Zoey's POV "I can't believe that you're making me do this," Xavier grumbles, pushing an empty cart as we walk down the frozen foods aisle. We are currently walking around an empty mini mart about a mile or two from the mansion, which is, miraculously, still open at this hour. "You know I won that bet fair and square." I stick out my tongue childishly at him. I grab a pack of frankfurters and bologna, placing them in the trolley. "Now what do you want to eat?" "You," he answers boldly as his eyes hungrily rake my body. We lock each other's gazes, both of us communicating in ways that basic, sputtering words failed to do. "Guys, make this quick. I'm locking up in twenty!" I turn around to the man who had yelled from behind the cash register. He eyes us for a moment before they skim the old newspaper he has gripped in his hands. "Sure." I look briefly over at the scrawny man before I cast my eyes back at my soon-to-be husband. "Seriously, what do you want?" "Uh," the man s

Zoey's POV Complete darkness. That's the first thing that I notice when I open my eyes. Hissing, I feel a sharp pain jolt through the back of my head as small white flashes of light dance around my vision in the dark. Everything hurt too much. It feels like a ticking bomb exploded in my head. My eyes burns painfully and I feel like throwing up due to a lack of fresh air. Slowly, my memory starts to drift back to my conscious mind, even though random bits and pieces are missing. Where the hell am I? I inhale deep, greedily gasping for clean air, only to breathe in the same hot, stale breath. The air becomes stuffy as my sweat and tears mingle before running off my face. There's something over my head! I reach out to grab the thick un-breathable fabric from my face, but my hands are bound to a sturdy object. Grunting, I pull at the rope, jerking around to loosen the grip, but it does not budge— not once. I, tiredly, close my eyes, fearing to take my last breath as life effortles

Zoey's POV My chest heaves in silence and burns painfully as tears flow freely from the corners of my eyes. All different scenarios play out in my head, but not one has a happy ending in which I walk away alive. "Okay." My voice comes out croaky, conveying the exact opposite of the emotion I am trying to portray. I hold my hands up in a form of surrender, trembling slightly from the awful thought of being put down from behind. "Just don't shoot, alright?" I slowly turn around, ready to face the bruised, unforgiving face of Troy, but stumble involuntarily when I saw Matthew a foot or two away aiming a gun directly at my head. I swallow instinctively and cast my eyes away from his, breathing heavily. "Go ahead then! Isn't this what you always wanted?!" My eyes dart back on him, not caring about the tears falling heavily from my already puffy eyes. "Go ahead and blow me to pieces! How dare you befriend me. How dare you try to come between Xavier and I?! You have some nerve—" "Go."

Xavier's POV I roll my eyes at Natasha who staggers through the doorway of her father's secret hoard of liquor. The strong scent of vodka, mixed with the cool air, takes over the foyer almost immediately. What the fuck is she even doing here? "Finally you made it," she slurs, hiccuping as she gives me a once over. Her eyes then flicker to Zoey. She clicks her tongue and raiseher eyebrows. "This should be fun." I look behind me at Zoey. She just rolls her eyes and stand her ground. I smirk, turning back around. I swear, if she so much as lets a letter slip from her mouth I'll fuck her up real bad. My mind automatically goes back to the day when I wake up in my office drunk and angry beside a naked Natasha. I grimace. Even now I can't remember what happened. Knowing this vindictive bitch though, she'd try to ruin my life every possible chance she got. Drunk or not. I roll my eyes once more taking in her drunken state. "Uh, babe, can you go up to our room? I need to have a w

Zoey's POV I groan looking at my reflection in the mirror. My hair is combed neatly in a sleek low ponytail and a light layer of makeup settle on my face. Twisting my body sideways I look down at my belly. I gently rub it. It's growing but it hardly shows; it just looks like I am a bit bloated. It has been a week since I came back here and my symptoms are getting worse. I have frequent headaches, my breasts are a bit tender and I am a little fatigued and more nauseous than usual. I have an appointment tomorrow though that I have to go to with Xavier. He'd been asking questions but I just shut him down every single time. I can't bring myself to tell him, this past week especially, after what happened last week. He has a right to know, that's why I plan on telling him tonight when we get back from this engagement dinner. It is his kid regardless of our situation. I step into a pair of flats and grab my purse from the bed. I was just about to leave when I see Xavier standing at th