“So did I.”
“Okay then.”
We sit there in silence a moment. Between our discussion of prison and pregnancy, there’s a fragile new intimacy between us. A connection that didn’t exist when I zipped up my pants and walked out the door four months ago.
Something about it gives me the urge to kiss her. Not a passionate kiss like we shared in that foyer. Something gentle and soft, just a brush of my lips on the side of her head.
But there’s no way she’d welcome that, so I get to my feet. “You’ll be in touch then?”
“I—yes.” She looks up and blinks. “We can hammer out details through phone calls and emails.”
“Sounds good.” Sounds like a business discussion, but that’s what we agreed, right? “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to attend some doctors’ appointments.” I don’t even know what they’re called. “Maybe one where you get the little printout picture and possibly find out the gender?”
“Ultrasound,” she says. “That’s the procedure, but the sonogram is the image it produces. That’s coming up at the end of next week.”
“Right. I’d like to be there if possible.”
“I’ll send you the details.”
There’s that urge again. A bone-deep temptation to wrap my arms around her. To protect this woman and the two little beings inside her.
I take a step back instead. “G’night, Hazel.”
“Goodnight, Luke.”
I don’t look back as I slip through the door and make my way out to the hall. Hazel’s three friends are nowhere in sight, but I’m guessing they haven’t gone far. She’ll probably summon them back as soon as I’m gone.
I stumble out into the parking lot in a daze. Twins. I’m going to be a father.
Holy shit.
My head spins all the way to my truck. Once I’m inside, I pull out my phone and tab to the contact I’ve saved as “Ark Man.”
I pause with a finger over the call button, recalling my promise to Hazel.
I’ll stay out of trouble. I won’t hang with criminals. I won’t get arrested.
I don’t plan on doing the latter. The former, well . . . I don’t plan on getting in trouble. And as far as I know, Ark Man has paid all his debts to society. That means he’s no more a criminal than I am.
So why did he configure your phone with an untraceable coder?
That’s just the rule of the agency he works for. And it’s not like I know there’s anything shady about them. Do I have questions? Sure, who wouldn’t? But as far as I know, they’re not breaking the law. They’re secretive as hell, but that’s not illegal.
Keep telling yourself that.
But seriously, I have no reason to believe these jobs I’ve been doing are anything other than glorified public service. Just unusual side-work that pays well.
It’s money I’ve used to get back on my feet after five years in prison.
Money I’ve donated to charities making a difference for teens on the wrong track.
Money I’ll need to support a young family.
I’m dialing before I can talk myself out of it. Ark Man picks up fast on the first ring. “Luke.”
“Hey.” Clearing my throat, I push back a faint press of guilt. “I could use a little extra cash. Wanted to put that out there, in case you need someone to pick up a few extra jobs.”
He doesn’t respond right away. “There a reason?”
