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The word sends butterflies dancing through my stomach and has me giggling. It’s just too much joy to hold in my body. I am insanely, completely, out-of-my-mind happy. I didn’t think it was possible, but his smile grows and his eyes shine with pure love.

“I can’t wait to make you my wife, baby.”

I just can’t take it. My face hurts from all the smiling and just when I think I’ve reached my quota of happiness, he says something else to make me even happier.

I’m going to explode or something, right?

“I love you so much, Phoenix.”

“I love you more, Emma.”

I wrinkle up my nose and shake my head. He laughs and jumps on top of me, kissing me senseless.

* * * *

“I can’t do this, Nix,”

He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer as we wait for them to bring Ryan in for his bail hearing. I fidget again and Nix lays his hand over my belly.

“Everything is going to be okay, honey. Just relax.” His voice chases some of the stress away.

“How do you do that?”

He grins. “I hear lobsters have very special abilities.” He winks and I mash my lips together, fighting a smile. He kisses my cheek and I can’t stop it, a smile stretches my lips and I gaze at him adoringly.

There is a commotion over by the door and Ryan enters the room, glaring at Nix. His eyes move down to our hands on my belly and they widen in shock before I see rage burning there. When I glance down, I realize that he saw my ring.

Oh, God.

This is not going to be good.

“I can feel you tensing up, baby,” Nix whispers in my ear. “Just relax. I’ve got you.” His words work their magic again and I lean into him for support. He kisses my forehead.

The judge enters and gets right down to business, asking Ryan what his plea is.

“Not guilty,” he calls out, and I want to jump up and call him a liar.

“What is the prosecution’s recommendation in this case?” the judge asks.

The prosecutor, a woman in her early thirties, clears her throat. “The people recommend no bail in this case, Your Honor.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Ryan’s lawyer snaps. “Mr. Wheeler is a detective with the Baton Rouge Police Department—”

“A position he used to abuse and kidnap his ex-fiancée!” the prosecutor cuts in, and I feel like I’m watching a tennis match as they go back and forth.

“Allegedly!” his lawyer states. I’ve never hated a word so much in my life. It’s not alleged, I lived it. “And Mr. Wheeler has extensive ties to the community. He is the exact opposite of a flight risk.”

“Seeing as how Mr. Wheeler was fleeing to California with his victim tied up in the back of a van when he was caught, we consider him the definition of a flight risk.”

“What is your request for bail, Mr. Richardson?” the judge asks Ryan’s lawyer.

“We request that he be released on his own recognizance.”

“That’s preposterous, Your Honor!” the prosecutor exclaims. “Mr. Wheeler is very dangerous. Miss Harrington, her two unborn children, and her fiancé are in grave danger if he is allowed release.”

Ryan turns to me with narrowed eyes as soon as he hears that I’m pregnant.

Well, I guess all my secrets are coming out today.