Between us

Chapter 12

It's been a whole month since I last saw Ryder. At first I was sad and hurt that he left, but now I'm mad as hell.

Who leaves a pregnant woman alone in a unknown place?! Especially if you know that she is in danger?!

Teresa and Jacob asked where he was and I had to lie to them. I told them that he had to go to New York for important business.

Jessica showed me around Rome and she has truly been a great friend. This morning we both went to the gynaecologist and there I heard Puppet's first heartbeat. I cried and Jessica took a video to capture this lovely moment.

Oh you stupid Ryder! You should've been here with me, not Jessy.

I didn't want to know the gender of Puppet yet and soon me and Jessy went to buy ice cream, because of my many 'cravings'.

"Thank you so much for coming with me, Jessy. I really appreciate it." I said after she dropped me off at home.

"That's what friends are for." She said and gave me a hug. "When is Ryder coming back?" She asked and I felt sad.

"I dunno, I'll call him later to ask him." I said and she nodded and gave me another hug before she left.

Inside I put the stuff away and went to the living room. I took out my phone and sent Ryder the video Jessy took today with the caption, 'Baby's first heartbeat :)'

I then tried my luck and called him. After the third try, his phone finally rang. I sighed a breath of relief and did a little victory dance when he answered the call.

"Hello?" A husky voice asked and I held my breath, it's a woman's voice. "Hello?" She asked again and I slowly let my breath out.

"Uh, hello? I'm looking for Mr Storm." I answered a bit unsure.

"Oh, Ryder? Yeah he's kinda busy, do you have a message for him?" She asked and I could clearly hear women's laughter and loud music in the background.

Great, he's having a nice time while I was busy moping around for him. Just great.

"Yes, tell him that I'm leaving soon, and that he doesn't have to worry about me." I answered with a lump in my throat.

"Okay, who should I say the message is from?" She asked and a tear escaped from my eye.

"Charlie Summers." I said and switched off my phone.

I took deep breaths and sat down on the sofa. After what seemed like a very long time, I finally stood up and went to my room to pack my bags.

Call me crazy or irrational, but I have to leave. I can't be betrayed again, I can't have another episode like Dominic again. I looked at the time, it was 2pm, I'll leave tonight.

~~~~~~~~

Ryder's pov:

I sat on the barstool and sighed heavily. Why did Black Badger want to meet here in a nightclub? He knows that I hate such places.

I miss Charlie, a lot, like a whole lot. If Black Badger didn't call that night, I would've found out what was wrong with her. I remember that night like it was just yesterday.

We were both very tired, obviously, and we cuddled till we fell asleep. And at that moment I realised, I could get used to this. Then the nightmare began, and she had another panic attack. I figured that she dreamt of Dominic.

The son of a bitch even haunts her in her dreams!

It hurt when she said that I'm not her husband. I know it's true, but still. I would never leave her alone. I was on the verge of breaking down the door when Black Badger called.

Since I asked him to help me to get Dominic to sign and send the divorce papers, I had to do a little favour for him. I couldn't say no, he is my boss.

And I obviously couldn't tell Charlie about it, and I feel like a total dick because I didn't answer the phone or sent any messages. But I couldn't involve her, she's probably pissed right now.

Now I'm waiting here for my payment. I shrugged as I made my way to his private lounge. Hot exotic dancers, strippers with barely nothing on, dancing on the table and giving some of the guards lap dances are all around the place. Three years ago I probably would've enjoyed this, but now I have Charlie.

A young woman in a very short red dress made her way to me. "Hey hotstuff, you look tense, I know how to relieve, tension." She said with a husky voice and brushed her body against me, smirking seductively.

"No." I answered in a cold voice and her eyes widen with shock.

Her smirk reappeared. "Are you sure? Because I-"

"No." I cut her off and pushed her away from me.

She looked flabbergasted and then she looked as if she wanted to give me a lovely slap, but then she saw someone behind me and quickly composed herself. "Very well then."
She said and left to seduce another man.

I turned around and saw Black Badger standing behind me with a smirk.

"It's not very often that someone rejects dear Candy like that." He said with his cold raspy voice and I simply shrugged. I extended my hand and he shook it firmly.

"The package is delivered, and you won't have to worry about it, disappearing again." I said and he smirked and we went to his office.

He took out an envelope and gave it to me. "I know, great job. You're done, I don't want to see you anytime soon." He said and I nodded my head and turned to leave when he stopped me.

"Storm," he began and I looked at him in question. "Look after that girl, she's very precious."

I immediately snapped that he talked about Charlie and was on alert, he noticed this and laughed. "Don't worry Storm, I won't hurt her, I just meant that her husband won't give up so easily."

I shrugged and left the nightclub and outside I bumped into Beatrice, the maid at the place I'm currently staying at.

"I'm sorry Ryder, I know you said that I shouldn't be touching your phone but it has been ringing like crazy and I just had to pick it up, I'm so sorry." She said out of breath and I looked at her intensely. She gulped visibly and I shrugged while taking my phone from her.

"Who called?" I asked while we made our way back to my car.

"Uh, it's a woman called Charlie Summers."

I froze dead in my steps. Summers?

"What did she say?!" I asked harshly and she hicked in shock.

"Uhm, t-that she's leaving and that you don't have to worry about her." She said scared and I rushed to my car. She had to run after me to keep up.

"Get a cab to take you home." I said and she nodded.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"To get my wife."

I drove to the airport like a madman and got into my private plane. When we rose up I looked at my phone. A video from Charlie. 'Baby's first heartbeat :)'

A tear escaped from my eye and my heart sank to my feet when I watched the video. I tried to call her but her phone is switched off.

"I'm sorry Charlie, I'll make it up to you. I just hope that I'm not to late..."
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A/n: Hey guys! 👋
Welcome back to another chapter of Between us.

*I'm really sorry for taking this long to update.🙈*

But anyways... Poor Charlie! To be alone for a whole month! And now she mistrusted Ryder! But who wouldn't? (Sighing dramatically😧)

Q: Who is this Black Badger? What package did Ryder get for him? Will Ryder get to Charlie in time, or is it to late?...
Stay tuned for more action...and passion. ^_^

Please forgive any typos and please comment...and don't forget to vote. ;)

Kind regards and stay safe :)

A . Freeman
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