Page 70 of Protective Phlox

“That you’re pregnant, of course. It’s obvious. I noticed over a week ago but have been patiently waiting for you to announce it.”

My mouth dropped open as I gaped at Helena. “I’m what?” Glancing down, I laid a hand over my stomach. “How do you know? I don’t have any symptoms like I did with Cutter.”

“Your skin is glowing, and your hair looks like spun silk. You’ve been randomly tired and have suddenly gone off eating eggs. Trust me, love. You’re pregnant.”

I quickly ran through the math in my head. It had been two months almost to the day since Nathan stormed back into my life, and we had our shotgun wedding at the Russian consulate. It had been so crazy that I hadn’t even noticed that I was late.

“Congratulations, Savannah,” Goran said as he smirked across from me. I sucked in a deep breath as I pointed at everyone in the car.

“No one in here let it slip to Nathan. I want to be sure and then tell him myself.”

The guards instantly held up their hands. “We won’t say a word, not our news, not our business,” Goran said.

“Don’t look at me. I won’t say anything,” Kaylani said but squealed as she gripped me in a hug. “I’m going to be an auntie again. Oh, please have a girl. I want to dote on my niece and show her all the good shops and which boys she should definitely stay away from.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” I said, laughing. “First things first, on the way home, can we make a pit stop at the pharmacy?”

Helena smiled wide. “I will march in there and buy the test myself. It will give the clerk a heart attack if they think it’s for an old bird like me.”

“Stop that, you’re not old. You’re in your prime and beautiful. I’ll be blessed to look half as good as you do when I reach my fifties.”

“You’re too sweet,” she said as she hugged me next. “Congratulations, my dear.” The car slowed to a stop, and I looked out, smiling wide as I noticed the windows displaying wedding dresses. “Let’s go get you a dress to make you look like a queen.”

The guards knocked, giving us the all-clear, but I held Helena back for a moment so we could talk privately.

“I just wanted to say thank you. Not just for all of this, which is lavish and has made me feel so welcome, but also because….” My throat clogged, and I quickly blinked away the tears forming. “I don’t have the best relationship with my mother, and at one point in my life, I dreamed of doing these things with her. When I realized that wasn’t going to happen, a part of me was devastated, but you’ve made me feel like I belong. Thank you for giving me that. It means more than I could ever put into words.”

Helena dabbed at her eyes again. “You’re welcome, dear. I see you as a daughter already. Now, before I cry all my makeup off, let’s go shopping.”

She knocked on the glass, and one of the men opened the door for us. There was no way that today could get any better.

This was the sixth dress that I tried, and as soon as the owner of the store brought it into the changing room to show me, I knew it was the one. It went on like a glove and was elegant but not overly done. I loved that it was a soft eggshell instead of the stark white, which washed me out. My shoulders were bare except for the tie around my neck. It had a low sweetheart neckline that I knew Nathan would appreciate, and I loved that the drop waist had a corset tie-up back. There was just enough champagne embroidery to give it a queenly look but not push it into the over-the-top category. I loved it.

“Come on out here and let us see,” Kaylani said, breaking my staring contest with the mirror. I tore my eyes away and let the owner help me step down from the pedestal she had me get on to lace up the back.

“You look stunning,” she said as I slipped my feet into the matching satin shoes.

“Thank you.”

“Are you ready?” I nodded, and she opened the curtain to let me step out. Helena and Kaylani stopped sipping their champagne as their mouths fell open.

“Oh my god, you’re a freaking vision,” Kaylani said, making me blush.

Stepping up on the low riser, I turned so they could see the back and then slowly faced them again.

Helena had a hand over her mouth, tears running down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, I’m a mess. You’re just so beautiful. I love it. Do you love it?”

“I really do, I….” I jerked, startled as something hit the large bay windows.

Everything was loud and a little muffled as the guards sprang into action. Mass chaos ensued as Kaylani and Helena were dragged to the floor, their bodies covered by guards. Goran yelled as he ran at me. Why was he in slow motion? That seemed odd.

A throbbing pain started in my abdomen. I looked down and blinked as I stared at the once stunning dress with a massive red stain soaking the front. The sharp pain hit as my brain caught up to the shock of being shot.

My knees gave way, but Goran grabbed me and brought me to the floor. I groaned as he pressed the wound on my stomach. He was yelling and pointing, but only every other word made sense.

I grabbed his arm to get his attention, and even though I’d been trained for a moment like this, nothing could’ve prepared me to see my blood-soaked hand. The Stephen King movie Carrie came to mind.

“Goran?”