Chapter 54

The pain crashed over me, a tidal wave of fire. Everything hurt – my wrist, my legs, my neck, my soul. I lay curled on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, the scent of my own blood thick in the air. Then, blessed oblivion.

I woke in a sterile, white room, the kind that smelled like disinfectant and fear. Ricardo was there, his back to me, talking on the phone. The moment he saw me stir, he hung up abruptly.

"You're okay," he said, his voice tight. He rushed over, gently examining my injuries. I shivered, a silent testament to the terror that still clung to me.

"They aren't fatal… you're going to be fine. And Daniel will be dealt with. I'm sorry he lost control…"

I nodded, unable to speak, my throat raw from screaming. He drew blood, saying he needed to do a blood transfusion. 

I nodded, feeling the sting of tears threatening to spill again. But when he returned from his blood work, a shadow overcame his face, desperately searching for the right words.

"Hey, um… are you aware of something?" he asked, his tone heavy with uncertainty.

"I don't understand," I replied, confused.

"Did you know…" he hesitated, swallowing hard. "I did your blood work. You're pregnant. At least five weeks."

His words hit like a freight train, and I could only stare at him, mouth agape. "What? No, that's impossible!" Panic clawed at my heart, panic that was both new and achingly familiar.

Trembling, I clutched my belly instinctively, mind racing at the implications of this revelation. "What… What am I going to do?" I asked, my voice breaking under the weight of my sobs. Christian and Haiden didn't know any of this, and time was slipping through my fingers like water.

Ricardo stepped closer, dropping to a crouch beside me. "I'm going to help you find a way out. I swear it."

"No! You can't! They will kill you!" I exclaimed, genuine fear taking over.

His smile was unwavering, determination shining bright in his eyes. "I'd rather die than let anything happen to you and your unborn child."

Tears flowed freely now, a mix of fear and gratitude. "Thank you, Ricardo. You've shown me kindness in a place so dark." I realized then that I had never let myself be vulnerable before, but in that moment, I clutched him like a lifeline. Each sob echoed hopes and fears for a future that now felt impossibly fragile.

But deep down, a fire ignited within me. I wouldn't give up, not without a fight. Christian and Haiden didn't know where I was yet, but I wouldn't let the shadows claim me. Whatever it took, I would grasp the reins of my fate, a fate that now held the fragile essence of life within me.

And as the rain continued to fall outside, I began plotting my escape, determination hardening my resolve—the darkness would not be my end.