He held up his palms in surrender. Hold up girl. I meant no disrespect.

Sorry, Rick. Im, well, today is a little rougher than I expected. I think its making me grumpy. I paused for a beat. Please, go on.

You did a lot yesterday. Its probably catching up with you. What I meant is, well, the man is deep.

I wasnt really sure what he was getting at, but I wanted to learn more so I nodded, quickly agreeing with his description of Forde.

Hes smooth in business. You know what we do at Limited, right?

Hes told me some, but I think he was shielding me a little.

That made Rick grin. I read your file. You didnt grow up in a nice subdivision on the ritzy northside. You might not have been street, but you grew up around it.

Again, I nodded. Id worked hard to stay out of trouble and away from it. Even with a mother like mine, Id managed to keep my distance. I tried to not see things. It was safer that way. I didnt want any part of it.

The huge man nodded once. The man doesnt f.u.c.k around. Thats his reputation"you mess with Lucas Forde, and you wont come out on top. He gave me a hard stare.

I read a lot into that look, and I swallowed hard.

The man has made a s.h.i.t-ton investing his dollars. h.e.l.l, hes made me plenty, too. But dont ever forget that Forde is a predator. Hes just learned to cover it with the nice things.

Again, I nodded, but much more slowly. This was freaking me out a little.

The way he looks at you Rick pointed a thick finger at me. Youre his. Its decided. If anybody touches you, h.e.l.l deal with them. Your job is to make sure you dont put anybody in that position by mistake.

I shot him a puzzled look, uncertain about what hed meant.

That means no flirting, no low-cut clothes that show off your body, but I dont think youre that type.

I finally found my voice. I dont know what you mean by hes decided Im his.

He gave me another hard look. You might not understand it, but somewhere deep down, you get it. Thats why youre here. He restarted the movie hed been watching and ignored me.

I leaned my head back against the corner of the sofa and closed my eyes. I was here because Id made a deal. He could keep me safe. I tried to hang onto that, but the truth kept seeping in. I was attracted to Forde. He was strong and self-a.s.sured. He was incredibly s.e.xy, even more so when he was being gentle with me. I was in so much trouble. I ordered myself to stop thinking, or I might start to hyperventilate.

I must have dozed off. I woke with a start when I heard voices.

Shes been out for about two hours. I think shes having a rough day. Rick was talking about me from the doorway.

She take the pain killers? Forde asked.

Nope, only the over"the"counter stuff. I tried man, but she wouldnt.

Rick was right. Id had enough of living in a haze. Hey, Im awake, I called out. You dont have to talk outside the door when youre talking about me.

Forde walked right to me. He kissed me, and then scanned my body. Hurting?

A little.

She hasnt eaten anything. I can see what I can find in the kitchen. Rick was still in the doorway.

Just order something and have somebody make a run. Forde didnt even look up as he knelt by my leg and started to unwrap the elastic bandage. I should have called on my way home for the order.

You probably had something else on your mind, Rick threw over his shoulder as he left us alone.

Forde ran his hand up and down my leg. I dont like this swelling. I think Ill give the doc a call.

Its not that bad. Why dont we wait another day? I shifted so I could touch my knee.

She said she wasnt sure about it. Damage can show up later, and Im thinking that might be whats happening here. He pulled his phone from his pocket. This might be more than Sprite can cure. One side of his mouth lifted in a smile.

One more day, please, Forde?

Whats going on, Lay? He leaned back against the sofa.

I bit my lip so hard I was surprised I didnt taste blood. My insurance isnt that great. The deductible is really high, like thousands high, and it doesnt cover extras. Im not sure how Im going to handle the bills from the last two visits to the E.R. I dont want to pile on more doctors bills if I dont have to. I felt my eyes burning. I hated that I was in this position.

You dont have to worry about that. He looked at his phones screen.

I lowered my legs to scoot closer to him to wrestle the phone out of his hand. Forde, no. I wasnt going to let him pay my bills. That felt wrong and a little dirty to me. I made a swipe at his hand and missed.

He glanced up. Ill give the bills to Vador to pay. He got you into this mess, he can d.a.m.n well pay for it. He gave an evil laugh.

I could picture Forde giving Salvador Ulloa a handful of my medical bills. G.o.d, he probably would do it. Forde, thats insane. I started to giggle.

Maybe you think so, but Im going to do it. He stood and turned his back to me.

I listened to him make an appointment for me to see Dr. Lamb the next morning. He didnt f.u.c.k around. He called the doc directly, and she answered. The man had power.

Id felt it when Id told him the reason I had an obsession, his words, with Sprite. His eyes had filled with pity, and then frustration. For a moment, all of the oxygen had left the room.

Id been lounging on the sectional in the man cave after wed unpacked my stuff on my second day here. When Forde brought me a gla.s.s filled with crushed ice and Sprite, hed asked, Whats your deal with this drink?

My deal? I tried to stall to think about how much to tell, how much would make sense.

Yeah, babe. You made a big deal about it when I brought you home from the E.R., and you guarded the only one in your fridge at the rental. Hed sat next to me, his expression expectant.

This is going to sound dumb, Id warned. You know how I grew up. There wasnt money for doctors visits when I had a bad cold or an upset stomach.

Hed frowned.

My mom took me to the free clinic when I got really sick and needed my tonsils out, but otherwise, she told me that Sprite was medicine, and if I would drink the entire gla.s.s Id feel better. I believed her. I bit my lip feeling embarra.s.sed at how dumb I sounded. The weird thing is that when I think back to when I was little, it seems like I always did feel better. Id finished with a one-shoulder shrug afraid to look at him.

G.o.d, Layla, it wasnt like I grew up with a ton of luxuries, but I saw a doctor when I got sick. Forde had taken my hand.

