“Any sign of the baby?” he asked hopefully.
“None. I can’t get a lock down on the name, let alone sex. I’ll keep trying, but I’ve sent Makia to watch and see if Allegra turns up at the old address.”
“Allegra’s back for a reason, Leila. Check her relatives. Allegra has successfully hidden from us for two years. Why is she visible now?”
“Good point. I’ll start digging around them,” Leila replied and hung up.
Shotgun stared at the pavement as he tried to figure out why Allegra would surface now. It had to concern her family. Didn’t matter; she was back in South Dakota, which meant she had their child with her. And that’s what mattered.
Allegra
I was still bone-tired, but far happier after visiting Nana. Nana’s stroke hadn’t been as bad as we feared, although thebroken hip was a worry. Doctors were planning to release her in a few days, which was wonderful.
Now that I was assured Nana was safe, I was planning to return to the yacht. Each day I spent here risked the chance of Shotgun, Rain, or someone from Hellfire crossing my path. That wasn’t an acceptable risk. Nana had already told me to head back out, but I was delaying until she got released. As soon as Nana was home, I would leave.
Tiredly, I walked across the parking lot heading to the vehicle that Gramps had lent me when my worst fear was realised. A tall, muscled figure stepped between me and it, and I stared wordlessly at Shotgun.
“Nothing to say?” he demanded.
“Nope. Get out of my way.”
“That’s it?” Shotgun shouted, sounding furious.
“What do you want me to say? Oh, hey, you look great. Nice seeing you. Let’s do this again. Never.”
Shotgun looked surprised. “You’re pissed at me?”
“Give Sherlock a medal.”
“You fuckin’ left South Dakota, fled the damn country with my child, and you’re angry?” Shotgun spat incredulously.
“What kid?” I demanded, and he paled. I realised how my words could be taken, but refused to retreat. “You said there was no pregnancy. Remember calling me a liar, declaring I wasn’t pregnant and was being manipulative. What fuckin’ baby, as it was just my imagination!” I shouted.
Shotgun stepped aside and seemed to realise how angry I actually was.
“You come here, to the hospital Nana’s in, talking about a kid you stated didn’t exist? Fuck you, asshole,” I ranted. A crowd was gathering, and Shotgun hated that.
“Calm down, Allegra,” he muttered, glancing around.
“Still care more about them than me, don’t you?” I began to laugh bitterly. “Holy shit. I don’t believe this.”
“Lower your voice.”
“Why?” I shrieked. “You don’t want people to know how ahero of the Rapid City Warfucked over his girlfriend?”
Shit, Shotgun had pressed the button, and I was unable to stop. My desire, in that moment, was to harm Shotgun as much as he had hurt me. I needed Shotgun to bleed as I’d bled. Pain bubbled in my throat, and I wanted to scream and scream to release it, but I couldn’t. Not in public, but I could make Shotgun pay like I’d paid ever since he chose Hellfire and strangers over me.
People were filming us, and I honestly didn’t care.
“Allegra,” he growled out.
“What, Shotgun?” I continued at a shriek. “What? Is it best if your adoring fans don’t realise how I begged you not to go? How I pleaded for you to put our unborn baby first? Don’t want them hearing how you claimed I was lying and a manipulative bitch? What, Shotgun, what?”
Defenceless against the agony, I couldn’t stop it spilling out. Two years ago, Shotgun and Rain had ripped me in half, and I still hadn’t healed. Hot tears spilt, and I choked on a sob.
“Don’t want anyone to know how you put Hellfire before your woman and the mother of your child? That’s what you’re worried about, Shotgun? What about how you dismissed my fears and worries and claimed I was lying about being pregnant to keep you home? Guess that doesn’t matter because it doesn’t affect your public image. Fuck you. You threw me away, so you aren’t allowed to come back and give me shit. Christ, you’re worse than my parents ever were. At least I knew where I stood with them, and they didn’t lie and try to gaslight me.”
Angry beyond belief, I shoved past and unlocked the car, dashing tears from my eyes. I need the last word.
