Her Deadly Friends

Chapter 45

Danny Pov

I gripped the banister tightly as I descended the stairs, feeling like a nervous wreck. At least my arms were working again, thank god. But these facial ticks? I think they're here to stay. Dean's request for another baby echoed in my mind. Wasn't he there the last time I was pregnant? It was hell—pure hell. It's a miracle Kyleigh even survived. We both went through so much. I can't imagine going through that again. I must be a fool to think things will ever go back to how they were. Kyle isn't here, and Dean... he's changed. Drastically. The signs were always there, but since I left, it's like he's spiraling.

When I reached the dining room, he walked in just as I sat down. I motioned for a maid to bring Kyleigh. Dean greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, then trailed it to my lips. I kissed him back, palm resting on his face, not wanting to disturb his good mood.

He groaned. "Sweet pea, I've missed you."

"I'm here, Dean. With you," I replied.

"Are you?" he asked, his tone almost mocking.

I nodded.

He sat next to me, his hand resting on my thigh, rubbing small circles. My body betrayed me—I felt a stir deep inside that I didn't want to acknowledge. I didn't want to want him. Not after everything. He hasn't even apologized for what he did to me, but my body didn't care. I cursed inwardly when my nipples hardened.

I tried to remove his hand, but he didn't budge.

"You're angry with me, sweet pea."

My heart jumped. Shaking my head quickly, I didn't want him to get angry. I never wanted him to hit me in the face again.

He sighed. "Danny, you can tell me if you're angry."

"I... I am, Dean," I whispered, feeling the weight of my words.

"Why? Tell me why my sweet little sweet pea is angry."

I couldn't believe the nerve of him. He made my pregnancy hell, got Kyle killed, and when I finally had the courage to escape and rebuild my life, he tore it all away. He beat me so badly I had to relearn how to use parts of my body. Now he expects me to just be the same Danny, his sweet little possession, when all that's left is a broken shell.

"Because of everything," I managed to say.

He scoffed. "Danny, you knew what this was. You shouldn't have left."

"I was being abused! Kyleigh was being abused!"

"And whose fault is that?" His voice shifted, growing more menacing.

I sighed, knowing he would never forgive me for leaving him those two years, and that I'd made it worse by leaving again.

"Don't worry, baby. Once you're pregnant again, we'll move. Start fresh. How does a big house in the country sound?"

"Okay, Dean," I lied, just as the maid brought in Kyleigh, who was squirming and crying in her arms. She was reaching toward the door, calling out, "Ki! Ki!"

The maid was struggling to hold her. She was wiggling in her arms and crying. She was trying to get out of the maid's arms. She was reaching back towards the door. I looked around the maid. Who was she reaching for?

The maid sat her down in my lap. She would not stop wiggling, squirming and crying. "Ki! Ki!" she screamed over and over.

"Kyleigh," Dean shot her a warning look, and her cries settled into soft whimpers. She kept looking toward Dean's office, confused and upset.

"What's going on?" I asked, concerned. Kyleigh was usually such a happy baby.

Dean shrugged, dismissing my question.