Id looked up at him and had seen pity in his eyes. Dont, Id told him. I turned out all right.

I know that, and I know youre responsible for most of it. I dont like it; I wouldnt like it for any kid. His eyes had turned cold, frustrated.

I know. I dont want that for anyone either. Id gripped his hand tighter. Thats why I cant forgive what Brian did. Stealing like that from people who have so little. I felt the anger build again deep in my stomach.

Forde had leaned closer and kissed the corner of my forehead. I promise a better life for you, Lay, because you deserve it.

His response to what Id told him had only cemented my opinion about him, that deep inside, he was a decent, kind man.

After the appointment was set up, Forde sat down on the sofa next to my feet and started to kick off his boots. Now, what I want to know is how the f.u.c.k Tony Alessi got my cell number?

My eyebrows rose. Tony called you?

His wife saw the story about your house on the news and was worried when you didnt return her calls. Gotta locate your phone.

Christ, I hadnt given a thought to my phone. Since the murder, Id never been without it. Just another sign that my brain was really scrambled by Lucas Forde. Im not sure. It wasnt in the stuff we packed yesterday. I tried to remember where it had been when the shooting started. I think it was on the coffee table when everything happened.

Ill call Detective Eames and ask if it was found. In the meantime, Ill get you one from the office so you can take calls. Forde leaned back into the soft cushion and began typing on his phones screen. When he finished, he rested his hand on my thigh.

Thank you, I cant believe I havent missed my phone.

Well get you covered. Anyway, Alessi told me Zoe was worried, and because she was, he came up with my number. Do you know much about his history?

I think he was with one of those government agencies with initials, A.T.F., maybe? Zoe said they met when he was rehabbing from an injury. I should have asked more questions, but I hadnt wanted to seem too nosey when we were just getting to know one another.

Makes sense. Forde shifted deeper into the cushions and pulled me closer to him.

He sort of has that bada.s.s thing too, now that I think about it. I mean, Ive only met him twice, but both times, he gave me looks like you do.

He growled, and I swore his eyes were shooting lightning bolts. What kind of looks?

Not those kind, you idiot. My stomach gave a little flutter at his possessiveness. His wife is pregnant with the miracle baby. I mean, the kind of looks where I can see his brain a.n.a.lyzing what I say out loud and what I dont and how it applies to me and those he cares about. I rolled my eyes.

One side of his mouth kicked upward. A miracle baby, huh?

I guess Tony was told when he was in college that he was sterile, and they hadnt planned on having kids. I dont even think Zoe wanted to get married. I know there was a problem with her ex-husband, and in her words, Tony took care of that mess. So, Zoe turned up pregnant, and Tony insisted they get married. Theyre both excited about the baby and seem to be okay with being married. I had a dopey smile on my face. I enjoyed being around the two of them. I liked the way Tony looked at his wife.

You want kids? he leaned in, his voice soft.

Yeah, Ive always wanted to be a mother. I frowned, because Id thought that was what Brian wanted also.

Two, three, or four? Fordes eyes burned into mine.

What? I sort of got lost in his gaze; his eyes had darkened.

Kids, with me, Layla. How many? He spoke slowly, like I didnt understand English very well.

Kids with you? I whispered. G.o.d, I felt the air catch in my lungs. My head was spinning. We hadnt even had s.e.x. Forde. I felt my body shift away from his.

He grinned. I know, too fast. Sorry.

He didnt look sorry.

If you could see your face when you say the word baby, well youd understand. He kept on smiling.

I felt the heat in my cheeks. Oh, uh well, Im really happy for them. I dropped my gaze. So, you do want kids?

With you, yeah.

How manywith me? My voice came out strangled. I didnt want to feel this rush of excitement, thinking about a baby with Forde. Too soon, dummy, I reminded myself.

Four. Id say all boys, but I imagine youll want a girl so you can do s.h.i.t, like get your nails done together. He acted like this was a normal conversation.

Four kids, I repeated his insanity. You know you cant just decide to have a girl. It doesnt work that way. I had no idea why I was explaining this to him.

So you do want a girl. He looked so pleased with himself.

And I hope sh.e.l.l be beautiful and sweet so that the boys will start hanging around when she turns fifteen. That will drive you and her brothers crazy. I flashed a superior smile at the look on Fordes face. No, he hadnt thought about that. This was fun, so I continued planning. She cant be the baby though. Youd spoil her too much, and we cant raise a princess. She has to be tough enough to succeed in the world. I gave him my most sincere smile.

He watched me while he mulled over what Id said. Good, we agree. If you want, we can start as soon as youre healed. Now, he was grinning wickedly.

Are you f.u.c.king nuts? I screeched then lowered my voice. We just met. It hasnt even been a month. We cant be trying to make a baby.

Oops, Ill come back, Rick said from the doorway.

I ducked my head into my chest as all of my blood rushed to my face.

Forde, the f.u.c.ker, continued looking at me, and said calmly, Give us five, bro.

Forde", I started.

Lay, he cut me off. Wed have nine months to get to know everything about each other. Thats plenty of time. He raised one eyebrow. Plus, I cant wait to start the fun part, the trying. He flashed a grin that was pure s.e.x.

I shook my head. Youre crazy. Im not sure I want my baby-daddy to be insane.

Not a baby-daddy, Layla. He wasnt smiling now. Im going to be your husband.

I had nothing to say. I was speechless.

Chapter Twelve.

Tell me what Im supposed to do with his declaration? Four kids"and a husband! I was having lunch with Zoe at a cute bistro two blocks from Fordes office.

Zoe shook her head. Take it from me, you arent going to win this fight. If Forde has decided youre the one, well sweetie, youre going to be married and have four kids. Zoe giggled at my shocked expression.