Page 89

“Damn,” Lena mutters under her breath, rolling her eyes. “Might as well deliver this baby in the parking lot.”
I blink at her in surprise. Twice now, Lena has let her sass slip—something I rarely see. But the fierce determination on her face makes me feel…protected, somehow.
Lars maneuvers the wheelchair to a quieter corner of the waiting room, near a woman sprawled across three chairs. She’s middle-aged, with silver-streaked braids, a black leather jacket embroidered with pink flowers, and heavy combat boots propped up on the seat across from her. She looks up with a start as Lars approaches, his large frame casting a shadow over her.
“Lars,” I say in a warning tone, sensing his irritation, but he silences me with a hard look that tells me to stay quiet. He leans down and taps her shoulder.
“We need the seats,” he says, his voice gruff.
She blinks at him, momentarily startled, before breaking into a grin. “Sure thing, handsome.”
If I weren’t in so much pain, I’d giggle. I’ve never seen someone flirt with Lars like this.
Her eyes soften when she notices me, her gaze dropping to my stomach. “In labor, huh?”
“I think so,” I say, gritting my teeth as another wave of pain surges through me. She gives me a sympathetic smile.
“Delivered three of my own,” she says with a wink. “It gets easier each time, I promise.”
Lars clears his throat, sending her a look that makes it clear the conversation is over. I think about telling him to lighten up, but at this moment, I just don’t have the energy. He’s still on high alert from the Parker fiasco, and any new person—especially one like her—is just another potential disappointment in his eyes.
I let my head fall back against the seat, feeling Lena’s hand steady on my shoulder as she watches Christian, who’s just come back around the corner, talking low on his phone. Her eyes narrow, picking up on something I hadn’t noticed.
“Did Hunter call back?” she asks.
“No,” Christian says a little too quickly, his gaze avoiding hers. “That was work.”
My stomach twists, and not just from the pain. I glance at him, my instincts flaring. Is he lying?
“Then where is he?” I demand, my voice tight. “Do you all know something I don’t? Why isn’t he here yet?” I look from Christian to Lena, then to Lars, who remains silent, his eyes like steel.
“Give me my phone, Lars,” I snap, holding out my hand. Lars hesitates but finally hands it over, his face a mask of conflicted loyalty.
Just as I’m about to unlock it, the nurse approaches us again, a spark of relief in her eyes. “I found a bed. Did you manage to reach your doctor?”
“No, I’m doing it right now,” I say, fumbling to dial with trembling hands.
“I’ll call for you,” Lena says, reaching for the phone with a steadying hand.
For the first time all night, I feel a flicker of relief, but it’s fleeting. Because as soon as I’m rolled into the examination room, I feel a wetness grow slowly between my legs.
I’m officially petrified.
Chapter 29
Calling In A Favor
HUNTER
“This is unexpected,” Psycho greets me, his voice carrying the slightest edge of amusement as I step into the dimly lit house. The air inside is thick with the scent of tobacco, sweat, and something metallic that lingers just beneath the surface—blood, perhaps, though I don’t care to confirm.
The headquarters of Blood Nation in East Los Angeles is unassuming from the outside, but inside, it hums with quiet menace. A low murmur of voices filters through the walls, punctuated by laughter and the occasional sharp bark of command. It’s the kind of place where secrets live and die in the same breath, where loyalty is earned with blood, and betrayal is met with it.
“I’m calling in a favor,” I reply, my voice steady as I meet Psycho’s sharp, dark eyes. He’s aptly nicknamed—there’s something unhinged in the way he tilts his head, like he’s already imagining how he’d take me apart if given the chance.
“El Jefe wasn’t expecting you, Middleton.”
“I realize that. Nevertheless, I need to speak to him.”