Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 984 : Should’ve gone back to bed

*Bianca*

So far in my pregnancy, sleeping has been as easy as putting a pillow under my head, even if it wasn’t a traditional pillow. Hell, I’d fallen asleep using couch cushions, Leo’s arm, even just a cozy sweater as a pillow, and there to dreamland I’d go.

I was thrilled about this, happy that I would get to sleep the entire pregnancy because surely pregnancy symptoms don’t suddenly change your sleeping habits halfway through, right?

Wrong. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

I glared up at the ceiling, feeling more resentful than I had my entire pregnancy. Morning sickness? Gross but I dealt with it just fine. Having to pee all the time? Not too big of a change. Mood swings? That was nothing since I had such a handsome fiance to get me whatever I wanted.

But this? Messing with my sleeping cycle?

Hell no.

By the time midnight rolled around on this hellish night, I was half considering just waking Leo up to spite him. He put this baby in me. It wasn’t fair that he got to sleep all peacefully, head on my chest, and curled around me so defensively.

Even if he was drooling on my boob a bit.

But he did have a rather bad day so I just sighed and left him to continue sleeping, all while cursing his seed that had taken up my womb rent-free.

It was hot, my skin feeling like a fire, especially with Leo curled up against me but moving him away from me made it feel too cold. My fingers felt like ice while my legs felt like they were itching with fire. The weight of the baby was pressing uncomfortably on my spleen or kidney, one of the two but anytime I rolled over, he started punching my ribs.

I swear ever since it turned into four months, he’d been destroying my body one kick at a time.

“You better be the fucking cutest thing in the world,” I murmured angrily as I stroked my belly gently, hoping to move him away from my kidney. But of course that only made it worse as he hit something even worse. “Fuck!”

I slipped out of Leo’s arms in a hurry, rushing straight to the bathroom before I peed my pants. Once I came back, Leo had taken over my spot, now cuddling with a pillow in place of me and I was too tired to fight it anymore.

I heaved a sigh, sneaking out and downstairs. It wouldn’t be my first-midnight trip for a snack or water and I doubt my last, especially if these sleepless nights were here to stay. It was quiet, eerie mostly as the motionless world of the sleeping hours felt like a vacant shopping mall.

I grabbed a glass from the kitchen cabinets, filling it with cold water. I’d just taken my first refreshing sip when I heard the sound of footsteps from upstairs.

I panicked momentarily, abandoning my glass of water as I hid behind the kitchen wall. My heart pounded in my chest as possibilities of a break-in or mass murderer filled my head though I knew rationally that wasn’t possible.

What I didn’t expect was Darion, dressed head to toe in black and carrying a filled backpack slipppng past me. He was holding his shoes in his hands, as he quietly snuck past me in the kitchen to get to the front door.

I watched with wide eyes as he turned the lock, quietly slipped out, and then shut it again like nothing had happened.

My first thought was that this was not the first time he’d done this.

My second thought was that this was the perfect chance to catch him in the act. To find some irrefutable proof that they couldn’t dismiss away. I could prove that Darion was up to no good.

I rushed upstairs, forgetting all about my water as I rushed to bed.

“Leo,” I hissed, knowing he’d be panicked if he found out where I went without him. “Leo!” My shaking did nothing to him as he just snored away. I pouted, knowing my chances to follow after Darion were slipping away, and flicked him on his stupid face.

“Huh?” He stirred for a moment but then immediately fell back into sleep as he murmured, “Go back to bed, baby.”

I rolled my eyes. Looks like this was a solo mission. It didn’t take long for me to grab my clothes and pull them on at break-neck speed as I raced downstairs. I got my phone keys and a jacket before I rushed out the side door.

Luckily, I saw Darion’s car still sitting out front, parking on the side of the road as I watched him jog back to the gate to shut them.

But not lock them.

Big mistake, I thought deviously as I got in my car and turned it on, my headlights pouring in as I followed after Darion. I didn’t even need to get out to open the gates as I had a fob on my car that did that to me. It even locked the gates after I was done.

The guards posted near the gates looked at me oddly as I drove out but didn’t say a word, simply letting it happen. It wouldn’t be the first time I took a little drive down for some kind of snack or craving.

As I drove, I pulled out my phone to call Taylor. Luckily, he answered after a few rings.

“Bianca? You do know it’s past midnight, right? What the hell are you doing-”

“Darion snuck out so I’m following him to get some proof that he’s doing some shady shit! I’m calling to let you know where I am in case Leo freaks out or something.” I announced, firmly, keeping my eye on the car in front of me.

“You’re doing what–”

“Yeah, I know, it’s a bad idea. I’m pregnant, I need to be careful. Well, I’m doing this so shut up and come help me or call Leo and try to get his ass out of bed,” I snapped, irritable from not having any sleep. “I know Darion hasn’t changed one bit and I’m going to prove it. Before he gets anyone else I care about hurt.”

