Chapter 18 A

We are released the same day. Ryder stops by the gift shop on our way out and gets me some flowers. It's an assortment of lilies and daisies. My face is in them as we make our way to the parking lot. They smell so good! I smile, but my joy disappears as I remember someone is after my fiance and will stop at nothing to get him, even if it means killing those around him.

"Hey," someone says as they tug on my arm. I am brought back from my thoughts and look down at my hand. Ryder has a hold of it and has a look of concern. "Are you okay?"

Ryder and I get off of the elevator first and walk through the lobby. The gang follows behind a few paces.

"No, I'm not," I say with a sigh. How do I begin this conversation?

Ryder stops and faces me. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Everything!"

Everyone in the lobby stops and stares at the crazy woman who just yelled. I feel myself trembling as I look up at Ryder. Not of anger, but fear.

LeAnn and Freddie are also staring at me with looks of concern. Joe shakes his head and grabs their hands, pulling them away. "You both are so nosy," he says as they both protest.

I put my head down, ashamed. I will be the wife of someone who will gladly tango with the devil, himself, and may probably win. At the same time, I feel like a coward and selfish. Wanting an everyday, ordinary life, a baby, and I can't take a few bumps and bruises, knowing this is my new life. This is going to be my everyday being with Ryder.

Deep down inside, I know this where I want to be. I will gladly go to the ends of the earth if it means being with the love of my life.

"You're scared," he says calmly, running his fingers down the side of my face and neck.

I nod as I close my eyes. "I'm sorry, baby. I know I should be stronger and..."

"Stop, Sam," he says, making me open my eyes and look up at him.

"That is not true. I need you to be you. I can handle being the tough one for both of us." Ryder grabs my hands and kisses them. "All I want and need is for you to be supportive, amazing, and most of all, happy."

I half-smile at him.

"Your happiness is all I want in my entire life. And I will always fight for it."

I nod and grin, relieved that he doesn't need me acting like LeAnn. She is one tough cookie.

I wrap my arms around his neck. I feel him hesitate as I cringe due to the pain in my back.

"You fight for me; I fight for you," I says as I kiss him.

Ryder pulls me into him slowly by my hips. I sigh as he opens his mouth and lets my tongue enter his mouth.

"Excuse me? Get a room," Freddie says, walking up to us. "Can we leave now?"

I stop and smile as Ryder reluctantly lets me go.

Ryder grabs my hand as we walk toward Joe and LeAnn. Freddie turns to walk with us when Ryder places his other hand on Freddie's head and shuffles his hair.

"Hey!" Freddie yells, swatting Ryder. "Do you know how much gel goes into making this perfect hairdo?"

In the parking lot, Joe and Freddie are in front of us talking about the explosion and Joe losing everything he owned. Ryder and I have no objections to Joe coming to stay with us. We will also arrange to get him a new wardrobe. Freddie is elated!

"Ryder, I'm going by Joe's apartment to see if I can get some information about what happened," LeAnn says as we all walk to Ryder's car. He usually drives a black Porsche, but this is the black Chevy Impala rental he went to and from Colorado.

"And how are you going to do that?" Joe looks puzzled.

Freddie touches his chest and smiles. "She carries a detective badge. Not only is she good with knives, but she's great at pickpocketing."

"Oh?" Joe asks as Freddie opens the back car door for him. LeAnn is smiling.

"Watch your head, baby." Freddie puts Joe's head down as he guides him into the car. Joe is still in pain.

"Okay," Ryder says as he opens the car door for me. "Call me the minute you find something out. And be careful!"

"Sure thing, Boss!" LeAnn salutes him as she runs to her car.

As soon as Joe is in the car, Freddie turns his attention to Ryder. "What are we going to do about our network? The only way to hack it is to do it manually. Someone in the house is doing it. It's the only way!"

Ryder shakes his head. "I know." He then leans against the car, putting his hand on his hips.

I walk over to Ryder, grabbing his hand. "You think someone broke into the house?" I look at Freddie, who sucks his teeth and looks away.

"Freddie here thinks it's Darryl. I do have my suspicions, but I don't know." Ryder looks at me, pulling his phone out and looking at it.

