Monroe, Marla - The Edge of Night [The Protectors 3](Siren Publishing Classic) by Marla Monroe Page A

any kind of money to live on once the baby is born. Then who will take care of it while you’re at work? Will you be able to trust them not to let Guy get a hold of him?” he asked.
    This time, Amanda couldn’t stop the tears from falling. She wrapped her hands around her belly as if to protect her unborn child. She had to figure something out. Right then, though, there didn’t seem like much hope.
    “I don’t know what to do. Oh God, what am I going to do?” She rocked back and forth on the bed, crying.
    At some point, Morgan picked her up, settled her in his lap, and held her. She buried her face in the side of his neck and let the hot tears spill as she frantically tried to hold on to her sanity. She couldn’t lose her baby. It was a part of her now. She could take care of it. She knew she could. She just needed to figure out a way around Guy.
    “Shhh. Don’t cry, Amanda. We’ll figure this out.” He rocked her in his arms until she finally settled down.
    “What am I going to do? I can’t use the money I have saved. I don’t have anywhere to live, and I need a job, but I can’t use my name.”
    “One thing at a time. First, let’s get you somewhere you’ll be safe until the baby is born. Then we’ll decide what to do next. I don’t trust that this Guy will leave you alone as long as you and your baby are alive. You could crawl out of the woodwork at any time and demand a paternity test to prove he’s the father. That would ruin him, and he knows it. You’re both a liability to him.”
    Amanda began to shake all over.
    “Easy, Amanda. You’ve got to trust me. I’ll keep you and the baby safe. Do you trust me?” he asked.
    She swallowed and slowly nodded her head. What choice did she have? He was the only one around and seemed to know more about hiding than she did. That really should have bothered her, but it didn’t. She trusted him to keep her safe. And she did feel safe with him.
    “Good. Let’s make our plans one step at a time.” He turned her in his lap until she was straddling his lap with her legs.
    “First of all, you can’t go wandering off without me for any reason, understand?”
    She nodded.
    “Second, when I tell you to do something, don’t stop and ask questions. Just do it immediately. I’ll have my reasons. I won’t tell you to do anything that isn’t absolutely necessary. Okay?” he asked.
    “Okay.”
    “Thirdly, we need to ditch your phone. Is there someone you have been keeping in contact with that will worry about you if you don’t call in?” He watched her face closely.
    “No. I mostly used it for safety reasons.”
    “Good. We’re going to drive in the opposite direction we are going and turn it on and hide it somewhere, then head back the other way. That will throw them off for a little while and buy us some time.”
    Amanda found she was drifting now. So many things to remember, and still she didn’t see how she was going to get out of the mess she was in.
    “You with me, baby?” he asked.
    “Where are you planning to go?”
    “We’ll go see my friend in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and lay low there. No one will say a word about your being there if a stranger should ask. It will give us more time to make plans.”
    “Why?” she finally asked.
    “Why what?” he asked, a perplexed look on his face.
    “Why are you going to so much trouble to help me? You could just drop me off at the next truck stop, and I’ll be out of your hair.”
    “Is that what you want me to do?” He seemed to be holding his breath.
    “No,” she finally whispered.
    He breathed out and pulled her head toward his. They touched foreheads for a second. Then he kissed her forehead, followed by the tip of her nose.
    “I care about you. I don’t want anything to happen to you, and since I’m a perfectionist, that means I’m taking care of you until we get this situation under control. So, whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me.” He grinned at her
    It must have been