Page 107 of Ruthless Commander

Anger flared, more panic than anything. “You’ll be seen by a damn doctor,” I growled, climbing out of the car before I leaned back in and slid my arms around her once more. “Don’t fight me on this.”

“Mateo…” she whispered, shaking her head.

Only I wasn’t listening. I was trapped in my head, reliving the moment her knees gave way and I watched my wife collapse to the ground. I carried her inside, sucking in the cold bitter tang, before I bellowed. “I need a damn doctor. My wife…my wife…”

Door opened before they wheeled a bed toward me.

I didn’t want to let her go, not with how she looked.

“Sir.” The nurse urged. “Let us take care of her.”

She shook her head, tears filling her eyes as I lay her down. But she looked away from me at the last second and that hurt more than any goddamn punch to the chest.

“Brother.” Edon urged behind me as they wheeled her away through the doors and disappeared. “Let her go…they’ll take care of her.”

The doors closed, and she was gone.

For some reason, that was too much to bear. “The fuck she is.” I surged forward, pushing through the doors as they wheeled her into a bay and yanked the curtains around the bed.

“Pregnant.” I heard her say it, and it stopped me cold.

“Please.” She murmured. “My husband…he doesn’t want—”

The…FUCK?

My body wasn’t my own as I stepped forward and shoved the curtain aside. Xael snapped her gaze toward me, her eyes filled with tears.

“Mateo.” She whispered, shaking her head.

“Is that what you think?” I asked as the doctor and nurses swarmed around me.

“Name, date of birth, and any known allergies.” They asked as they hooked her up to monitors.

She shook her head, but her gaze stayed riveted to me as she gave them what they needed.

“You’re pregnant, is that correct?” The steely-eyed doctor asked.

At first, she didn’t answer, just nodded carefully, leaving the doctor to lift his head from writing on the tablet in his hand. He followed her gaze, narrowing on me. “And you are?”

“I’m starting to wonder about that myself,” I answered. “I thought, doctor, I was her damn husband.”

She swallowed hard and looked away.

“One who loves his wife more than anything,” I continued, drawing her gaze once more. There was fear in her eyes as the doctor moved closer and listened to her heart.

“Any bleeding?”

She shook her head.

“And you’re how far along now?”

She licked her lips. “Eight weeks, I think. I missed my period. It’s never been regular, so I didn’t really think…and then last night I…I took a test.”

Last night?

Then it hit me. That’s why she was upset. That’s why she was angry when I wanted to come here myself. “You thought I didn’t want you…” I lowered my gaze to her jeans as the nurse reached over and unbuttoned the clasp. “Cold gel now, honey, let’s take a look, shall we?”

She was scared, so fucking scared.