“I’m not accusing you of anything. Just wondering.”
“Vanessa, nothing happened.” When she didn’t say anything, he added, “Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s hard to trust you when you did something behind my back and didn’t tell me. Like an idiot, I even complained to you about my work.”
“I didn’t know how you’d take it.”
“So if you don’t know how I’ll take something, you can lie about it? Tell me this then: How do you think I’d take it if you told me you cheated on me?”
He cursed. “I’m not going to pay for your father’s sins. Do you understand? I’m not him. The fact that you’re even thinking that I’d break my vow to you is an insult to my character. You’re being insecure and unreasonable.”
Blood rushed through her, roaring in her ears. She could barely hear what he was saying. “I’m neither insecure nor unreasonable. Don’t try to make it sound like I’m just being a hormonal woman.”
“You are. You’re always looking for reasons not to fully commit to anything because you’re afraid. Guess what? I’m tired of your waffling. When you walked out on me in February, I put myself on a detox program to forget you because it’s not possible to be with a woman like that.”
Vanessa’s jaw locked. He meant a woman like her. The only reason why he’d ever wanted her was the baby.
The precious heir to the Sterling & Wilson fortune.
Justin continued, “How can I carry the relationship by myself when you won’t open up? When you want to treat it like some shameful thing? I have to be in an airplane accident for you to—”
Suddenly she heard a loud, continuous honk to her left. Her head swiveled. A huge black SUV was coming toward her. It was slowing down, but it wouldn’t be quick enough.
Panic surged in her veins. Blood roared, and she raised her arm like somehow she could block the steel doom.
The impact of metal slamming into metal shook her like a rag doll. Glass shattered. Her arm snapped back and hit her in the face; her headset flew off her ear.
Pain seared through her. Then she drowned in black.
* * *
Everything was hazy, drowned in blinding light. There was the scent of disinfectants and bodies. People were shouting. Their voices sounded professional, authoritative.
Vanessa wanted to close her eyes again, but she couldn’t. She wanted Justin with her right then and there, but he might not come, not after she’d accused him of cheating on her with Peggy.
Why had she reacted that way? She’d seen how easy it would be to lose him when his plane crashed in San Francisco. But instead of cherishing every moment together, she’d lived in fear of losing him—if not to an accident, then to another woman. He’d been right to accuse her of being insecure and unreasonable. And he shouldn’t have to pay for Salazar’s mistakes.
The gurney rattled, vibrating under her. Her face throbbed, and her chest and stomach felt like they’d been punched repea—
Her stomach.
The baby!
A sour tang of panic filled her mouth and throat. She couldn’t lose the baby. It hadn’t even had a chance at life.
Tears wet her eyelashes. It had to be her fault she was losing the baby. Instead of being grateful for the miracle, she’d questioned it, fretted over it and wondered if she truly wanted the responsibility of motherhood. She felt like she was being punished for those doubts. Why did it have to come to this before she realized what she really wanted?
She raised her hand. “My baby…” The words were barely a whisper.
“It’s all right. We got you. Just relax,” a nurse said, her voice more efficient than soothing.
No, they didn’t get anything. Vanessa couldn’t relax. Fear surged in her heart even as her grip on consciousness faded, and she slipped back into the dark.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Justin buried his face in his hands, willing it to be a bad dream. Vanessa’s three brothers, the two fiancées and Ceinlys sat with him. Nobody said anything.
The hospital smelled too much of chlorine and alcohol. Underneath was a stench of despair. The nurses and doctors were brisk and efficient, but their workmanlike competence did nothing to soothe his shock or calm his panic.