Abrupt Changes: A Second Chance Romance (O-Town Book 3) by Karen Renee (comprehension books .TXT) 📕

three. Wynnie’s death has forced you into the role of your mother’s caretaker on some level. Four. Now that I’m back in the mix, you’re gonna be moving. Five. But seriously, the only life changes you don’t have are marriage and pregnancy.”

When he put it like that, I didn’t feel so bad. Then I stupidly blurted, “Though, just last night you were trying to get me pregnant, so...maybe all but one big life change.”

He hung his head for a beat.  “Right. Given all this shit, I’ll hold off on that—”

“Don’t you dare,” Mom cut in.

I whipped my gaze to hers. “Are you nuts?”

She beamed. “Not even a little bit. Hell, I got what I hoped for with you two. Now I have a whole new hope.”

I opened my mouth to discourage her, but Clint made a noise. When I looked at him, he gave a barely-there shake of his head. And I felt a new wave of tears because the tenderness he showed Mom made me love him even more.

Clint

I KNEW PENNY WOULD be tickled pink at me knocking Raegan up, but I didn’t expect her to be that excited about it. So, if having something to hope for made her boat float, then so be it.

When Rae and I lived together, she had been extremely hard on herself with her studies. Seemed she still held herself to high standards, but that had to change. She couldn’t beat herself up over Angela and Garrity’s actions. That woman having a relationship with Garrity made her the bad person in this situation, not Raegan. No woman would expect that of her girlfriend.

While I had spoken to Paul, he mentioned using his connections to get access to Garrity’s cell phone records, and Angela’s, too. It was a long shot and might take some time, but my gut told me we were finally on the right path. Plus, I had to get Angela’s full name from Raegan. Paul suggested hitting up Debenedetti for more information regarding the hit, and whether the request came from a woman.

It would not surprise me for Garrity to put distance between himself and the hit being ordered so that if it was found out he could blame it all on Angela and absolve himself from it. Thinking about that, I realized that if possible, we should try to pit Angela against Garrity.

Hearing Rae say she would be in New York on Thursday, I nearly lost my temper in the loudest way possible, but Raegan knew what she was doing putting Angela on speaker. With a specific day she intended to be somewhere, it put pressure on the people who wanted to take her out. If we were lucky, they would make another move either tonight or sometime tomorrow.

It pained me to do it, but I stepped onto the back patio to call Debenedetti.

“Clint. Are you calling because you won’t be—”

“I’m calling because I need to keep Rae away from her mother tonight. She found something out today, and she relayed some information that should force the hand of whoever took the contract.”

“Why do you say ‘should?’”

I ignored his question. “Since you know there’s a contract out for Rae’s death and that it came from out of town, do you know if the request came from a woman?”

He was silent for a beat. “I don’t. Give me an hour, I’ll get back to you. Though, I’m not sure if my source will be as forthcoming since I’ve laid down my protection for Raegan. If not, I’ll have to—”

I realized there was no way his source would tell him shit. “I don’t care what you have to do. Whatever it takes to find out, do it. Better yet, get one of your guys to do it. Raegan called her closest friend in New York City today and overheard her with Rae’s ex-husband. The friend sounded flustered the entire conversation, until Rae mentioned being back in New York on Thursday. That’s why things should ramp up with the hit. Whoever took the contract wants the cash, and if Rae’s back up north, taking her out becomes impossible.”

“She’s as smart as Penelope,” he muttered.

I fought off the unpleasant visual of him with Penny. “Probably so, Debenedetti. Let me know who requested the hit, and if you can cover Penny’s house, because Raegan will be at my place tonight.”

“Got it,” he said, and hung up.

I raked a hand through my hair. At the rate things were going, I would owe Brock a crap-load of favors when this was over. I sent him a quick text message to let me know if he was free tonight.

My phone chimed immediately with his response.

Penny’s just dying to hear my Navy stories, isn’t she?

I called him, now that I knew he had his phone in hand.

“Why do you call me right after you text?” he asked.

“Listen, this is more than just spending the night for Penny’s sake.”

“Got that when Gabe had to sleep with a gun next to him, man.”

I blew out a sigh. “Well, I anticipate things amping up tonight, or tomorrow at the very latest.”

“Why?”

I ran it down for him, and he said, “Makes sense.”

“Yeah, so if you’re not cool with possible gunfire—”

“Ramsey, I was gonna go through the academy, but you hooked me up with this gig. I’m cool with whatever comes my way, man.”

I wanted to say it was easy for him to say that, but then I remembered he served in the Navy.

“All right man, if your woman doesn’t mind...”

Brock chuckled. “If it weren’t for the imminent threat, I’d bring her with me. Penny reminds me of Cecilia’s MeMaw, so I know they would get along like two peas in a pod.”

For a moment the thought of Penny staying at Brock’s place hit me, but then I remembered his was a third-floor walk-up. She might have been comfortable with Gabe and Cassie, but Cassie’s place was a third-floor unit, too.

“Text me when you can get here.”

“You got it, man. Later.”

As I