I looked up at him, unable to mask the pain in my eyes. “I don’t feel well, Derrick. Could you stay with me tonight?” I asked softly, holding onto the faint hope that he might choose me for once, that he might still care.
He gave me a strained smile, barely meeting my gaze. “I can’t, my love. This project is crucial,” he said, glancing away. “I’ll ask my mother to come over and keep you company.”
As he gathered his things, I whispered, “Drive safe.” He nodded, barely acknowledging me, and left without looking back.
The second the front door clicked shut, I grabbed my jacket, covered my belly as best as I could, then slipped out of the house to hail a cab.
“Follow that car,” I instructed the driver as I climbed in. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t ask questions, steering us quietly behind Derrick’s car. My hands tightened into fists as I watched Derrick’s car navigate through the streets, finally reaching the border of the Crimsoneye pack’s territory.