Miami Bodyguard (Kendall Family Book 5)(20)

Every last instinct burns for me to follow her inside, but she seems upset enough the way it is. The notion that she could be dealing with something life-threatening has my stomach on edge.

Forty-five torturous minutes pass as I sit in the parked car, eyes trained on the door. Finally, Angie comes bursting out, running at the car with her hood flopping in the wind behind her. Swear to god my heart's gonna beat out of my damn chest when she gets close enough that I'm able to read her expression.

She's terrified.

Everything about the situation sets off alarms in my head. Why would she be running from a clinic? What the hell went down in there?

Grabbing my gun from the glove compartment, I shove it in the back of my jeans and step out of the car. "The fuck's goin' on?"

"Get back in!" She waves both hands out in front of her. "We have to go!"

A dark-haired woman comes flying out of the same hospital door in a dead run toward us, yelling Angie's name.

"The hell?" I mutter, stepping all the way out.

Angie throws herself into my arms, tears tumbling down her cheeks. "Please, Ash, get me outta here!"

I glance back at the woman. She looks familiar, but I can't quite place from where. "Who's that? What does she want from you?"

"I'll explain later, I promise! Just-we have to go!"

Nodding, I slip back into the car as she jumps into the passenger's seat. We've hardly moved before the dark-haired woman slams her hands on the roof of the car at Angie's side, yelling for her to get out. Suddenly I remember her from the day she stormed onto set, demanding to see Angie.

"You crazy bitch! I knew you couldn't let him go! I'm calling the cops! You hear me? Your career is over!"

"Keep going!" Angie sobs, turning away from the woman. "Please!"

I drive through the dark night until Angie's tears have stopped. She stares out the windshield instead, eyes hardly ever blinking. She's quiet as I continue past downtown in the opposite direction of our building. Remembering the secluded beach where she's gone a few times for early morning runs, I maneuver through traffic to take her there.

Thank fuck the beach is completely deserted this time of night. Before I can turn the engine off, she starts for the dark water. I trail behind with my breath held, waiting for her to offer an explanation. Can hardly stand to watch her battle with this shit when I'd rather hold her and kiss her pain away.                       
       
           



       

She kicks her shoes off in the sand, continuing on until she's ankle deep in the ocean. I plop down behind her, arms hanging off my knees. Seeing her standing in the moonlight, hair blowing over her shoulders as she stares out at the waves, I'm reminded of how fucking hard I love her. Whatever's going on between her and that woman, she needs me more than before.

After a few drawn-out minutes, she turns to me with a slack expression. "I'm pregnant."

I stare back at her, my heart trying to burst from my throat.

Holy. Shit. It's the absolute last thing I expected her to say.

Rubbing my stubbled jaw with both hands, I look past her, trying to process what she's saying as a dozen questions come to mind with the speed of an automatic rifle. Is it mine? We often went without a condom because she told me she's on the pill, so it's possible depending on when it happened. The idea that Theo could be the father turns my stomach upside down. It would be a complete game-changer.

But what does her being pregnant have to do with the clinic and the angry woman threatening to call the cops? Was she there to get an abortion?

"How far?" I ask, sliding my gaze back to her.

"I don't know. I haven't had a regular period since shortly after I accepted my role, so I don't have anything to go by. The doctor always assured me it was normal because of the stress and everything." The way her eyes widen, I assume she's just as surprised by the news. "She suggested I call in the morning to schedule an ultrasound. I guess they're accurate in guessing the date of conception."

A thick lump burns through my throat. "Is that why you didn't want me going in with you?"

"I didn't want to say anything until I confirmed that's what's going on. I didn't even consider it to be a possibility when I started feeling ill a couple weeks ago." Her arms wrap around her waist like she's going to be sick. She watches the water covering her bare feet. "I threw up the other day while cooking eggs, and I almost lost it yesterday when they served those beef commercials on set. Somehow, I just knew after those things happened. I called the clinic this morning, and this OB agreed to fit me in after the usual public hours for an extra charge."

"What about the pissed off chick in the parking lot?"

Blowing out a long breath, she shuffles over next to me and drops down at my side. "That's an entirely different story. I'm not sure I'm ready to tell you about it."

Before I do something stupid like brush her hair away from her face or pull her into my arms, I thread my fingers together. She's vulnerable as hell right now, and I don't want to make it any worse. "Why not?"

"Because it's embarrassing. I hope you believe me when I say what happened back there was nothing more than a misunderstanding. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

I lift both shoulders with a long shrug. "I'm not here to judge."

"God … .I hate this." She gathers her legs in her arms, dropping her chin against her knees. "I've done so many stupid things that I regret. I'd give anything to go back and make different choices."

With a humorless chuckle, I nudge my leg against hers. "We all have. It's a part of life."

She tips her head, lips shaking with a sad smile. "I hope falling in love with me isn't one of them."

"That could never happen." I give in and take her hand, squeezing it between us. "What're you gonna do?"

"I don't know, but I think I might need help." Her eyes fall down to our hands. "You're right, I've been abusing my anxiety meds. I've been telling myself for too long that there's nothing wrong with taking a few extra, but I'm to the point where I think I might die without them. And that weekend I went away with Theo … it was bad. I took way too many pills while we were drinking, and there was some bad shit that went down later that night in our hotel room."

I grind my teeth as my mind goes wild with the possibilities. If this is her way of telling me they slept together that weekend, I fucking hate it.

Her fingers thread through mine as she lets out a shaky sigh. "Please know that I despised myself for it, and I hated the way it made me feel. I hate the person I've become." She pauses to rub her wet face against the inside of her arm. "The OB I saw tonight recommended a few clinics known for being discreet with celebrities. I'm thinking the one in Minnesota would be best … it may give me added strength if I dealt with this back home."                       
       
           



       

Never been much of a cryer, but my eyes burn with unshed tears as she admits to her addiction. Damn I love this woman even more for being brave enough to admit she needs treatment.

"I'll help you with whatever you need to do to get through this, Ang. I've got your back."

Wiping at her face again, she shakes her head. "I appreciate it, but I think this is something I have to do on my own."

Although I don't like her answer, I get it. Hopefully I can at least convince her to let me escort her to her flight and have Hunter meet her there. "What about the baby?"

"That weekend in Islamorada … I was so out of it … " She shakes her head and closes her eyes with another rush of tears pouring down her cheeks. "Theo and I woke up in bed together. Neither of us remembers what happened." Eyelids flipping back open, her eyes burn with a pain-ridden expression I'll never be able to shake as long as I live. "I'm so sorry, Ash! This is why I can't ask anything of you! I've already asked too much! I promise I'll fix this … I'll take care of it!"

Sickness rises in my gut. I hate knowing I'm in competition with that asshat as her baby's father, but how can I stay angry when she's admitting she made a mistake? She's obviously taking the problem seriously. And as much as I get the whole "my body, my decision" mentality, especially when Angie's job centers around her appearance, shouldn't I get a say if I end up being the father? I'd raise it alone if she gave me no other choice.

I drop her hand and rise to my feet, knowing if I open my mouth in this moment, I'll end up saying something I regret. As much as I love her, I'm not sure I'd feel the same if she terminated my child, or if Theo ended up being the father. It's the ugliest kind of betrayal.

She stands next to me, wiping the sand off her butt. "You should take the time while I'm gone to explore Miami. You've been here over a month, and you still haven't seen the best parts because you've been too busy chasing me around. Invite Hunter and Levi down as soon as they're done with harvest. You can use my place for extra beds."