“You’re gonna get yourself hurt, you dumb-”

I hung up before he could finish the word, right as Darion pulled into the sketchier part of town. An empty, run-down part of town that usually was a criminal haven. If I was feeling uncomfortable before, it tripled just driving around here.

I texted the nearest address to me to Taylor at every stop-light, making sure he knew where to go and where I was. But I wasn’t prepared at all for what Darion had led me to.

The blockades with half-crushed cars were the first sign, the second was the massive crowd and loud roar of engines as Darion’s car passed right through what looked like a checkpoint under a highway pass.

I gulped, hesitant about following at this point as I was pretty sure I knew what was going on but I didn’t want to admit defeat so easily. I had to get what I came here for.

I took a detour away from the checkpoint and parked my car away. The moment I stepped out, the scent of diesel and burnt rubber hit me like a freight train. Part of me wanted to just get back into the car and drive away, especially as I laid a hand over my slightly swollen belly.

But I bit my lip, my stubbornness rearing its head as I determinedly silenced my phone, locked my car, and charged straight towards the area. I made sure to act confident, keeping my head high like I belonged there but I couldn’t help but shrink back as I saw just how many nasty sneers and jeers were directed at me from less-than-savory characters.

Gang members from all over town, cigarette smoke looming in the air as I made my way through the crowds. I had a death grip on my phone in my pocket, and I ignored the stares as I pushed through to the area.

Turns out my first instinct was right.

I knew as soon as I saw the crudely made finish line and scantily clad women holding racing flags that this was an illegal racing tournament. But lucky for me, I spotted exactly who I was here for.

Darion stood next to his fancy car, the whole thing lit up with LEDs as he chatted with a big guy whose fist could probably go through the car itself. I pulled out my phone, trying to be discreet as I watched Darion hand over a wad of cash.

I heard the snap of the camera as I got the photo and immediately tried to push my phone back into my pocket as I backed away slowly. I got what I came for. Now to get the hell out of here.

But before I could pull my hand back out, a meaty hand grabbed onto my wrist with brutal force. A scream bubbled up in my throat but died as my arm was wrenched behind my back, my phone still clutched tightly in my hand.

A grisly man with a scar on his face glared down at me and my lips moved soundlessly in terror as he plucked my phone from my hand, immediately searching through it. I saw his scowl deepen as he saw the photo I took.

“You’re a fucking snitch,” He growled at me, looking at me like I was the scum of the earth.

“No. I-I’m not–” I tried to protest, trying to tug my wrist free but he was much stronger than I was. “I swear! I was just taking a picture of my friend–”

“There you are, Lindsay!” A cheerful familiar voice called out from behind me, interrupting the tense moment as an arm wrapped around my shoulder and Darion grinned at the guy holding onto me. “I thought you got lost for a moment.”

“Da–” I almost said his name in pure relief as the guy let go of me but Darion sent me a sharp look, his smile as casual as ever as he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“Be quiet or you’ll get both of us killed,” he hissed. I shut my mouth promptly, gazing up fearfully toward the gang member who was now flanked on either side by just as equally intimidating men.

“You know this bitch?” The gang member narrowed his eyes on me.

“She’s an old friend. Was interested in watching me race,” Darion shrugged as none of this bothered him. “I told her it was no place for my buddy’s wife, expecting or not but you know women. They don’t ever listen.”

I stiffened as he said that, horrified at the thought but contrary to my expectations, immediately the three gang members’ expressions slid into a slight panic as they backed away.

“Oh, uh, sorry if I frightened you,” The guy who grabbed me looked contrite as he stared at me like I might pop out a baby right here and now. “I didn’t know– you didn’t look–”

“Don’t worry about it, guys,” Darion laughed, easily brushing off their nervousness. “I’ll take her from here.”

“Yeah, you do that. A racing baby is the last thing we need,” One of the other men said with a frown.

“I don’t know. Baby named Racecar sounds pretty cool,” the third mentioned.

As they discussed what to name a baby born on an illegal racetrack, Darion just pulled me away, smiling like nothing was wrong as he took me back to where his car was racing.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing here?” He hissed from the corner of his mouth, still smiling and acting jovial. I opened my mouth to respond but nothing came out, I was still so utterly shaken from what just happened.

Darion sighed, stopping and planting both hands over my shoulders as he pulled me to the sidelines right out of the chalk lines. “Stay right here and don’t move. You won’t be able to leave until the match is over so as soon as it’s over, I’ll come get you and bring you home.”

“But–” I tried to protest but it was too late as Darion just ignored me as he took off towards his car as did the dozen other participating racers.

I swallowed uncomfortably, standing on the sidelines as the race was about to start and I realized now exactly what kind of mess I’d walked right into.

My phone started buzzing in my pocket but with so many stares still on me, I didn’t dare take it out and answer. I apologized quietly to Taylor for not listening to him and then to Leo for putting myself into this situation.

I should’ve gone back to bed.