"What? Why Darryl?" I look to Freddie. Darryl is a lot of things, but I seriously doubt he'll try to hurt us on purpose. If anything, it is as if he has a crush on Freddie and is trying to impress him, failing miserably in every direction.

Then again, who am I to talk about trust? I married someone who I thought loved me. It turned out he was a greedy pig who wanted to kill my family and me.

"I know what you're going say, Sam! I'm not giving him a chance. He's annoying to be around. Can't follow the simplest of tasks. Who else is capable of getting into my screen name and bypass all my security measures? He could be pretending to be an idiot," Freddie says as he looks into the car to check on Joe, who is fast asleep.

"And besides, I'm on a path of enlightenment. Positive mind. Positive vibes. Positive life." Freddie put his hands together, like he is praying, closing his eyes.

"Umm...where would your mouth and attitude fit on this path?" I ask. Ryder looks down and tries not to laugh, while Freddie opens his eyes and glares at me.

"You're one to talk!" Freddie snaps. "You're always going off on Ryder."

Ryder and I look at each other. We stare into each other's eyes and begin to laugh. I quickly stop when I feel a back spasm.

Ryder laughs even more as my laugh turns into a whimper. He puts his arm around my hip, giving me a sympathetic look. I compose myself and smile at him.

"Uggh! You two are beyond irritating!" Freddie walks around and gets into the car, sitting next to Joe. Joe cuddles onto Freddie happily. Ryder then helps me get into the car, and we drive out of the hospital parking lot.

"How are you feeling?" Ryder asks me as he grabs my hand. I am looking out the passenger side window when he grabs my hand and kisses it. I look at him and smile. So many emotions are running through my head. I don't want to tell him that I am still scared, nervous, and anxious.

The truth is that I am a ball full of emotion, but I am confident of one thing. I will never leave his side. I will die for him the way he almost died for me back in Santorini. "My back and neck are sore, but I'll be fine," I manage to say.

Freddie and Joe are flirting in the back. I turn to see Freddie holding Joe. They are making plans to go on vacation soon, which has me thinking maybe Ryder and I need this.

"Why don't we do that?" I turn to Ryder.

"Do what?" He asks, making a left and going down a steep hill. It will then lead to the mountain where our home is.

"Go on vacation. A break from this reality. I think we deserve one."

He smiles at me and then looks at the road.

"Well, the wedding is fast approaching. So we can wait for a vacation. I was going to surprise you, but I found that card that Maddison gave you. The one with the fertility specialist."

My mouth falls open. With everything going on, I completely forgot about the wedding.

But then it hit. Was Ryder digging through my things? "Why were you snooping?" I would've been annoyed, but I almost died today, so I let it go.

"Margie brought it to me. She was washing clothes. Anyway, I did some research. He's the real deal, and I made an appointment. Two weeks from now. It's just a consultation." Ryder did his calm facial expression. I know he is trying to hide the fact that he is nervous about my reaction.

"Are you serious?!" I am beyond excited at this fantastic news! He squeezes my hand and kisses it again.

Granted, this isn't the best time to have a baby, but it's not like the process will be quick. It takes time to get pregnant, especially with the help of a specialist- extracting my egg, implanting his sperm, placing it back inside me. That much, I already know.

"I am serious! I told you I want to make you happy. Make us both happy. A baby would be great for our family." Ryder smiles at me and looks in the rearview mirror. He then starts to laugh.

"Wait, I'm going to be an uncle?!" Freddie yells, grabbing Ryder's shoulders and shaking them.

I happily sigh as I look out of the window. A baby. A tiny version of Ryder or myself. So much baby-proofing will have to happen.

Lost in my thoughts of babies, I suddenly notice we are going fast.

Too fast.

"Baby, slow down. I want to be able to get to Germany and marry you." I turn to Ryder, who suddenly runs a red light.

"Woah!" Freddie and Joe yell.

"Ryder, what are you doing? Slow down!" Freddie yells, holding onto the back of Ryder's seat.

"I'm trying! The brakes aren't working!" Ryder keeps looking down as he hit the brakes, a look of panic on his face. The car begins to speed up even faster.

"We're they cut?!" Joe yells.