Page 129 of Desperate Games

To will these babies to wait.

But stress is a cruel mistress, and my body isn’t listening to reason.

Not without him.

I won’t do this without him.

The contraction subsides just enough for me to catch my breath—and then I hear it.

The slam of the door. The sound of heavy footsteps.

“Andy? What’s happening? ANDY!”

His voice. My world.

And suddenly, he’s here. Bursting through the door like a force of nature, green eyes blazing, still in tactical gear, sweat and danger clinging to him like a second skin.

“Remy,” I whimper, lifting my arms for his embrace.

I sag against him the second his arms scoop me up, my stubborn resolve crumbling under the weight of relief.

“Remy,” I whisper.

“Honey, why didn’t you call me? Why didn’t you go to the hospital?”

His voice cracks with fury and fear, but his lips are already on my temple, my hair, my cheek.

“Not without you,” I murmur, clinging to his vest.

His jaw works, throat bobbing. Then he nods, like he understands completely.

Like there’s never been another option.

He kisses me again, fierce and tender, before picking me up in his capable arms and striding towards the door with me secure against his body.

The world outside is a blur of headlights and shadows. An SUV waits at the curb, engine rumbling. Dad’s there, stone-faced, his bulk taking up half the backseat.

A couple of Remy’s guys hover nearby, tense, armed, ready for anything.

“Mom’s inside,” I croak, fighting another wave of pain. “Help her.”

Dad hesitates for a fraction of a second—I see the torn look in his eyes, like leaving me for even that long is killing him.

But then he moves out of the way carefully and nods to Remy and me.

“Take care of her,” he says, and my husband nods.

“Always,” Remy promises, voice rough.

The SUV door slams open. Sammy climbs into the driver’s seat, jaw clenched.

He spares one look back at me, wild and protective.

“You prick,” he growls at Remy. “I should kick your ass for doing this to my sister.”

“Shut up, Sammy, and drive!” I shout through my teeth as another contraction tears through me.

Junior laughs, and maybe Connor does too.