Chapter 5 - Vincent’s Old Enemy Learned I Was Carrying His Child’s Father’s Baby, and Suddenly I Became the Most Valuable Woman in ChicagoMarcus Bell was not like Derek.
He didn't scream.
Didn't threaten.
Didn't announce himself.
He simply watched.
A photograph appeared at our house.
Me.
Vincent.
My unborn baby.
On the back:
EVERY MAN HAS SOMETHING WORTH LOSING.
Vincent became more protective.
I confronted him.
“You can't lock me away.”
“I know.”
“You've been moving guards around.”
“Yes.”
“You doubled security.”
“Yes.”
“I am not a prisoner.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like one.”
He looked at me.
“You're right.”
The next morning, he removed two guards from the front entrance.
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
“Freedom matters.”
I looked at him.
“You really mean that.”
“Yes.”
Marcus contacted Vincent.
He wanted a meeting.
Vincent refused.
Marcus said:
“Then the woman dies.”
Vincent's face changed.
I knew.
“This is about me.”
“Yes.”
“Then let me help.”
“No.”
“Vincent.”
He looked at me.
“I love you.”
The room became silent.
He had never said it before.
“I love you too.”
He exhaled.
“Then please don't ask me to risk you.”
“I won't.”
I took his hand.
“I'll ask you to trust me.”
That was harder.
But he did.
We went to the meeting together.
Marcus waited in an empty warehouse.
He looked at me.
“So you're the woman.”
“I am.”
“You changed him.”
“No.”
I looked at Vincent.
“He changed himself.”
Marcus smiled.
“You're different.”
“From what?”
“Everyone else who gets close to him.”
He explained.
Years earlier, Vincent had protected Marcus's younger sister.
A deal went wrong.
Marcus blamed Vincent.
The truth was that Vincent had sacrificed part of his own organization to save her.
Marcus had misunderstood.
He had spent years hunting the wrong enemy.
Derek had discovered this history.
He paid Marcus to expose Vincent.
But Derek had underestimated Marcus.
Marcus didn't want me dead.
He wanted the truth.
He gave us evidence.
Derek had planned to use me to access Vincent's network.
He believed Vincent would become vulnerable.
He was right.
But not in the way he expected.
Vincent was vulnerable because he cared.
And caring had made him more dangerous, not less.
We left the warehouse.
On the drive home, Vincent was quiet.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“What's wrong?”
“I keep thinking about how close I came to losing you.”
“You didn't.”
“I know.”
He looked at me.
“I don't know how to stop worrying.”
“You don't have to stop.”
I smiled.
“You just have to learn how to worry without controlling me.”
He laughed.
“That's going to be difficult.”
“I know.”
We returned home.
The baby kicked.
Vincent placed his hand on my stomach.
He froze.
The movement happened again.
He smiled.
“She's strong.”
“She is.”
“What will you name her?”
“I thought maybe Elena.”
He smiled.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“I like it.”
He kissed my forehead.
Then we heard a crash.
The kitchen window shattered.
Everyone ducked.
A bullet hit the wall.
Vincent pulled me behind him.
Security rushed in.
The shooter escaped.
On the floor was a note.
ONE MORE WARNING.
Vincent read it.
His expression became hard.
“What?”
“Derek.”
“He's in prison.”
“He has someone outside.”
Someone who wanted me.
May you like
Someone who knew I was Vincent's weakness.
And someone who was willing to kill for it.
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