Page 68 of Unbreakable Thread

She nods and walks in the opposite direction, probably toward her car. I see Johnny walk out of the shadows. I glance at him with a murderous look. “What the fuck? Why didn’t you stop her if you saw her with a baseball bat? Why didn’t you tell me she was at the same restaurant as me?”

“I really didn’t know you were here, and I was on my phone in my car while she was at the restaurant. I thought she would be longer. Then I saw her come out and go to a store, and I waited. I didn’t think she would do this.” He gestures with his hands at my car.

“I need to get to the Underground. Leo is on a suicidal mission. If I don’t get there in time, I’m afraid Daniel will do something. Follow her and make sure she gets home safe.”

“Got it, boss.” The asshole smirks.

Lately, he hasn’t been telling me anything about what she does. It’s always the same when I ask. He says she goes home, to work, to therapy, and to school. Not that I need to know every detail of her day. Okay, maybe I do. I want to know how her day went.

After dusting off the glass with a rag, I place a thick blanket on the driver’s side and head to the warehouse. Leo might know how to fight because Xander and I have taught him. Leo is not skilled enough and has very minimal experience. These fights are brutal and not forgiving. Some fighters fight to kill, and if he’s fighting another fight in one day, there’s a chance he might not get out alive. They love to match the less skilled with those higher in rank. The audience loves to see blood spilled.

Rainey

My hands won’t stop shaking, so I press them firmly on my side. Who knew pregnancy hormones could possess a woman? The feeling in my chest was unbearable. Anger whipped at me like a demon in disguise. God. What have I done? It makes it so much worse knowing now it was not what it seemed. You can’t blame me. The news article, the photos on his social media, and dinner. What was I supposed to think? My heels click on the asphalt walking to my car. I pass the main entrance searching for Lana. I told her I’d be right back. She probably left. I haven’t even checked my phone. I almost walk past her, then I see Annette’s wide smile on her stupid face. You would think she’d find herself someone who wants her.

“Well, look who it is. How does it feel to be on the other end?”

“The other end of what?” I cock a brow at her.

“To be the one wanting someone you can’t have. Now I take your spot in bed.”

A smile curves on my lips. “You’re embarrassing yourself. You are on either end—wanting him and never having him. It seems he wants nothing to do with you if you are standing here…alone.”

She returns the smug grin. “Me embarrassing myself? No, honey, that’s you. Everyone watched you break the windows in his car. It was recorded. Everyone will see how the jealous ex reacted seeing him having dinner with his girlfriend.”

I snort and roll my eyes.

She clenches her jaw, anger rising, knowing she’s not riling me up. Annette pulls out her phone. “Maybe this will convince you.” She scrolls, then flips the phone so I can see a photo. It’s of Max. Eyelids hooded. He’s wearing the same shirt he came home that night, drunk, when he said she dropped him off. She’s leaning in, puckering her lips, her cheek pressed against his. His face slack. Unaware. Heat surges up my neck. My vision narrows. I hear myself say something. Then my knuckles connect. Max looks as drunk as when he walked in. She took advantage of his state and took the photo.

A volcano is about to erupt. My knuckles crack against the bridge of her nose with a sickening pop. Thumb tucked outside my fist, just like Max showed in his gym at his house. A thin trickle of blood appears under her nostril as she staggers backward, eyes wide.

Her hands go into fists, and she’s about to swing when a hard body jumps between us. Johnny pushes her back.

“Fucking bitch!” she shouts. She tries to fight Johnny, but he keeps holding her back.

“Don’t touch her. If you hurt their child, Max will make sure you never see daylight. Remember, he knows people in the Underground who could cause accidents,” Johnny tells her wide bug eyes. Mine probably match hers because how does he know? Of course, Max hired him again. Shit.

She smears the blood off with her thumb. Annette’s face is as pale as a ghost. She looks at my stomach. No one can tell unless you see me naked or wear tight-fitting clothing. I’m sixteen weeks, and my baby bump is just coming in.

She swallows hard.

“You know I let Max go for personal reasons. If he found someone, I would want it to be someone who deserves him, and you’re not that person. You don’t deserve a good man like him. You’re selfish, a complete bitch, and you’ve reached a complete low, taking photos with an incoherent man who could barely stand. You knew if he had been sober, he wouldn’t have taken a photo so freely.” My hand instinctively shields my belly as I lean in. “Lucky for you, I’m carrying his child, or we’d be settling this differently. You might have training in the ring, but when it comes to protecting what’s mine, I don’t need technique. I have something worth fighting for.”

She clenches her jaw and peers around the outside of the restaurant. I hadn’t taken note that we had a crowd. I step back and glare at Johnny. “Let’s go,” I demand.

The crowd thins as we reach the edge of the parking lot. My fingers curl around my car keys, metal teeth biting into my palm. Johnny’s footsteps shadow mine, too precise, too measured. I whirl around and catch him cataloging the surroundings with practiced eyes. I hiss, knuckles still stinging. “How long has he been paying you to follow me?”

His gaze roams the empty parking lot, then goes to mine. “Since you walked out.” He sighs. “He has enemies, and not just the leader of the organized crime, but also other boxers, fans.” He juts his chin. “Especially now with a baby on the way.”

Now that I remember, he mentioned Johnny the night he came home drunk. It slipped my mind.

Oh God, Max must know. I’m sure Johnny told him, but why has he not mentioned it? “How much have you told him?” And what about my trips to the rehab center.

“Nothing.”

My unkempt eyebrows arch. “Nothing? And how did you know I was pregnant? Yes, you see me go to the OB-GYN, but I could have been going for other reasons.”

“I have kids, and besides, you were holding an ultrasound photo.”