Chapter 43

Chloe

I'm not one hundred percent sure why I stopped Dom from ending Ethan, but at the moment, I just couldn't stand the idea of him killing the man.

It's just…too close to how evil Ethan himself is, and I can't have that for Dom.

As we rush over to Dom's brothers and Cam, they're still locked in a fight with the members of the Crimson Cobras.

Luke and Jay are each handling a person one-on-one while Cameron is struggling with two men, one of whom had a baseball bat in his grip.

When he yanked me away, Luke had me hide behind another set of boxes, but I could hear the fighting from my position.

They all handle themselves well in a fight. Marines, after all.

Before I can tell Dom what's happening, he's at the man with the bat, yanking it away and using it to smash the guy's knees and trip him.

The violence so up close is beyond anything I've ever seen, and my stomach clenches.

Cameron can now focus on the other man at his side, though, and with the assistance, the threat is quickly extinguished.

It's a blur of limbs and grunts as the well-trained band of brothers take out the Cobras attacking them.

Just in time for the arrival of the cops, sirens blaring into the warehouse from outside.

"Everybody freeze!"

Several officers yell, but it does nothing to stop the chaos of people trying to flee. I can't keep track of it all, my head throbbing more by the second.

And then Dom is at my side.

"Chloe!"

We grip each other tightly, but then my side pinches in pain as Dom brushes against the slash mark Ethan inflicted.

Flinching, I pull back, and my eyes naturally fall to my stomach.

My stomach.

"Dom, I?—"

"You two! Don't move. Let's see some IDs."

A cop cuts me off, and Dom and I do our best to quickly comply with his orders.

Exhaustion creeps over me as time seems to slow back to its usual pace. Dom explains the situation to the officer, telling him that he and his brothers were the ones who called them.

It's all washed-out sounds and whirring as I start to feel unsteady, and then I'm leaning on Dom's arm.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Worry furrows Dom's brows, and I nod weakly, too tired to do much else.

"Yeah, just…I need to sit."

"Let's get you to the bus." The cop takes my other elbow, and I'm led over to an EMT vehicle. Huh, that must be the bus.

Soon, a flurry of techs crowd around me, making sure I'm all right. Bandages cover my wounds, and I'm given an IV.

Dom is right by me the entire time. Thank God.

"Your brothers…Luke! Is everyone okay?"

Renewed fear and adrenaline rush through me as I start to feel more stable, and I look around for them frantically.

"Hey, hey." Dom smoothes his hands down my arms. "They're fine. Hell, I don't think I've seen Jay this jazzed in a while."

I furrow my brow. "What?"

"Those thugs, the Cobras. Our mother was wrapped up with their bullshit, remember?"

I nod, Dom's story surfacing in my memory.

"Well, we all feel pretty good that we were able to stick it to them. At least a little."

My heart warms ever so slightly against the trauma I'm still contending with.

Ethan was so close to killing me, to slaying the human growing inside me—Dom's and my baby.

"Dom, I want to talk to you about something." My fingers tremble as my heartbeat rushes in my ears. "But I'm not sure if this is the best time."

He smirks gently, running a hand down my face.

"You can tell me anything, Chloe. What is it?"

"Well, I?—"

"Chloe Hamilton, right?" A detective at the scene walks up to the ambulance, and I have to keep myself from groaning.

Seriously? I'm trying to…Jesus.

"Yes."

The man steps closer, reaching to shake my hand, and I have to pull it out of the blanket the EMTs gave me.

"I'm Detective Miller. You've certainly had an interesting afternoon, and I know you're tired, but I've just got a couple of quick questions for you. And Mr. Shaw."

He eyes Dom, and I look up at him before reluctantly nodding my head. "Okay."

"For starters, can you tell me why Ethan Noble brought you here?"

"Kidnapped." Dom glares at the guy. "He kidnapped her."

"Please, Mr. Shaw. I need it in her words."

Putting my hand on Dom's forearm, I offer a tight-lipped smile. "It's okay."

I sigh, swallowing hard before I recount what just happened.

