Burkhardt must've been reading my mind because he says, "listen, I never meant to start something between you two. I was only trying to help."
                          
I nod. "We have time. I can think of something else. I am not losing her or my baby." 
                          
He sighs. "We'll continue this later, yeah?" I nod and he walks away, joining my Sidra. 
                          
Burkhardt's brilliant idea is for Sidra to leave. She packs her things and leaves Rita's place forever. She's eighteen so technically there's nothing Rita can do. No one will ever find out about the baby or our relationship, and my name will stay clean. Sidra will stay at Burkhardt's loft that's just out of the city. He's not sure what will happen to us because we're Sidra's bodyguards, but he's willing to bet everything that we'll be part-time guards for Rita, meaning I can stay with Sidra most of the week. Honestly, it's a good plan with only a few issues we can work around, like Jackson and David, but I won't put the added stress on Sidra. As if leaving her mum wasn't enough to stress Sidra completely out, moving into Burkhardt's and turning her life upside down would do it for sure. And Sidra keeps forgetting about school. If we do go along with Burkhardt's plan, we'll have to wait for her to graduate because she is fucking graduating.
                          
Sidra and Burkhardt finish their little day then Sidra slips over to me. "I couldn't wait," she confesses. "Come on!" She grabs my arm and yanks me forward. Passing a table, I place my beer down, then, reaching the "dance floor," Sidra stops us and turns to face me again. 
                          
I glance at Rita. Relieved to see she has her back to us and talking to Reggie, I turn my attention on Sidra again. "We're good," I nod, pulling her closer, placing my hands on her hips. She blushes and slides her hands up my chest to grip my shoulders. We slowly begin to sway. The music is sort of upbeat but it doesn't matter to us. "I'm only trying to help," I say meaning every word. "Our time at Rita's place isn't done."
                          
She chuckles, the total opposite of what I expected. "I trust you and if you think staying at my mom's while we try to figure out another plan, then okay. I'm just terrified of not being able to protect both of you."
                          
"You just said you trust me."
                          
"Yet the fear still lingers. Just like I know it does with you for me."
                          
It does. Oh, fuck, it does. I protect her not just as her bodyguard but as her boyfriend too-I can add the father of her unborn child if I want-and it's still not enough. Not sure what to say that can put her fear at ease, I nod. I hate that I've brought it up and ruined the mood, so I step back, taking her hand from my shoulder, and hold it above her head. She spins around. Her smile returns, it's brighter now. I hold her closer, wrapping an arm around her waist, and keep her hand in mine. 
                          
"How bad do you want to kiss me right now?" She smirks. 
                          
I sigh. "Really bad. You know that." 
                          
Her eyes dart to our tangled hands and she frowns. "What the hell is that?" I follow her gaze and see my bandages are exposed. I've been doing a good job at hiding my hands, even when Sidra wasn't around, but I must've fucked up when I spun her around. My sleeve pulled up. "Sam?"
                          
"It's nothing." I tug my sleeve down. 
                          
"Both of them?!" She grasps at my sleeves and, well fucking enough, my bandaged hands are free. "Sam?"
                          
"It was right after you and Burkhardt left the guest house. I was pissed-on a whole new fucking level like never before and I snapped." Admittedly and pretty fucking shitty of me, I expect her to start yelling or give me the look of disappointment. But instead, she seems calm, scary calm. It's freaking me out a little. "Sidra?" I grab her by her shoulders and give her a little shake. She snaps out of whatever dazed state she was in and starts crying. "Baby, why are you crying?"