“Dante, I have my first prenatal scan scheduled for Thursday morning,” I said quietly.

“At the clinic on Oak Street?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “It is a private facility, but I cannot miss it. I need to make sure the baby is healthy.”

“I will have my men sweep the clinic beforehand,” Dante said. “We cannot take any chances.”

“Do you think Marcus knows about the pregnancy?” I asked.

“If he does, he will try to use it,” Dante said. “A child gives him leverage. We must keep you hidden.”

I nodded, but a cold dread began to pool in my stomach.

The thought of Marcus finding out about the baby made my blood run cold.

The SUV slowed down, turning onto a gravel road lined with rusted shipping containers.

The docks were dark, lit only by a few flickering halogen lamps hanging from tall poles.

The rain poured down in sheets, blurring the outline of the massive cranes against the black sky.

Our driver turned off the headlights, letting the SUV roll to a stop in the shadow of a large warehouse.