Claiming His Unexpected Baby (Assassins Guild #2) - Michelle Howard Page 0,11
some man asked her questions during outdoor play time across the fencing.”
“Is she alright?” Scarlett blew out a breath. “I don’t like this. Who would bother a child? Do they have any idea who it was?”
Amelie tipped her head back to stare at the ceiling. It would be hard to forget the terror of those moments rushing to get to her baby. “She’s fine. I’d tell you if she wasn’t. No idea who it could be, Scar. No one has bothered us the entire time we’ve lived here.”
“Except Roan.”
Leave it to Scarlett to zero in on the one individual who would wish Amelie and her child harm. “That was years ago. He hasn’t been back since. As far as he’s concerned, the baby probably died and me along with it.”
Amelie would never forget the smile on Roan’s face as he spotted the blood between her legs before leaving. His intentions had been very clear. He had meant for her to die or lose the baby.
“I still think you should have reported him for what he did when you were pregnant.”
Amelie swallowed back the fear that rose from Scarlett’s statement. “No one was around. It would have been my word against his. With his upcoming marriage, I’m sure he has people who would no doubt spout about how awesome a person Roan is.”
She’d been one of those people in the past.
“Still sounds like something he’d do,” Scarlett mumbled.
Her friend was not a fan of Roan’s to begin with and even more so after the birth in which Amelie had almost lost her life. Just remembering that fragile time made her worry and terror soared back with virulent force until she gasped and had to work to calm her breathing.
It also brought back the memory of the strange voice that had reached out to Amelie. A man’s voice, her mind insisted. Once she’d managed to contact Scarlett, the medics with her friend in the lead had kicked her door in. A frantic trip to the medical facility followed, where she’d coded twice and begged them to save her baby whenever she was aware enough to speak.
She’d heard Scarlett yell, it’s a girl to someone just before she felt herself drifting. The male voice had been adamant she stay with him.
Weak and suffering from blood loss, death seemed to loom overhead only to be blocked. A rush of energy had filled her to the point Amelie would have stood up and walked if not for Scarlett’s stark white features as she pushed Amelie back down on the bed.
The man on the other end of what seemed like limitless energy had weakened, though. When Amelie could concentrate clearly, she’d sensed him draining himself to save her and that wouldn’t do. Amelie was certain he would have given his life to save hers and she had no idea who he was. Didn’t know anyone who would willingly make that type of sacrifice for a stranger.
“What should we do? Hire a bodyguard?” Scarlett’s questions broke into her thoughts.
“Bodyguard?” Amelie released a tickled laugh. “I don’t think we need a bodyguard. If something else happens, I’ll look into it.”
“Gerelins are very protective of bond mates and children. Don’t be surprised when you return to school if it’s suddenly daddy pick up and drop off day for a while.”
Scarlett was right. Amelie had noticed the protective stance the men took here. It was fascinating and everything Scarlett had said when she’d convinced Amelie to pretend to be bonded to one of them.
“Mommy, I’m scared. Can I stay in here with you?”
Amelie looked to the door where Fleur stood with one foot on top of the other, chewing a strand of hair.
“Of course, you can.” To Scarlett, she said, “We’ll talk later.”
She moved over in the bed and patted the covers for Fleur to join her. Taking the invitation to heart, Fleur dropped her hair and skipped to the bed. She braced her hands on the mattress and strained to hike her bottom half up and over. Amelie clenched her hands to fight the urge to help.
Once up, Fleur grinned at Amelie and copied her pose, sitting up and stretching her legs out with crossed ankles. “Watcha doin’?”
Holding back a grin, Amelie said, “I was talking to Auntie Scarlett but now I’m glad to have you with me.”
Fleur snuggled into her side and Amelie looped an arm about her shoulder. They were silent for a bit but Amelie gave Fleur a chance to speak. Her daughter wasn’t typically shy