The Threat Of Fear

chapter 37

         "Okay," I hummed. "You two can get the supplies and I can get the pretzels and chocolate spread. Does that sound like a good plan?"

"No." Nick deadpanned.

Darn.

"You're not going anywhere by yourself." he frowned. "He's still out there."

You don't need to remind me, jerk.

"You're staying by either Tiffany or me," Nick ordered. "Got it?"

I was so close.

"Eh," I shrugged. "It was worth a try."

A sharp pain caused me to wince.

"Are you okay?" Tiffany asked.

"Ye-yeah, I'm, I'm fine." I stuttered, giving her a tightlipped smile. "The babies are just moving around a lot right now, causing some discomfort."

"Oh." she murmured.

"I'm going to go to the restroom." I sighed.

"Tiffany, could you stay with her?" Nick asked. "I'll go find the snacks then head over to the supply section."

"Alright." she nodded.

"You'd think it be the other way around," I grumbled quietly to myself. "With the adult watching the child, not the child watching the adult."

        "Hey, Shade." I hummed, answering his call as Tiffany and I walked out of the restroom. "What do you need?"

"Hello, love," he responded. "I just got home and I wanted to hear your lovely voice."

"We should be getting home soon." I giggled.

I winced and Tiffany gave me a worried look.

"We're at the store right now." I sighed. "We should be headed home soon."

"Alright." he murmured. "Stay safe."

"I will." I nodded. "I love you. I'll see you when we get home."

"I love you too, Rachel." Shade replied.

The call was ended and I put my phone back up.

I rubbed my stomach.

"You guys gotta calm down in there," I whispered.

An older man walked up to Tiffany and me, placing his hands on my stomach.

"How magical," he muttered.

His hands are making me feel so dirty.

"Excuse you!" I exclaimed.

"Get your hands off of her!" Tiffany huffed.

I grabbed his hands, my thumb's in the middle of his palms. I added pressure and pushed his hands back causing him to yell out in pain.

"I don't know who the hell you are," I gritted out angrily. "But don't you ever dare touch me, or any other pregnant woman, like that ever again without their permission."

I let go and pushed him away from me. He fell to the ground.

"What's going on here?" a worker asked running down the aisle to get to where we are.

"This creepy old man touched my aunt's stomach without her permission." Tiffany pouted. "He wouldn't take his hands off of her, so she dealt with him."

"There you two are." Nick sighed. "I got everything we need."

"I'm so sorry for the disturbance ma'am." the worker said.

I felt this disgusting wet wetness start trickling down my legs.

I guess that wasn't just them moving around...

"Oh no," I uttered. "We, we need to go."

Nick hummed in confusion.

"I'm the manager of the store," the worker said. "Please, the items that you have, there on me."

"Th-thanks." I stuttered.

        "Will you tell me why you're in such a hurry to get to the car already?" Nick asked.

I called Shade and while the phone rang I answered Nick's question.

"The baby's," I said glancing at Nick from the corner of my eye.

"Rachel?" Shade responded once he picked up. "What's wrong?"

My phone was knocked away from my hand and landed on the ground before I could answer.

"Well, well, well, look at you." he taunted. "Haven't you done well for yourself."

"Who gave you the right to do so?" he shouted.

Why? Why now, of all times?

"Please," Tiffany whimpered. "Leave her alone."

"Shut up, you brat," he spat.

One of his arms wrapped around my neck and the other held a gun to my head.

"Both of you, go," he ordered, pointing the gun at them.

They listened to him hesitantly.

I can't move. I can't even speak.

I let out a whimper when I felt pain in my abdomen.

"Shut up." he groaned in annoyance.

Even after all these years and being a cop, I'm still powerless against this bastard.

There was a loud popping sound of a gun.

Peter screamed in pain as he let go of me and fell into the ground, cradling his shoulder.

He let go of his gun.

I grabbed the gun and aimed it at him.

"Rachel." someone breathed out. "Are you alright."

I quickly glanced over to where the sound of the voice came from.

Marino and the Lieutenant.

"My water broke about twenty or so minutes ago," I said.

My hands are trembling so much right now.

"Come on," Shade murmured. "Let's get you to the hospital."

I want Peter dead so badly.

"Shade." I gasped, dropping the gun, going to him and hugging him as tightly as I could.

The gun landed on the ground with a dull thud followed by another loud pop.

Shade spun me around to shield me.

"Shade?" I uttered.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I nodded. "Ye-yeah. Let's just get to the hospital."