Danica's excitement washed the backache she felt when Loney arrived. Herty had spent a lot of time with her till the latter had gone to sleep in Danica's room. Loney knew how to soothe her backache and swollen legs. Most times soaking her legs in warm water, he will kneel and kiss her bump, resting his head and listening to his child's heartbeat. The baby nonetheless was sure to send some kicks, showing him that he was faring well. "How are you today?" He said gently to her while hugging her from the back. Danica had dished out his food on a plate which he took from her to the dining table after giving her a passionate kiss. "I'm happy that you are here," Danica confessed as she followed him to the dining room. Loney sat on the chair and beckoned her to sit on his lap while he ate. In her state, he has kicked against her waiting for him to eat together and for the sake of her unborn child, she obliged. Her right hand snaked behind his back while he ate. Loney loved the feel of her ar
"WHAT? We are coming over." He turned to Loney and said, "We have to go. Danica was kidnapped at the mall." Loney saw red. He didn't wait for Paul to complete his sentence when he raced for his car with the latter chasing after him. His head banged with instant headache, his body went numb. He sat in the car before beginning to process the information. He never expected this and the burden hit so hard he didn't know how to make a comeback. Paul couldn't explain to his sisters but they were used to it. Paul was never available and whenever he was, he always left in a haste. "Loney, let me drive," Paul offered. He feared from how Loney was driving that they might die before they reached their destination. Loney was jumping traffic lights and using unauthorized routes at top speed. Paul had no idea where he was headed. "Call Gideon!" Loney shrieked. His eyes desperately searched the road, his jaw clenched. His hands trembled slightly on the steering wheel yet his grip was robust. Paul
Danica sat on the floor of the van, her hand hugging her bump, her heart in her throat with the sequel of events. What was supposed to be an amazing day because she decided to buy some extra stuff for the unborn child, has turned into a nightmare. She was just checking out some stuff when a man walked to her. She felt uncomfortable with his presence and just before she opened her mouth to tell him to give her space, he pressed a revolver to her bump. Fear gripped her like venom. She obeyed the man's command to walk him without creating suspicion. Luckily for her, Gideon had been watching her through the glass door from outside because he wanted to give them space. To her horror, a bullet penetrated his chest before he could stop the man but that didn't stop him from also sending out some bullets that injured two of Jerome's men, if not kill them before the police arrived. From where she sat, she couldn't see outside. Were these people after Loney? Was that the reason why he told her
"Please call Loney. He said he would be with me. He promised," Danica said amidst her painful contractions. Dr Jeff nodded, instantly putting a call through to Loney. "Danica is in the hospital," he said as soon as the line connected. Loney pressed the brake instantly and the tyres screeched on the smooth asphalt. He was depressed and agitated when he lost connection with Danica. Probably, her phone must have gone off without her knowledge. Therefore, he had planned on finding Ray and forcing him to call his men to bring Danica to him or verify their location. He should be excited right? But it felt strange. How did Danica get to the hospital? What if it was Daniella pretending? He couldn't keep his mind from thinking in that direction. However, his suspicions were buried when Dr Jeff continued. "She said you promised that you would be with her." A smile thinned Loney's lips just as a tear fell from his eyes. He knew it was Danica sending him the message. This was the promise he made
The nurse was scared. His behaviour could worsen the patient's condition and the nurse feared being at the receiving end of his anger therefore, she veered to Dr Jeff's office. He would know what to do. He couldn't protect her. He couldn't protect her. He failed. How would she perceive him when she woke up? Regret and confusion washed him as he continued to sob. Paul was trying to understand everything but nothing seemed to make sense to him. Whichever way, he tried to console Loney. "She will be fine. You just have to be there for her." "She will hate me," Loney's tone was bitter. Her sister kidnapped her because of-" "Loney, your surrogate has been inquiring of you. What are you doing here?" Dr Jeff's voice broke through Loney's last words. The nurse had come to inform him that Loney was going nuts because of the accident patient in the emergency ward, which got him startled. He wondered what the patient did to get him so hysterical. Nonetheless, Dr Jeff's words began to sink in
"Take a deep breath and push Danica," Dr Jeff encouraged. Danica gripped Loney's arm tightly, she thought it might rip off. She huddled a long breath and gave a strong push. This was her eighth push so far and she was exhausted. "Just two more, Danica. Two strong pushes. I can see your baby's head already," Dr Jeff continued to encourage her. "I'm tired," she yelped. Loney kissed her sweaty forehead, caressing her bump. He hovered around her, trying to find any way to help. He wished he could help. He desperately did. "Please, do it for me. For our child. I wish I could take the pain from you," Loney pleaded with her. He hated seeing her in pain. It ached him so much that Danica rejected Dr Jeff's suggestion. Danica gripped Loney tightly, another strong push. Then, she took deep breaths. She felt her walls overstretch, she thought it was going to rip apart. The pain was excruciating, she was breathing through her mouth. She was about to push again when Dr Jeff spoke. "Wait! We have
"But, I can't..." Loney's expression darkened. His hopes were crushed. His heart pumped with the speed of an aeroplane. She didn't want him? "You - can't - marry - me?" He let out word by word, his heart shredding. According to the contract, this was where it ended. He had nothing to hold her to. She agreed to be his woman but she didn't want to be his wife. "No, don't overthink this. I mean, I can't let the world know that I'm yours." She wanted him but she feared that whoever ordered her abduction might want to hurt her child. So, she wanted him without the knowledge of the world. It was simple but complex. "Make me understand, Danica" Loney didn't want to hope but he wanted to introduce her to the world as his. He wanted to let go of everything for her. "I want our marriage to be kept secret," she uttered in plain words but Loney was incensed. Could her meeting her Pastor be the reason for taking this decision? "Because you are a Christian and you don't want to be associated w
A smirk appeared in the corner of Loney's lips. Jones was smart. He was always a step ahead. "I will let her off on one condition." Jones was ready to exchange his life for Daniella's therefore, he said, "I will do anything." "20 years of your life for hers." Loney was deadpanned but Jones's mind was a mist. "I don't understand." Loney stared him in the eyes. "You will work for me for twenty years from now. You are still entitled to all benefits but you don't get to leave or resign till after the 20 years terms." If the mist cleared from Jones's mind, then Loney wanted a longer service from him but what Loney didn't know was, Jones wanted it too. Loney's company was the best. The wages were top of the rank aside from fringe benefits and all. "I will sign a bond to it." Loney's lips thinned. a smile stretching it. He knew the capabilities of his managers and Jones was one of the most outstanding. With people like that, he loved to keep them for a long term and since he has promise