Page 98 of The First Cut

“Good, because Nevaeh will be right beside me. We’ll be up at the end of next week.” He hangs up, leaving me cursing.

When the phone rings again, I answer it with a snarl. “What?”

“Eh, Prez, we might have an issue,” Byte starts, sounding panicky.

Knowing I left him with Lola, I head straight for the door; “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Lola. I think she’s in labor.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Lola

Isqueeze Gunther’s hand as he complains, “You’re going to break my fingers.”

“If you don’t call an ambulance or get me to the hospital, I’ll break your fucking dick.”

I ignore the laughing, focusing on my breathing as another band of pain tightens around my stomach. How the hell did annoying backache turn into this?

“Hannibal's on his way,” Byte calls out.

“Jesus, they’re only two minutes apart,” Jolene, one of the old ladies, says as she walks over to me. She bends down so we’re at eye level. Jolene has twenty years or so on me, but she has that timeless beauty that reminds me of old Hollywood. I’d give my left boob to have her poise and grace.

“First babies usually take their time, but your boy seems eager to meet you. Let’s go get you freshened up and ready for the hospital.”

“Finally, someone who knows what they’re talking about,” I huff, making her laugh. I let go of Gunther’s hand and grab aholdof Jolene’s when she offers it to me. “I thought the old ladies hated me,” I whisper.

“We were told you hated us. We were idiots. Ironic, really, that it took a couple of club girls to point that out.”

“May and Tracey.” I sigh as she helps me to my feet.

“They’ve become your biggest supporters, behind Hannibal and his daughter, of course.”

The sound of splashing has me looking down with a frown.

“Ah, shit. Alright, let’s get you a change of those wet clothes, sweetheart. Germ,” she calls over her shoulder at her old man. “Get Redox or another prospect to clean this up. Byte, tell Hannibal to hurry the hell up,” she orders, taking control from the shell-shocked men. Her take-zero-fucks attitude calms something inside me.

I’ve barely taken a few steps when pain ripples across my body again. “Ahhh.” I scrunch my eyes shut and try to breathe through the pain, but Jesus Christ, I think this baby is trying to rip me in two.

The backdoor slams open, distracting me from the pain, and there he is. As soon as I see him, I burst into tears. He’s on me in seconds, wrapping his arms around me as the pain intensifies.

“Is it supposed to be this bad?” I hear someone ask, but his reply gets lost in the chaos.

“Contractions are right on top of each other, Hannibal, and her water just broke,” Jolene tells him as he scoops me up and hurries us down the hall to the bedrooms.

“Jolene, come with me. Byte, call a fucking ambulance,” he yells out as he kicks open the door to one of the spare rooms and carries me inside, laying me down on the bed.

“I’m gonna check you over, doll, then get you cleaned up. Okay?”

“Just hurry,” I beg, feeling a burning sensation between my legs.

He reaches under my dress and slips my wet panties off before opening my legs and positioning himself between them. His eyes widen comically before he turns to Jolene.

“I can see his head. Get me some towels, some scissors, and one of those clips we use for the chips,” he orders her.

She leaves without hesitation as I look at him, fear flooding my veins.

“We’re not gonna make it to the hospital, doll. Our boy’s ready now.”