Claire
It’s been six months. With next to no contact with the outside world. This is mostly my doing, of course. I revamped my blog enough to bring in some income, and Lex said he’d supplement until the trial is over. He and Juliette send over pictures periodically for me to identify, but other than that, I’m damn near a recluse.
Being almost six-months pregnant isn’t helping things.
I’m emotional, hormonal, and confused.
The one man who hasn’t come to see me or, hell, even contacted me is the one I wish would. Chris—or Adam, as I now know is his real name—has dropped off the face of the planet. I’ve asked Lex about him, but he just skirts the question. I’m not sure if it’s because I pushed Adam away when I first came here? Or maybe they are just busy and I’m low priority. Who knows.
Maybe Adam doesn’t want to see me? I wouldn’t blame him. I lied, killed Cano—even though no one will confirm that—and have given him no reason to trust me. Hell, maybe he has his own life and I’m not a part of it anymore. Just a person in a case that he only was a part of because it’s his actual job to do so.
I slump against the threadbare couch.
How is this my life?
All I wanted was justice for Charlie, and now I’m locked up in a house in the name of protection. I guess it’s fitting if I did kill Cano. A prison of my own making.
A knock at the door damn near sends me into a panic, but I realize there are only a couple of people who know where I’m at.
Checking the peephole, I see it’s Lex, so I open the door a crack.
“Uh, hi. It’s Lex. From the Marshals’.”
“I know who you are,” I snip.
“Right, well, can I come in? I have a few things to talk to you about.”
My head tips back as I blow out a breath. “Sure.” The second I open the door wider, his eyes go straight to the bump I can no longer hide.
“Holy fuck,” he whispers.
“Yep.” I nod and walk to the living room. He stays in the doorway, slack-jawed.
“Um, well, I brought pizza.” He finally walks into the living room.
“Great,” I deadpan. “What did you need?”
He sighs, running his hand through his hair before putting the pizza down on the coffee table. “Claire, I promise it won’t be for much longer.”
“Sure.” He’s said this nearly every time he’s contacted me online. I stopped believing him after the third time.
“I can see why he likes you,” he mumbles under his breath.
“What?” I jolt back.
“Nothing. You hungry?”
“Not really, but you’re not taking no for an answer. Especially now.” I wave to my belly.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” His eyes never leave my bump.
“Gee, I don’t know. How about because the father doesn’t want to see me? How about the fact that he never asked for this? To him, I’m just a stripper trying to get revenge for my dead brother. Of course he wouldn’t want anything to do with this.”
“Claire … Adam’s not like that, and you know it.”
“Do I?” I tilt my head.
“I think he’d really like to see you, especially now. And it’s none of my business, but he deserves to know.”
