Three months later
His hands felt cold against her stomach.
"It's unbelievable that something is growing in there. Something of you and me."
Something of Kip and me, you mean. Dana however kept that thought to herself. Two weeks ago she had discovered that she was pregnant again. Until a few minutes ago, she had only told Kip – she had wanted to share the moment with him; now he was still around.
Although they had seen it coming, they had both cried when the pregnancy test showed the positive result. During the days after they had still been intimate, sharing their love a little longer, knowing that it would be over the moment that Maddox found out she was pregnant.
She however hadn't dared to wait much longer. Maddox was still blind to her feelings for Kip and she was afraid of what would happen if he found out that she had purposely waited with telling him the truth about the baby so she could spend more time with Kip.
"Yeah..." Her voice sounded fragile. She didn't want him to touch her, she didn't want him anywhere near the baby.
Maddox pulled back his hand, glancing up to her. "You don't sound very happy, Dana."
She heard the indignation in his voice, although she had gotten used to that. "I'm afraid, Maddox. You murdered my last child in front of my eyes. You can't control yourself when you're angry, and I fear for the fate of this baby."
His face seemed to soften a bit. Lifting his hand, he stroked her cheek. "You don't have to be afraid, my love. This child is mine. I already explained that to you. I already love it." His fingers glided underneath her shirt again, touching her stomach in a tender way. He created the impression that he could already feel a heartbeat, while there wasn't even the smallest hint of a bump.
"You love me too," she whispered. "But that doesn't keep you from hurting me."
Maddox's face grew dark. Dana knew she was on thin ice now, but if he really believed that they could live like a normal family, they needed transparency.
"You know that's an act of love, Dana." His voice sounded stern, like he was talking to a little child. "You have always been a rebel. All I do, is give you a little bit of guidance."
She tried not to roll her eyes and kept silent, making him think that she agreed with his stupid beliefs.
"But I also reward good behavior, you know that. I will keep my promise and take your friend to Charming."
"What? Now?!" Baffled, Dana stared at him. For some reason she had believed that Kip would stay with her until the end of her pregnancy.
"Of course. He fulfilled his duty, didn't he?"
Her breathing sped up. She hadn't seen this coming – the had thought that she would never see Kip again after today. She had been convinced that he would be around to support her in the tough months that were in front of her – and maybe she had never truly believed that Maddox would really set him free.
Despite the knowledge that his departure would tear her to pieces, she knew it was for the best. He could go back to his old life, to his brothers. Furthermore, they would no longer risk the chance that Maddox would pick up on their feelings – and she also believed it would help Maddox to love the child if the biological father wasn't around.
So yes, it was a wise decision, but the thought that she would lose Kip and that she would be alone with Maddox for the rest of her life, ripped up her soul.
"Go tell him the good news. I'll make sure the boat is ready."
A nasty feeling nestled inside her. He really was in a hurry...
Kip looked up when she opened the door, rushed inside and threw her arms around his neck.
"Wow, calm down," he chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and kissing her lips, smiling. It felt so familiar that it caused a shiver down her spine. This would be the last time...
His smile faded as he caught the look in her eyes. "What's going on?"
"You can leave." Suddenly a tear dripped down her cheek, and she buried her face against his shoulder. "Sorry. I'm happy you can finally leave this shitty island. But the thought that I might never see you again rips out my heart."
He wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding her for a while. "No matter how horrible it has been here; if me staying here wouldn't have jeopardized the life of our child, I would have stayed with you."
Our child.
Once again, the father wouldn't be there when she gave birth. Again she was separated from someone she loved. It all felt like a déjà vu; she had hoped she'd never have to go through this again.
"I love you," she said quietly. It wasn't the first time they told each other those words, but it felt like she had never been so confident about them as she was right now.
"I love you too." He pulled her a little closer, kissing her forehead. "I will find you."
"No." Dana took a deep breath and grabbed his hands. "Our child will be in danger if you try to find us. No matter how horrible we feel; he or she is more important than us."
Softly sighing, he leaned with his forehead against hers. "You're right. God I hate that you're right. It's no longer about us."
"One day I will find a way to get away from here," she whispered. "But I can't do that before he lets his guard down and before I'm 100% sure that I will succeed. That will probably take years." She laid a hand against his cheek. "Don't wait for me. Don't make the same mistakes Juice made, but be there for each other like brothers are supposed to do and try to go back to your old lives, before I rushed into that clubhouse.
"You know that's impossible, Dane. We are not the same people anymore, too much has happened."
Dana heard footsteps in the hallway, and quickly she stepped back. His words echoed through the room, giving her an ominous feeling. Before Maddox could enter the room, Kip already walked to the door. The two men nodded at each other, she thought to see suspicion on both faces.
"I'm ready to go," Kip said shortly. "Don't have any luggage."
Maddox said nothing and led them to the dock. Surrounded by armed men, Kip pulled Dana in his arms one more time.
"You're strong, Dane," he whispered. "It's his love for you that allows me to leave now. One day he will let you go too."
For a second she was terrified that he would kiss her, but in the end he only pressed his lips against her forehead.
"I love you," she whispered once again. "But tell Juice... Tell Juice that I love him too."
He showed her a hint of a smile. "He already knows. But I will tell him."
For the last time she pulled Kip close, closing her eyes, memorizing the pressure of his body against hers, breathing in his scent once more.
He stroked her cheek, then he raised his voice. "Take care of your child. This is your chance on a good life Dana, on a loving family. Grasp it with both of your hands."
She knew that he only said that to flatter Maddox, but his words hurt nonetheless. Her eyes flashed aside to the man, who handed something to the skipper.
"Goodbye my love," he whispered.
Then Kip went on board, and the engine was started. Maddox showed up next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. In silence they watched the boat disappear. With every second passing by, it felt like Dana's heart was feeling heavier.
She looked op to the man standing next to her. There was a sinister grin on his face – one that made all the little hairs in her neck and arms stand up straight. Suddenly feeling sick, she stepped away from him.
"What did you do?" Her voice cracked.
There was a cold glance in his eyes. "I just took a precaution. Nothing you need to worry about."
"You promised to set him free! You promised to keep him alive!"
Anxiously she held her breathe, she expected a distant gun shot any moment.
"I will keep him alive, Dana. Wipe those tears away, there's no reason to cry."
"But what did you do?!"
"Nothing you need to worry about," he repeated – this time in a threatening voice. "Trust, my love. That's still a difficult concept for you, hmm?"
"It is when you are clearly keeping things from me!"
He glared at her. "Are you saying that I'm the only one keeping secrets?"
Her cheeks started to glow. Did he know about Kip and her? She no longer dared to say anything. Instead, she bent her head and rushed towards the house, Maddox's sinister smirk vividly in her mind.
She should have known there had to be a catch, that he wouldn't let Kip leave just like that! Tears of frustration dripped down her cheeks. And there was nothing she could do to find out what Maddox had done – or what he planned to do before the day would meet its end.