No one ever hurt Leanna.
She had to know that.
Leanna was a tornado, and Leanna was tough. Heck, she killed two men without blinking an eye.
Anyone who could survive Joshua Cano raping and molesting her from the age of thirteen was built of much tougher material than anything he’d ever been through—which included the death of his mother, uncle, and father.
“You don’t need to get me anything to drink,” Axe said. “The enchiladas are great. Is this chicken?”
“Yes, the ones with the green sauce are chicken, and the red sauce is beef. Would you like guacamole?”
“Yes, please,” Axe said. “How’s Leanna doing?”
Her mother turned toward the refrigerator and didn’t answer.
Okay, the mother believed he was in the wrong.
Axe shook his head and dug in. Women mystified him, but he hadn’t spent all these years watching Leanna to be fooled.
Leanna knew exactly what she wanted, and she got what she wanted, take no prisoners.
She obviously did not want him, even if he chose her as his destiny.
* * *
Terri and Ryker’s baby shower was in full swing, minus the couple themselves.
Leanna checked her watch and called Ryker, but he didn’t answer.
“Do you think something happened to them?” she asked Ken and Jolie. “Ryker’s not answering his phone.”
“What if Terri went into labor?” Nikki cried. “Which hospital is she registered with?”
Sherelle and Gage had arrived and set up the food, and all the guests, including Ryker’s biker brothers and their buddies, were busy scarfing it up.
Others were dancing and singing along with the video karaoke setup, while the alcohol flowed freely. Axe had gifted them a no host bar, and Terri and Ryker’s friends were taking full advantage.
“Where’s Axe?” Jolie asked. “He’s Ryker’s buddy. Maybe he knows what their birth plan is.”
“I doubt it,” Leanna said. “He’s been out of the country.”
“Still, I heard he went with Terri to a Lamaze class when Ryker went on a business trip,” Marisa cut in. “They’re tight like that.”
“Axe went to a Lamaze class?” Leanna found it hard to believe the tough guy could help a pregnant woman breathe.
“Where is he, anyway?” Nikki asked. “This is his club, and the guests are drinking him dry.”
“He took his daughter out to dinner,” Leanna said. “He’s really good with her.”
“Call him and ask him if he knows the hospital,” Nikki insisted. “We can bring the party to them. I mean, Terri could be having one of those marathon labors.”
Leanna wasn’t sure the hospital would appreciate a party in the waiting room, but at least she had an excuse to call Axe.
The question was, would he pick it up?
Not wanting to embarrass herself, she stepped into the ladies’ room and keyed in his number.
He picked up on the first ring. “Hey, is everything okay?”
