“Good. It’s going to be a lot of hard work,” I jokingly warn them. “Or so I’ve heard.”
Alex kisses my temple. “Baby, there’s three of us. You’re set.”
“There’s an ambulance outside,” Vincent says. “They’re going to give you a thorough check-up. And we’re going to the hospital with you.”
“Honestly, I think I’m fine. Just a little shaken up.”
“No, you’re the victim of a kidnapping. You were held at gunpoint.” He shakes his head. “You’re anything but fine. Lord knows, we’re sticking to you like white on rice from now on!”
“Come on, Vincent, you couldn’t have known they’d go this far.”
“But if we’d been there?—”
A sudden gasp escapes my throat. “Oh, God. Kaleb must be out of his mind. Does he know?”
“I just texted him. Told him to go straight to the hospital. He’ll meet us there,” Max replies, holding up his phone.
My brows furrow. “You’re back on speaking terms then?”
“Almost,” Alex answers. “Like I said, your brother is stubborn, but he’s coming around slowly but surely. It’ll be alright. Right now, all that matters is that you’re safe and on your way to the hospital.”
“I was so sorry when he quit the bike shop. It was his dream gig. His anger got the better of him, but I’m pretty sure he regrets his decision,” I explain.
Alex smiles broadly. “When all this blows over, the bike shop will still be there, waiting for Kaleb. He’ll always have his job with us, just so you know.”
“Kaleb just confirmed,” Max says, checking his phone. “He’ll be at the hospital, waiting for us. For you, Raina. He’s a good brother.”
Finally, I breathe a sigh of true relief.
I’m safe.
30
RAINA
Afew days later, Kaleb walks me out of the station, his arm protectively around my shoulders.
“That was intense,” he says.
“But worth it,” I reply, huddled under my jean jacket.
It’s still nippy for early March, but I welcome the chill and the shudder that follows. It reminds me that I’m alive, my baby is growing inside me, and there’s still a future ahead for me to fight for.
“I just can’t believe they ganged up on you like that,” Kaleb sighs.
Upon reaching his car, we take a moment to gather our senses. Giving my statement to the police against Jeremy and Deanna was more intense than I had anticipated, as I had to relive each of those horrible moments. I shake my head slowly as I go over the details I learned after the fact.
“Alex, Vincent, and Max didn’t tell me about the blackmailphotos,” I say at one point. “They were trying to protect me; I get that.”
“Maybe they were trying to protect themselves a bit, too,” he replies, lowering his gaze.
I take his hands in mine. “Not that long ago, foster kids like us wouldn’t have stood a chance in this system,” I remind him. “I would’ve ended up on the streets. You, probably in jail or worse, just because we were orphans. Can’t disagree on that, right?”
He frowns slightly. “No.”
“Thanks to people like Alex, Vincent, and Max, you got a shot at a career of your choosing. They helped you pursue your passion. And that income helped you provide for me while I went to culinary school.”
“You earned that full ride, Raina. Don’t sell yourself short.”
