Last Hand

Chapter 1

1

It wasn't because the bed was lumpy or uncomfortable that I couldn't sleep. It was everything else. As I tossed and turned next to a peacefully slumbering Caleb, I realized that life had become complicated.

No matter how much I tried to force it, sleep was not my friend. It only made me queasy. Of course, that could be due to the very disruptive baby now performing summersaults in by belly. I sat up and rubbed my stomach, willing the nausea to go away. But, like always, it didn’t work. I ran to the bathroom, hand covering my mouth to halt the geyser. And like always, when I finally made it to the toilet, not much came out, just retching and heaving. It was horrible, this nausea. I didn't understand how the Earth’s population was so large. Who would ever want to go through this multiple times?

Mya had promised it would only be a couple of months, and then I would feel better. I hoped she was right, because there was no way I would survive like this much longer.

As I flushed the toilet and washed my face and hands, rinsing out my mouth, I felt a presence behind me.

"Are you okay, kitten?" Caleb asked, flipping on the light. His brow was etched with concern.

It was rare to see Caleb worried. He was always a source of unaffected good humor. With his sandy locks and wide smile, he had a tendency to spread his happy mood to everyone who crossed his path. I envied that about him.

I grabbed the hand towel and mopped my face. "I'll live."

He crossed the distance between us and wrapped me in his arms. I leaned heavily against him, thankful we were in this together.

"It'll get better," he promised.

I didn’t see how he could guarantee that, but I didn’t really want to argue either. He was only trying to be supportive. If men really wanted to help, they would’ve figured out how to carry babies themselves.

"It’d just be easier if we had a home," I said.

"We'll have one soon enough. Unfortunately, the repairs to my condo won’t be done until our new house is finished. We’re stranded for now. We just have to wait this out."

"Or go to a hotel," I suggested hopefully.

"Frankie and Mark insisted we stay here. They're excited to share their new chapel and home with us."

"That doesn't mean we need to live here for two months. It’s only been a week and I already want to run away."

Caleb chuckled, pulling me closer and kissing the top of my head as if consoling a child. Perhaps I was behaving like one. But with his condo flooded from a water-pipe break, me being pregnant and miserable, and then having to live with Frankie and Mark, it was as much as I could handle.

“I feel like I’m in a zoo and all the animals are judging me,” I said.

"Would it make you feel better if I turned them around?" Caleb asked, pointing to the quilted animals surrounding us.

"No, leave them." I had made my peace with the hundreds of crafted animals that Mark had strewn throughout the room. It was a little claustrophobic, but we were in their home.

Mark had tried to contain his craft area to the corner, but with over twenty bolts of fabric plus all the bobs and doodads that went with it, it was nearly impossible. However, the bed was comfortable and we had our own bathroom. Plus, Frankie and Mark were usually pleasant to be around during the day. At night, they tended to argue a lot.

Their house, located off the back of the wedding chapel, was not big enough to hide from them or their voices, which bounced off the vaulted ceilings. Two bedrooms, two baths, and an open-concept living room and kitchen were great for a couple and a cat—but not also for two long-term guests.

"I think I need air," I said.

"It's the middle of the night. Just come back to bed. I'll give you a massage."

I paused, not wanting to miss out on one of his massages. Quickly agreeing, I plopped down on the bed, awaiting his wonderful hands.

I wondered how life would be after the baby. It made me nervous. Even in strong relationships, a baby could upset everything. I had my doubts and worries, but Caleb seemed perfectly content. It was as if this was everything he had expected.

It was not what I had expected. In fact, I hadn’t known if I’d ever want a child. Now I just had to wait and see what happened.

Caleb settled next to me, stroking my back with one hand. It was lovely until a few minutes later when he fell into a sound sleep. His warm hand dropped in the middle of my back, adding an extra weight that made me uncomfortable. I was already retaining what felt like gallons of water.

Gently slipping out of his grasp, I sat up. It’d do me no good to lie there and listen to his breathing. Besides, I'd never be able to fall asleep with so much uncertainty racing through my mind. No, it was time to get back into a routine. Just because I was pregnant didn’t mean I couldn’t work. And since the baby wouldn’t let me sleep, she would just have to come with me.

I really had no idea the s*x of the baby. But I didn't want to call it “it” either. So, instead, I chose “she.” For some reason, I suspected she would be a girl. I didn’t care one way or the other about the gender, but there was just something that told me she would be a girl. I never once told Caleb what I suspected. He was adamant that it should be a surprise.

Quietly, I dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, then slipped on my shoes. I gave my mouth a final scouring before I picked up my backpack and grabbed my hoodie on the way out.

Gus sat outside the bedroom door. His very grumpy demeanor greeted me. I reached down to pet him. “Frankie kicked you out of the bedroom again, didn’t he?”

Gus grunted his disproval when I straightened. The tubby gray cat never wanted my affection, just food. But with Mark’s coddling, Gus no longer had to demand food. His rounded belly was proof of that.

I let him into the bedroom to sleep with Caleb. He waddled through the door and stared at the bed and then at me. Knowing exactly what he wanted, I walked over to pick him up and set him on the bed. He gave another grunt and then settled in.

Smiling, I walked out the door and headed to the casino.

