“Cut the shit. Whatever you did tonight could cost her the twins. Nothing you say will convince any of us your intentions are pure,” Elias glares at me in disgust. “What the hell were you thinking? We distinctly told you at her doctor’s appointment if you all fucked this up, we would never let you close enough to hurt her again.”
I don’t have time for this shit. I need to get to her.
“Emma was just checked into Labor and Delivery,” August states. I almost forgot I have the earpiece in.
“Keep me posted. I have the three musketeers in my way at the moment,” I inform whoever else is on our line. Curling my lip in frustration, I stare down the wall blocking my path. The idea of pulling out my throwing knives and making them bleed is very tempting, but I know that won’t endear Emma to me. “Look, you can hold each other’s balls for all I care-just do it out of my way. This is your final warning,” I spit.
Fernando stalks closer from the right as Reign and Elias come from the left, leaving me enough room to dart between them. Wasting no time, I run past the three of them to meet up with the guys.
ROWAN
Samantha rushes down the hallway, and I stick my foot out, tripping her, secretly hoping she breaks her nose or her lips deflate on impact.
“What the fuck, Rowaniel,” she shrieks as she rolls to sit on her ass. Her shrill voice almost bursts my eardrums.
She tries to get up, but I put my foot on her forehead, pushing her back down. “Did you enjoy your little power trip while it lasted? You thirsty bitch,” I seethe. “Did you and your brother feel justified in your quest for power?” I press the heel of my onyx Crockett and Jones Highbury dress shoes down so hard that I know it’s cutting into the flesh of her forehead and will also leave a beautiful bruise.
“Let me go,” she screeches her demand.
I tilt my head so she can see the five-alarm blaze in my mahogany eyes. “Did you let us go?” She closes her eyes, attempting to turn her face, only for her to hiss in pain. Smirking, I watch as scarlet droplets roll down her face. “That’s what I thought.”
“You better take advantage of your momentary freedom because once we reactivate the chip, I’m raining hell on your world, starting with that cheap whore you all can’t seem to give up,” she yells.
Narrowing my gaze, I retort, “I guess you really are as dumb as you look.” Then I lift my heel off her, replacing it with my hand around her throat and squeezing. “You’ve been out-maneuvered. You showed your hand too early. Don’t you know the house always wins,” I snap as I hoist her by her throat off the ground.
“What is the meaning of this? Let that poor girl go,” a woman with blonde hair orders, and I throw my head back and laugh at the looks of disgust she and her brunette friend exchange. “How dare you treat your fianc?e this way.”
Samantha whimpers, playing the victim, and I roll my eyes- victim, my ass. She’s as much of a damsel in distress as I am kind. They can believe her bullshit all they want. It won’t stop the death awaiting her. “Mind your fucking business unless you want the weight of the Fraternitas on both your poorly dyed heads,” I command.
They gasp in shock, ready to leave, when a familiar voice booms, “Now, is that any way to treat a woman?” Senator Matthew Baker coos. “I would’ve thought my brother taught you better than that.”
This asshole still believes he’s related to me. I open my mouth to rebuff him when Sebastian’s curt tone fills my ear. “Don’t tell him shit. We need him to find out at the right time.”
My lip curls in annoyance. “Why?”
“Liam believes we can work it in our favor. He needs to see it at the end of the engagement party. Let Samantha go and meet us outside. We need to get to the hospital. Emma’s more important.”
Huffing, I release my hold, and she crashes to the ground. Then I step over Samantha and past Senator Baker, sneering down at him before I run to meet the guys.
SEBASTIAN
“What the fuck?” I snarl, running my hands through my hair. The once perfectly styled look is in tatters, but none of that matters. I look at the row of our cars. Each one has its tires slashed, and various expletives are keyed all over them. And by the fumes attacking my nose, I’m confident each car is sitting on empty.
“Shit. This isn’t good,” Karl groans. “We don’t have time for this.”
The sound of more dress shoes running across the pavement indicates the rest of the guys are here.
“Tell me we have a spare car around here,” August sighs, and I don’t have to look at him or anyone else to know their brows furrow in worry.
Rowan pulls a set of keys from his pocket, then starts his father’s midnight black Maybach SUV. “Won’t he be pissed you took this?” I ask.
“Not under these circumstances. One of us should text the Council we’re leaving and that O is now free-shit, we all are,” Rowan suggests as we pile into the car.
I nervously chew at my lip. It’s not a habit I’ve shown since I was young. It’s a clear indicator of my worry. Emma can’t lose the babies, and we can’t lose her. I’ll fight fate itself if it tries me. We’ve been through enough.
Fuck! She’s endured more than any one person should ever have to. Especially while pregnant.
“What if she loses the babies,” August chokes out.
“That’s not an option on the table,” Karl snaps. “She and our babies will be fine. You’ll all see. They’ll be more than fine even.” It sounds like he’s trying to reassure himself as he tries to convince us, but I’m with him.
Liam’s fingers are flying over the keys on his laptop. “She’s been given a room, and her vitals are high, but she’s outside the danger zone.”
“Did you hack the hospital computer?” Rowan chimes from the front.
“He absolutely has,” Karl grins. “I’d kiss you if I knew you wouldn’t punch me for touching you.”
August snorts as his shoulders relax slightly. “I second the kiss. I might even throw in a handy,” he jokes, and we all burst into laughter.
Minutes later, we’re pulling into the hospital, leaving the keys with the valet. “Scratch this car, and I’ll eat your firstborn,” Rowan threatens, and the poor guy looks like he just about shit himself before scurrying away.
No one speaks the entire elevator ride to the fourth floor. Once the doors open, I crack my neck. It’s time to get our girl.
AUGUST
We walk down the hall like five of the seven deadly sins. My usual unsettlingly calm heart beats triple its normal speed. I can feel her pumping through my veins, renewing my will to live.
My cool confidence isn’t manufactured-ninety-nine percent of the time, every fiber of my being oozes surety. Tonight. . . tonight’s events rocked me to my core. Hearing Karl’s fear over the comms froze me still. Carrying the weight of everyone’s doubts so we don’t lose hope drains me, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
When the Fraternitas issued their order, I followed the girl with the autumn hair. By the time Emma arrived in Calloway, my only goal was to make sure the guys fell. She’s it for us. Emma is our missing puzzle piece-the five-sided oddly shaped one at the center.
I’m so deep in thought that I don’t realize we’re standing outside the Labor and Delivery door. Inhaling, I watch Karl pick up the phone and wait to connect with someone from the nurses’ station. “We’re here to see Emma Bradford,” he says into the receiver. There’s no speakerphone, so only Karl can hear what’s said.
“What do you think the hold-up is?” Rowan grumbles when we aren’t given immediate entry.
“We’re her fianc?s, and she’s carrying our babies,” Karl explains, trying to remain calm, but with each clench of his jaw, I know his fuse is close to going off. “No! That’s not acceptable.” He pauses. “What the fuck do you mean we’re not allowed in?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.