"He kidnapped me because he's been stalking me. I left him when I learned he was involved with drugs. Ethan…didn't take it well."

Detective Miller nods. "He give you those?"

His pen points to my injuries.

"Yes. And his friend Kyle."

My chest aches again. This is all so fresh.

"Have you tried to report him in the past?"

Dom grumbles to himself, and I have to keep him from snapping at the detective again.

"Yes, but I never had proof."

There's a moment when the officer, detective, whatever, just stares at me, and then he nods.

"It lines up with the file on record for both you and Mr. Noble."

My mouth falls open. "He's done this before?"

"Several times, in fact. You're lucky, Ms. Hamilton. And pretty damn brave for fighting back. Hopefully, when you're ready and you can testify against him, Mr. Noble and his buddies here will be facing a long sentence."

An overwhelming wave of relief floods me, and I sag against Dom.

He's going to jail. Ethan is actually going to jail.

"I…thank you. I can't believe it's over."

I look up at Dom and then back to the detective.

"I'll let you get your rest, but I'd like to come by tomorrow for questions and such."

"Of course."

Nodding, the guy eyes us both with sympathy and then leaves us to go back to the scene. As he passes by, I see cops escorting a stumbling Ethan into a squad car.

My eyes cling to him for a second, but in my head, I slam the book of Ethan Noble closed, ready to begin a new life.

"I'm pregnant."

Dom doesn't say anything for a moment, and when I look over at him, I can see he isn't sure if he heard me correctly.

I just smile at him with a slight nod.

"What… You're… I'm…"

With a giggle, I put his hand on my lower belly. "Are you always this articulate?"

"Holy shit." Dom's mouth falls open, and for one of the few times since I've known him, Dom's eyes well up.

"I was so scared, Dom. I thought…" I look up, trying to keep the tears from spilling. I don't want to cry because of Ethan anymore.

"I tried to get him to let me go, make myself seem too scared to talk or turn him in." I shake my head. "It didn't work. And he was furious when I said I was pregnant. Unhinged."

Suddenly, his arms are around me, and I snuggle into his neck before he's gone just as quickly. Confused at first, I see Dom lower his head, laying a kiss on my stomach.

"You're pregnant." He stares up, not hiding the tear that's trailing down his cheek. "I can't believe it."

"Well, we weren't exactly careful." I chuckle softly. "And I tried to get more birth control, but then I was arrested, and the play, and then the fire…"

He shakes his head, putting his forehead against me. "No, I get it…I…"

"What?" Worry laces through me.

When Dom's eyes meet mine again, I am awestruck by the look of joy there.

"I'm thrilled." He laughs, his smile stretching as wide as ever. "I promise, with all my heart, you'll never have to worry again. I'll do everything to keep you safe—both of you."

The way Dom holds me is perfect. I let him wrap himself around me, actually feeling protected. He came here for me. He didn't hesitate.

"I love you, Dom." I pull his face up to look at me. "I know that wasn't exactly in the cards, but do you think?—"

He shoots up, crashing his lips against mine, and we both lose ourselves to the feeling of it for a moment.

"I love you, Chloe. I love you so damn much."

Dom's all smiles, and then he furrows his brow, a light bulb going off in his brain.

"Wait, how long have you known?"

I bite my lip for a moment. "When Luke came over that one time. I was sick that morning and took a test."

"Damn." He chuckles lightly. "You dodged all those drinks at the party. I'm impressed."

I can't help but laugh at that, and I wrap my arms around Dom's neck.

"So, I can move in for good? I don't really want to wake up without you anymore."

"Of course." His hand finds my cheek. "Where did you think you were going?"

My eyes burn with tears, but they're the happy kind, and I let them fall. Gazing up into Dom's hazel eyes, a deep sense of relief melts into me.

"I don't want to run anymore. I don't want to be afraid. And for the first time in a while, I feel like I don't have to be. Thank you for that."

Dom tips his chin to put his forehead against mine. "I promise you, Chloe. I've got you. From here on out."

After everything we've been through, I don't know what to say. So I just put Dom's hand on my lower belly and smile.

I never thought I could be this happy.