for the people around us, you got it?” He watched as my face fell and I crinkled my brow. “I don't want to be the monster that I am."
I grabbed him and kissed him softly. "You are not a monster. Not one bit. You do what you need to do in order to protect us." I believed it, too.
I'd never really thought much of it before, but at that moment, I knew the truth of it. The man was the only thing that kept me safe at night. My father put us all at risk, and he and Greyson were working so hard to make sure that it ended well.
I trusted him. I trusted my brother.
I may have run away before, but I was seeing things clearly now. I understood the stakes.
Why did it sound like they were putting themselves in harm’s way?
I got out of the car and looked up at the big, tall building. They were all the way at the top. All I wanted was a nice long nap. I was exhausted from the show.
I swung the door open and looked back at Janson before I stepped out of it.
“So, what do I have to do?” I asked.
“Just go to bed in their guest bedroom. Someone will get you if you are needed.” It was Greyson’s voice that pulled me out of my stupor.
“Greyson?” I asked, looking around. He was hidden in the shadows. My adrenaline spiked. Did he see that kiss?
I pulled myself from the car and stood up, looking around.
He stepped into the lamplight from my right and almost gave me a goddamn heart attack.
I remembered the car door being closed. The tint of the windows hiding us from any prying eyes. There was no way he saw me, he couldn't have.
Relief flooded over me.
No, he couldn’t have.
Kathryn
“Kat?” Joanna’s voice was so light I didn’t hear it at first, but as soon as I realized what it was, I popped right up out of bed. I’d only been asleep for a few hours and my body needed more, but that didn’t matter. Not when it came to this.
“What do you need, Jo?” I asked. I knew it had to be serious if she was waking me up in the middle of the night. I was in pajamas, but they were more than my usual get-up. Since moving in with Janson, I’d taken to sleeping in one of his t-shirts. But I had a full outfit on, one of Joanna’s.
“I, um. I need you to take me to the hospital.” She swallowed hard. “I’m having contractions and they are not the Braxton Hicks kind.
“What? Are you sure?” I didn’t expect this to happen. My job was to be here as a precaution. It was unlikely this would even happen. At least, that’s what Greyson told me. So of course, it had to happen.
“I’ve had them both. I am very sure,” she explained.
Of course, I had to be the only one here.
“What do you need me to do?” I asked. “I’ve never done this before.”
“Me either,” Joanna admitted. “Call for a taxi. I already have my bags packed.”
She put her hand on her belly and hissed, leaning against the door jamb. “Another contraction,” she explained.
“Are you okay? Is there anything else I can do?” I was already feeling around for my phone. I dialed the taxi service after a quick search and ordered one. I felt helpless watching her go through this.
“No, just get the car.” Joanna leaned against the wall and gritted her teeth. “Another contraction,” she said in between the breaths.
“It’ll be here in a few minutes. But now you need to breathe,” I told her as I rubbed her back. “They’re coming, hon. They’ll be here.”
“Okay, good. I already tried to call Greyson, but it just went to voicemail. I’d imagine he was in the middle of something. I’ll keep trying to call and hopefully he’ll meet us there,” she explained. “He has our driver, so I need a taxi.”
“I’ll text Janson just to be sure that they get the message,” I said as I pulled out my phone and started my message. I didn’t even really need to look at my phone, I knew the placement of the letters so well. It was good, because I could focus on what mattered. I could focus on Joanna.
Baby is coming. Need you both. Now.
Joanna wandered into the living room while I dressed quickly. I ran down the list of all the things that needed to be done. I’d already contacted the boys and she had her bags packed and by the door, she said, so I didn’t need to pack them. What she really needed was someone to be there by her side.
“Kat?” Joanna called for me from out in the living room. I hurried out to see her sitting on the couch clutching a bag and her purse as she looked up at me. She was scared.