Chapter 49: Chapter Forty-eight

Although he always fucked her raw with no protection, Hunter had put Mirabella on birth control. He had insisted on it. He said it was for her own good, but she knew it was really for his own peace of mind. He wanted to control and own her, body and soul, but never wanted the risk of a child between them.

So now, when her stomach twisted and her mouth tasted bitter, her mind told her something was wrong. Either the birth control had expired, or maybe it was food poisoning. But her gut told her it was the former.

Because she was supposed to go see the doctor last month as scheduled. Hunter had reminded her once, in his usual couscous way, but that day had been… what? Forgotten. She had forgotten. She had pushed it aside when he told her.

Now it was too late.

She decided she would go for a pregnancy test later in the day, but only when Hunter was gone. He could never know about it. Not even the tiniest hint.

The test had come out positive. She wasn't very surprised about it, but she was scared to her bones. Her being pregnant is the more reason she needed to go very far away from him. He was too dangerous and had threatened before that she couldn't get pregnant.

She remembered his words once, sharp and cruel: “Don’t you dare get pregnant, Bella. If you do, there is no guarantee that I wouldn't fuck the child out of you.”

Those words rang in her ears every night now. They pushed her to plan her escape harder. She needed to go far away. Before he found out.

The next two weeks crawled by, each day heavy with secrets. She spoke often on the phone with Aria, her friend on how to escape Hunter’s control. They made plans in secret. Plans to get Mirabella out of Atlanta, far away.

“New York,” Aria had suggested. “But not the city part. Somewhere quiet and secluded. A rural town where nobody knows you. You can raise your baby there.”

Mirabella had agreed. That was what she wanted. She wanted somewhere Hunter would never imagine or guess.

Today was her chance for a little time with her friends.

She was going out with the girls. Saraphina, Harper, and Rain. They had planned it for days to wind down on Sunday night; a sleepover, a chance to laugh and breathe away from the loud music of the club. They would meet by five.

When Mirabella finally got to the hotel room, it was already past five. Her knock was soft, but the door swung open almost at once.

“Hey… you ok?” Saraphina asked, her voice warm, her eyes scanning Mirabella’s face.

Mirabella nodded quickly, giving her a hug. “I’m fine. Sorry I’m late.”

They walked in together.

“You are just in time, baby girl,” Harper said with her usual bright smile. She was arranging their meal on the short glass table in the center of the room. The hotel suite was cozy, with three cream-colored couches forming a half circle. “Sitting on the floor would be perfect, right?”

“It would,” Rain replied, tossing her long hair back as she eyed Mirabella closely. Her tone was sharp. “That dickhead delayed you, didn’t he?”

Mirabella shook her head. “Nope. He doesn’t know about our outing. And I didn’t tell him I was going out.”

Saraphina snorted. “"He will eventually find out when he doesn't see you at the club later tonight. Gabriel would be the first he would ask if you don't pick his calls. Or his sister, Ashley. Did you tell her you were meeting us?”

“I did,” Mirabella admitted. She sighed. “For a matter of fact, I even wanted her to come along, but she couldn’t. She’s been so busy lately.”

“Does she know now? About your pregnancy?” Rain asked, her eyes narrowing with worry.

“No… no…” Mirabella shook her head quickly. “I can’t risk telling her. I know she’s my friend, and she’s been good to me. But Hunter is her brother. Even if I begged her not to tell him, I can’t be sure. She might let it slip without meaning to.”

The girls went quiet at that. Mirabella felt the guilt knot in her chest. Ashley had been nothing but good to her, kind even when Hunter wasn’t. And now she was planning to disappear without a word. Maybe later, once she was safe and settled, she would call Ashley to let her know she was alive and fine. But for now, she couldn’t risk it.

This was for the best.

By eight p.m., her phone started ringing.

Sure enough, it was Hunter.

He had left the house around three, saying he was going on some kind of “tour” with his mates. From there he would go to the club. By now, he must have noticed she wasn’t there.

“Oh, he’s going to be in a foul mood,” Harper muttered when she saw Mirabella frown at the phone.

She pressed mute and set it aside. “Let him keep on calling. I’m not picking up tonight.”

Rain raised her brow. “Brave. I like it for you. But you know him. He’ll find you.”

“Not tonight,” Saraphina said firmly. “No one knows where we are. Gabriel doesn’t know where we are. I only told him we were spending time together but he doesn't know where. Be rest assured, Bella.”

Mirabella smiled weakly at their support, but deep inside, unease still twisted in her belly.

Hunter called again. And again. All his calls were muted and ignored.

Later, Ashley’s call came through. Mirabella answered this one, stepping a little away from the table.

“Hunter won’t stop calling me to ask where you are,” Ashley’s voice said in a rush. “He just believes I know where you went. He’s threatening to throw me out of his house if he doesn’t find you tonight.”

Mirabella’s heart tightened. “Ashley…”

“Phew, don’t worry about me,” Ashley cut her off. “He’s just something else. Have a good time. Don’t let the sick head ruin your night, ok?”

Mirabella’s throat burned. “Thank you, Ash.”

“Alright. Bye,” Ashley replied, and the line went dead.

The night carried on with laughter, food, and the comfort of friendship. The girls drank wine and cocktails, but Mirabella stuck to soft drinks. She laughed with them, played silly games, and for a while, she almost forgot the weight inside her body.

By three a.m., the room was a mess of wrappers and empty glasses. The girls had all collapsed onto couches and the rug snoring softly.

But Mirabella couldn’t sleep.

She lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling, her hands folded across her stomach. She thought of the life growing inside her. The tiny heartbeat she had not yet heard, but felt so strongly. She thought of the life she would have after escaping. Keeping her baby safe where Hunter’s shadow could never reach.

Her eyes fluttered shut at last—until the sudden bang on the door jolted her awake.

It was loud. Violent. Her heart skipped.

Another bang. Then his voice came through.

“Open the fucking door, Mirabella! Or I’ll ask the receptionist for a spare key!”

Her blood froze instantly.

Of course. He had found her. Again. Just within a few hours. He always did.

Her legs trembled as she pushed herself up. She looked at her friends who were all asleep and unaware of what was happening. Slowly, she walked to the door, her fingers shaking as she turned the lock.

She braced herself for his usual storm—dark, angry eyes, harsh words, threats.

But instead, when the door swung open, he pulled her straight into his chest. His arms crushed her close. His face was buried in her hair. His hold was desperate, but tender.

This was new. This was not the Hunter she expected.

“Why didn’t you let me know you were going out with your friends?” he asked, his voice low, almost pained. “You made sure everyone else knew, except me.”

She said nothing. Her lips pressed together.

He sighed, a long, deep sound, then pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

He placed his hand firmly on her lower back, and guided her down the hall.

When they reached his car. Instead of opening the passenger door for her, he opened the back door. She entered quietly, already knowing what he meant and what he wanted.

He went round and entered through the other side.

He slid in after her from the other side, closing the door behind him. His eyes burned as he stared at her.

“I missed you. I want you, Bella,” he whispered, and then his mouth crashed onto hers, hot and desperate.

Her gown was soon pushed up around her waist. His cock was already free from his pants, hard and ready.

In no time, she was lying on her back across the leather seat, with him above her, his weight pressing down. His dick inched slowly, bit by bit, into her wet pussy.

She gasped as she felt him inside…