Bound To You: Inevitable

Chapter 5

~Ari~

I finally made it back to my hotel after spending some time catching up with Riley. It was hard to leave. I wanted so badly to take Jaxon with me but I can’t. He needs to be safe. I would lose my mind if something were to happen to him. He’s my world. I changed out of my work clothes and was finally able to lay in the bed. I was so happy to have my best friend back. I left like I was finally able to take back control of my life. I was crushed after my dad died and have left so many things unsaid. He left me a letter, but I never opened it. I was afraid of what it would say. Still, I held on to it, hoping someday I’ll have the courage to read it.

The next morning I was back at the office and Briggs and I went over the case of the five dead women. “Ari, I know you said you are ready to work this case and I believe you are as well..” He puffed out a breath.

“But,” I cut in. He gave me a stern look.

“But I also called in for extra help. I know you said you work alone but with this case, we need a team.” I wasn’t mad at Briggs but I would prefer to figure this out by myself. I shrugged a shoulder.

“Okay, so when do we meet this team?”

“Soon enough.” He smiled as he passed me the bulky file. “The hotel is hosting a Gala this weekend. I talked to some of the staff there and they showed me a picture of this guy flirting with Stacy the night she was killed.” He slid the paper over and I observed it. The man had fair skin with brown hair. He had a lean build and had a tattoo on his neck. His eyes were the brightest green.

“I can see why these ladies fell for his charm. He is indeed handsome,” I said.

“Yes he is and this is why I need you to go to this Gala. He’s after something in this hotel. Something priceless or else he wouldn’t have to kill for it. Whatever it is, it’s locked inside the hotel vault. There is a trigger button that silently alarms the authorities but also locks the vault for hours, Briggs explained.

“Okay and what about this team you’ve mentioned?” I asked.

“They will be there. I’m not going to introduce you because we don’t need our unsub becoming suspicious of the “silent” interactions. But you all will be wearing certain colors and performing your “job”.” I understood what he meant but I don’t think it’s wise to not know who you’re working with.

We’ve finished with everything today and decided we would meet up one more time before the Gala. It is a masquerade after all. Was I nervous? Kinda. But this is what I wanted to do. I stopped at Cami’s and had dinner there and played with Jaxon. My heart races every time I look at him. His smile is what I look forward to when I get off of work. He had Zane’s brown eyes, nose, and lips. He’s his exact copy. He can even be as demanding as Zane at times, especially when he wants his bottle or just wants to be held. I smiled as I held him. This little guy is mine. “Mommy loves you so much,” I whispered. My mind flashed back to when I found out I was pregnant.

Flashback...

I was laying in the bed unable to get up. I had no energy and my physical therapist would be coming any minute. I checked my temperature and didn’t have a fever but I kept feeling the wave of sensation that caused me to vomit moments later. Eventually I fell asleep and woke up to Briggs and my nurse. “Briggs? What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Your therapist called and said you didn’t open the door when she came by.”

I frowned in confusion. “I didn’t hear anyone knocking. How long was I out?”

“Four hours,” he answered. “But I have the nurse here and she has some meds for your nausea.”

The nurse dug into her supplies and gave me the pills. I laid there for another 20 mins before I got up.

“Ms. Knight, have you thought about taking a pregnancy test?” I looked at her with a stunned expression. “Pr-Pregnancy test?” My voice stuttered. She nodded her head. “Yes. The nausea, fatigue, and the fact that you haven’t had a monthly cycle are all signs of pregnancy, she explained.

“Or that I’m stressed out,” I cut in. I was really hoping that was the case. I can’t be pregnant knowing that Zane wasn’t here, however, I had to at least rule out the possibility. The nurse pulled out a test for me to use and helped me to the bathroom. I took the test and waited for the longest three minutes of my life. I was scared to look at the results, but I had to know. So, when I picked up the white stick that held the results that changed my life forever, tears trickled down my face. “Oh my God!” The nurse rushed in and saw me holding the test. I looked up from the test to her. “I’m pregnant.”

Present...

