Chapter 55: Taking her home

I watched as a dark shadow moved beside Cole, my heart leaping into my throat as Eryx sat beside him. My stomach clenched, and my heartbeat thundered in my ears. I turned, staring at the back exit, only to find Bowen leaning against the wall beside it. Fear churned through me as I turned to the main door, watching Saint enter the bar with a smirk on his mouth. Toralei was beside me a moment later, taking in the scene.

They'd blocked the exits, and Saint was moving in with alphas and his crew all flocking around him. Exhaling, I watched as he shuffled out of his jacket and smiled at me. He sat beside Cole, slowly rolling up his shirt sleeves before he rested his elbows on the bar, placing his chin onto his folded hands.

"Hey, gorgeous," he rumbled, lowering his eyes to my pregnant belly. "I think you left with something of mine." "How did you find me?" I asked, trembling with both anger and fear.

"Problem, Brianna?" Jackson asked, his eyes moving between Saint and me. "No," I whispered, shaking my head. "No problem, Jackson. Just an old acquaintance from my past," I admitted, watching the sparkle play in Saint's eyes. "There's a one-drink minimum. If you're not ordering, you all need to leave."

I turned on my heel, moving away from the bar to stop the anxiety spiking through me from reaching the shifters at the other end of the bar. Toralei fol- lowed me, her panic driving mine as my mind raced with what it meant. There was no way I could fight off Saint and his men. There was also no way they would leave without us, especially now that he knew I carried his child.

"How the hell did they find us?" she whispered, her eyes roving over the men crowding the bar as Jackson took their orders. "He brought his entire crew, and they've blocked all the exits in and out of this place." "Thanks for pointing out the obvious," I grunted, grabbing a soda to open it, downing it smoothly before wiping off my mouth. "Three and a half months. That's how long we lasted out here." I snorted, shaking my head while she nodded.

"Tell me what to do, and we'll do it, Brac. Say the words, and we will fight our way out of here."

"I love that you think that's an option. We both know it's not," I admitted, sighing heavily, shifting my attention to where Saint sat, watching me. "We'd have more luck escaping from the apartment than here."

"It's a box with no windows," she muttered.

"Exactly my point," I returned, tossing the soda into the trash. "I don't think they're going to leave, either." I smiled tightly at Tora, moving back to where Saint waited with his men and Cole. He'd probably been sent in to survey the bar for any hidden threats before Saint, and his men arrived.

"Did you miss me, Braelyn," Saint asked, and Jackson turned, peering at me with narrowing eyes. "I've missed you. You look good and healthy. Been to see a doctor yet?"

"Your daughter is healthy," I muttered, watching his eyes drop to my stormach. "She's healthy, Saint. Don't pretend you give two shits about me, asshole."

"It's a girl? You're sure?" he asked, his gaze slowly moving back up to mine. "Disappointed?" I asked, unable to hide the anger that laced my tone. "Surprised, but not disappointed, Brat," he said softly. "Don't put me into the same category as your father. I am pleased with whatever you carry because it's our child."

"So he's the dad?" Jackson asked, his tone stern. "And you're not Brianna Kingston?"

Saint's lips twitched as I opened my mouth to reply, but he beat me to it. "I'm the daddy and her mate. She's my world, and she damn well knows it."

"I'm not your world, Saint Kingsley."

"You are, and so is that little girl you're carrying. You're coming home where you're safe and protected. Don't make this harder than it has to be. Things have changed since you left, Brae. Shit got twisted, and we need you home." His words echoed through me, forcing questions to run through my head.

"The others?" I demanded as my heart clenched with fear for the pack.

"They're okay. But we need you to come back so that we can fix what we did. I messed up, Brat." His eyes studied my face, but a commotion sounded beside him. I gasped as one of the shifters growled, lunging toward me. Saint didn't let him reach me, slamming him down onto the bar by his throat, still holding my stare. "As I was saying, you're not safe out here. I need to know you and my child are protected. If you can't accept me, I get it. You're above me, Brae. You've always been above me. You, you're a fighter, and you've been fighting your entire life. I didn't see it before, but my eyes are open now."

"Did you do drugs?" I asked, sliding my stare to Eryx, who looked at me with guilt wafting from him. Saint's men moved in, grabbing the shifter and his friends as Jackson, Tora, and I all watched it unfolding. "No, Brat," he grunted. "You're not hearing me. I fucked up."

"That much was a given, Kingsley. You fucked up by ignoring the fact that she wouldn't ever sell her own people." Tora snarled.

"What the fuck is happening?" Jackson asked, forcing all eyes to swing to him. "Who sold people? I don't have any idea what the fuck is happening, but you all need to leave."

"Jackson, it wasn't like that." I watched as he lifted his hands, staring at me as if he didn't know me at all.

"I don't fucking care, Brianna. You came here for a job, and I asked you to be honest with me. I gave you a chance to get your shit out in the open. I don't employ liars, and I sure as shit don't employ anyone who could be involved in human trafficking. Get out of my bar, now. All of you, get the fuck out before I call the cops."

Tears burned my eyes, but I wouldn't argue that it wasn't what it looked like anymore. Saint had come in once again, ruining the only thing I had for a second time.

"I'm sorry, Jackson. We'll leave," I stated, grabbing for my purse and coat from beneath the bar. I didn't wait to see if the men followed me out, knowing they would. Outside, a long line of black SUVS awaited us. Men stood against the vehicles, watching as we exited the bar. "You just can't let me have anything, can you?" I whispered, watching as Saint turned, peering at me.

"I came to bring you home. If I hadn't been here tonight, those shifters would have attacked you. That man in there, he's human, Brae. He can't protect you, and neither could Tora against six alphas scenting easy pussy. They wouldn't care that you're with child, either. They would have raped you to get what they wanted. I'm a bastard, and I'll be your fucking villain, but I'm not leaving here without you. I suggest you give me directions to your house so we can collect your things. You're coming home with me. It's not up for discussion."