It was an hour into playing when I folded my hand again. My head wasn't into cards, but the rest of me wasn't into sleeping. So, I waited for the next hand at the low stakes table, biding my time. I could have entered the high-stakes room. But even though I had won enough money to afford it, I still felt odd sitting at the high roller’s table. My comfort zone was on the main floor. So there I sat, waiting for the night to end with hundreds of other people.

"My office. Now!" I heard the growled order behind me and knew instantly who it was. I had come to Tropical Rain Casino because I knew where everything was, and I knew the play style. However, I didn't think Remy would be working the night shift.

Since I wasn’t currently in a hand, I gathered up my chips and tucked them into my pocket. Standing, I turned to find a scowling, tightlipped man who towered over me with way too many muscles. Slot-machine lights bounced off his shiny, shaved head.

I smiled at him. "What brings you here?"

His scowl deepened, and I knew I had poked a button. But it was so easy with Remy. He had so many buttons. "Get your ass in my office. Now!"

"It's nice to see you too. How have you been? I hear you're dating someone. I believe her name is Ava."

"Jet!" he growled his nickname for me in warning.

If my stomach hadn't chosen that moment to tumble, I would've chuckled at his expression. He looked thunderous. Had anybody else been under that glare, they might have crumbled. But he couldn't scare me. Remy was a softy and my friend.

So, instead of pressing him to the breaking point, which he was already tiptoeing, I allowed him to march me to the office.

I sat down on the familiar couch and eased back, rubbing my stomach.

His scowl eased only slightly. "It's the middle of the night, Jet. And you're pregnant. You should be home."

"I appreciate your concern, but I couldn't sleep and I have no home. I needed to get out."

"Where's Caleb?"

"Sleeping at Frankie’s."

“Then that's where you should be."

I raised a brow. "Last time I checked it was the twenty-first century. I don't need to be everywhere my fiancé is."

"I didn’t say that," he snapped. "But have you forgotten Sergio's demented cousin? Alfonso is still out there. Until Sergio figures out where he is, you’re not to be alone anywhere or anytime."

"I don't see why I'm in danger. What would he want with me?"

“Jet, you helped take down his family business."

"Not really. Sergio did most of the work."

"Have you forgotten Dagor? He was one of the cousin’s workers."

How could I forget Dagor? The man had kidnapped me and Mya, he had an illegal counterfeit operation running in Greyson’s casino, and he tried to kill me several times.

"If that's the case, we’re all in trouble,” I said. “You, me, Greyson, David, and Mya. We were all involved. And weren’t Jenna and her brother somehow wrapped up in it as well?" I didn’t know Jenna very well, other than what Mya had told me. But her brother had accidently picked up the wrong bag with Alfonso’s drugs in it. Greyson had to pay a hefty sum to keep them all alive.

"David's keeping track of Mya, Jenna, and Greyson,” Remy said. “He has enough to deal with without adding you to the list.”

"Have there been any leads or threats?"

"Only what we've learned from Sergio. Alfonso is out for revenge. He’s angry and has nothing to lose. And that means he won’t stop. He’s out for blood."

“From what I remember, he was out for blood to begin with."

"He won’t stop. Do you see our problem?”

There was always a problem. That never seemed to change, and I was tired of it. I was tired of living in fear.

"Tell me about Ava," I said.

"Stop trying to change the subject. You know damn well I'm not going to answer."

"Why not?"

"Jet, if you want to live to see tomorrow, stop asking about Ava. This is serious."

I studied him for a moment. "Are you two fighting?"

"No, we’re not fighting!"

"I think maybe you are."

"Jet!"

I didn’t know why I liked to rile Remy. Maybe because it was so easy. Maybe it was because I felt as though he were a brother. Or maybe when everything in life turned upside down, I could count on Remy, even if he was upset with me.

I held up my hands, signaling a truce. "Okay, I won't ask about Ava anymore tonight, but I do want to meet her eventually."

Remy’s scowl disappeared as he straightened. "Good. That will work nicely."

"What will work nicely?"

"Since you seem to wander around with no thoughts of protecting yourself or the baby, Ava will be assigned to you."

I sat rigid. "Assigned? You can't assign her to me."

"You said you wanted to meet her. Now you can."

"Meeting her is one thing, but I don't need a babysitter."

"Obviously you do."

"Remy, this is silly. Ava won't want to follow me around, and I don't want her to."

"It's either this, or you stay at Frankie's until we resolve the issue."

Well, there was no way I was going to stay holed up at Frankie's. I had no idea how long it would take, and I was truly beginning to think Mark's quilted animals were planning on murdering me in my sleep.

"I promise to stay near Caleb or be with someone at all times. Will that make you happy?"

"This isn't about me being happy. It's about survival. You’ve been through too many scrapes before, and narrowly escaped each time. You might not be as lucky this time."

"I appreciate the concern. But until we know more, there's no need to bring out the armed guards."

"That's exactly what needs to happen," he said.

"Remy, I promise I'll be with someone at all times."

"And what happens if you break your promise?"

"I won't. But, if I do, then you can put me under lockdown."

"I'll keep you to that promise."

"I promise," I repeated. When he looked convinced, I added, "So, tell me about Ava."

He groaned.