Page 3 of Consume Me

Now that Edward had delivered the bomb, Belle seemed able to confess. “There’s a problem with a ventricle. The baby is going…going to need surgery after it’s born. Clara didn’t want to worry you. She thought you might…”

The rest of her words faded even though her lips continued to move. The baby’s heart. Clara had kept me from the doctor’s appointments on purpose, because of the baby’s heart.

“Alexander?” Georgia prompted when I didn’t speak.

I shook my head, wanting them to continue. It took effort to focus on what they were saying when inside I was reeling.

“She’s seen a few specialists. They advised her to keep her stress levels low.” Belle was crying, but I couldn’t find an ounce of sympathy for her suffering.

I couldn’t find an ounce of anything. There was only one sensation unfolding in my chest. Shame. She’d been advised? How long had she known? How much stress had I placed on her in that time? Why had she allowed me to dominate her if she’d known? Was that why she’d sought release with me? I thought of the moment after the press conference. I’d told her to leave. I’d told her it was over. I could see her now, breaking on the floor and struggling to breathe as she begged me to make her feel something else.

She’d known then.

I had no doubt of that. I could see it now in my memory of that moment—one that I’d never be able to erase from my mind. It was etched like a tattoo on my soul. I’d tried so hard to give her up—and if I had…

Would she be safe now? Would the baby have suffered? Was there any decision that wouldn’t destroy us?

“What happens?” I murmured, unable to find the strength to interrupt her entirely, but Belle heard. “What happens to the baby if…?”

I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t face it. I couldn’t admit what I already knew.

What happens to the baby if we can’t find them in time?

Clara’s friends—her true confidants—shared a look that said enough. Then Belle whispered the words that broke me.

“I’m so sorry.”

Chapter 2

CLARA

She was gone. One look and she’d fled like a frightened mouse back to whatever hole she’d crawled out of—but that didn’t explain her ghostly appearance. For a moment, I’d mistaken her for someone else. Then I’d stepped closer and realized my mistake.

It wasn’t Sarah, which meant Alexander’s sister was somewhere else. Had she escaped? What chance did she have after…?

I shut my mind to the image of Norris’s face, blood pouring from his mouth, but my stomach heaved. Too late.

Maybe my imagination was playing tricks on me. Maybe I’d hallucinated the girl. I had to be in shock or whatever they’d given me had side effects. I rubbed my belly protectively and felt a reassuring kick. If the baby was okay that was all that mattered.

For now.

But how long would that be the case? I didn’t know where I was or why I was here.

The room was warm, even if it was about as welcoming as a prison cell. I didn’t want to leave it to chase after what might have been a figment of my imagination. But she was the first sign of life I’d seen, which meant I didn’t have a choice. Not if I was going to get us safely out of here.

The corridor stretched before me as silent and empty as it was a few minutes ago. The echo of my bare feet hitting the cold cement made me cringe. Could they hear that? Whoever it was that had brought me here? I scanned for cameras as I went but didn’t see any.

No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t put all the pieces together. Who was she? Why was she here? Why was I here?

Dread churned inside me, twisting and rolling in my gut until I thought I might be sick again. I fought the nausea. I couldn’t afford to lose more fluids.

There was one spot of hope in this nightmare: I hadn’t wound up here by mistake. I’d been taken.

It was an odd thing to find comfort in but surely it meant that someone would come. Eventually. And when they did, I would get answers. I would demand them.

And then I’d plead for my child’s life.

It was a sobering thought. I spent the last few months preparing to fight for this baby—to make certain he or she lived. I never imagined it could come to this.