Page 94 of Sinful Hearts

“Goddammit,” Emilio screams, clenching his fist, as if stopping himself from driving it through the wall.

“We have to go to the hospital,” the woman says. “We have no choice.”

Emilio scrubs a hand over his face, staring at me in a pain I’ve never seen from him. “Can you deliver a baby?”

I slowly shake my head. “I think we need to get her to a hospital.”

“It’ll be okay,” the woman tries to assure Emilio, but from the fear on her face, even I don’t believe her.

I’m missingsomethinghere.

We help the woman into the car. I climb in beside her in the back seat, holding her hand and telling her everything will be okay, while Emilio speeds toward the hospital.

When we arrive, I assist her inside while Emilio parks the car.

“She’s pregnant and bleeding,” I tell the woman at the front desk.

She immediately leads us to an exam room. “The nurse will be right with you.”

As I help the woman onto the bed, she studies me curiously.

“You’re his wife,” she says, so certain of herself.

I nod. “I am. Who are you?”

We both look up when the door opens, and Emilio enters.

He’ll have no choice but to answer my questions now.

31

The moment Emilioshuts the door, the woman cries out and bends forward, a contraction hitting.

My guess is that the baby is coming soon.

Glancing at the bed, I take her in.

Something about her looks so familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it.

Her dyed red hair is piled back in a messy bun.

She grabs her purse, squeezing her face in pain as she rifles through it. “I need to get a hold of Andre.”

“Liliya.” Emilio’s gaze cuts to me. “You can go to the waiting room.”

I stubbornly stay in my chair.

It’s childish and rude. I wouldn’t want a random woman in my labor room.

A gentle knock on the door interrupts us.

“Hi there,” a nurse softly greets, entering the exam room.

Emilio moves toward my chair, callously staring down at me as the nurse talks to Mystery Pregnant Woman.

He keeps his tone low, so only I can hear, “Waiting room.Now.”

Not wanting to create a scene, I stand and quietly slip past the nurse on my way out. A few other people are in the waiting room, and the kid behind me watchesPeppa Pigat full volume.