I laid in bed, deciding to spend the night with Jaxon. I thought about how things could be if I wasn’t shot. Would Zane and I be happy together? How would he react to the pregnancy? I rubbed over the wound on my chest, reminding myself that what I did, saved him and it was the right thing to do. I have thought about him a lot. I have asked Briggs numerous times to contact him but he said that he wasn’t sure if that was the best right now. I was scared and although I had my own nurse, Briggs, and Tony, I didn’t have Zane or even Riley to support me. I was scared that my pregnancy would turn out like my mother’s pregnancy. I was even more scared for Jaxon than myself. I had a taste of death and it was nothing but a void in time. Shaking my head, I turned on my side and closed my eyes.

The next morning, I called Riley and asked her to meet me at the hotel. It’s been awhile since it was just us. Jacob doesn’t know that I’m alive yet and asked Riley to not tell him until Zane knows. Later, I will meet with Briggs for the case that we’re working on. The knock on the door had me running to it. I looked through the peephole, saw Riley, and immediately opened it. “Hey,” she said as we hugged.

“Hey. Thank you for coming.” We walked into the living room and sat on the sofa. It’s been a while since it was just us. “So,” I said breaking the awkward silence. “How have you been?” Seriously Ari? Riley laughed. “Good. Soooo. This is awkward.”

“A little. But it doesn’t have to be,” I reassured her. I tried to be optimistic. “I missed you and wanted so badly to tell you that I was alive. Briggs said the timing wasn’t right. I guess he didn’t want you to see me in the condition I was in. I had to learn how to breathe on my own again.” I felt like I owed her an explanation. She sat there taking in everything I said. “Ari, I understand and it wouldn’t be fair to say that I blame you. I guess the only question I have is what made you take that bullet for Zane?” I leaned back on the sofa and took a deep breath.

“I guess after losing my dad and your stabbing, I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me. When you guys were caught in the crossfire of my past, I had to do something, even if it cost me my life.” Riley played with her hands in her lap as she contemplated what I said.

“I never meant to leave you. Cami told me that you had gone into labor early because of me. I’m so sorry Ri.” I covered my face in shame.

“Hey don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault. It was Benjamin’s and Zane killed him. I’m just glad to have my best friend back.”

“Me too.”

~Zane~

After Briggs called, I found myself driving to his office. He never said why just that I needed to get there ASAP.

“Briggs, you called me to come by your office for what reason?” I asked as I sat on his sofa. “I was about to leave for Cape Town.” He gave me a scolding look. Briggs was ten years older than me.

“Well, I need your help with this case. There was something going down at this hotel that left five women dead. This unsub is looking for something there. There’s a gala coming up. The theme is masquerade so I need all eyes to help keep track of him.” He gave me a report of the case and subconsciously, I read it.

“This is messed up, but I already resigned from the FBI,” I huffed out. Briggs scoffed. “And how’s that working out for you? From what I’m hearing, you’re drunk all the time and you f*****g the Sheriff of Atlanta. Really Zane? That’s not you. I understand you’re grieving but you need this distraction.”

“I had a distraction,” I cut in. “I was literally leaving for Cape Town.” And I would’ve been on my jet if I wasn’t in this office right now. He laughed while shaking his head. “What’s so damn funny, Briggs?”

“You could’ve easily ignored my call or even went on your way, but you didn’t,” he answered. Jason Briggs has been an asshole since I’ve known him. He’s softened up since Tony came into the picture.

“Briggs, don’t make me call your husband,” I teased.

“Oh please, you better hope he answers because I specifically texted him and told him not to if you called.” Bastard. I rolled my eyes as he teased me some more. “Anyway, you will have a partner in this case.”

I sat back and folded myself arms. “Really? You know my only partner is Jacob.” He brushed me off. “Well, this agent is amazing. Went through a lot but she’s a tough cookie.” And it’s a woman. I shook my head.

“No. I’m not working with her,” I said.

“Now, you don’t have a choice. The gala is coming up this weekend so buy yourself one of those nice ass suits and yes, you have to wear a mask.” I know his intentions are good and maybe this is what I need to get myself under control. He knew he had me when he saw me being hesitant about it. “Welcome back, Agent Calloway,” he smirked. Asshole..