Page 31 of Wildcat

Before any of them can move, I’m running back to the meditation room to find Taz on the floor curled up on herself. Oh, fucking shit.

“Taz, hey, I’m here. Taz, look at me. RAQUEL, look at me, please.”

“As usual, you can never handle a delicate situation. Rebel, my water broke, and my contractions are like three to four minutes apart. I think the baby is coming now.”

Hearing noise behind me, I see first the three kids: one older and two younger, all boys. Then Mr. Macho gently moves them to the side and walks in, kneeling next to Taz.

“Oh no, get the hell outta of here, mister. We don’t need you here. You want to be useful call nine-one-one for an ambulance. Otherwise, get gone now.”

His head lifts and, believe it or not, he winks at me. Then I hear the older boy start talking as he moves closer to us after he motions for the little ones to stay by the door.

“Lady, you should be glad my dad’s here. He’s a doctor, no, he’s an obstetrician, which is a doctor for women and babies. Let him help your friend, he knows what he’s doing. Dad, I’ll take these two out front, maybe go to the kid’s room and let them play. I’ll call nine-one-one too.”

Just as he walks out, Taz lets out a wail like nothing I’ve ever heard before. I look down to see she’s biting her lip, which is starting to bleed pretty bad. Fuck. Then Mr. Macho stands then leans down and picks—yeah, picks—Taz up, and is getting ready to place her on the massage table as we both hear a herd of cattle running down the hall. First in is Enforcer, and when he sees his wife not only in pain but also in the arms of a stranger, his face instantly goes blank, which is not a good thing. I’m sure he’s thinking about when Raven had her shit that started in my gym.

“Hey, brother, he’s a doctor or something. She’s close, Enforcer, so please don’t upset her. Go to her.”

I watch as the dude gently lays Taz down and Enforcer goes to the other side, grabbing her hand and using his other hand to push her sweaty hair back. Half my club sisters are trying to squeeze into this average-size room, so I start shouting orders.

“Need someone to get some water. Another, some sheets and towels from the storage room. Shadow, you can stand the sight of blood, go help him. I doubt Enforcer is going to be any help. Peanut and Kitty, go check on this man’s kids, think they’re in the front room. Give them some juice boxes and snacks.”

At that the doctor guy turns around to look at us.

“No juice for the older boy. He’s diabetic, Type 1, so maybe water or even a sports water. I’d appreciate it.”

The smile that appears on his face has every one of my sisters, and if I admit it, even me, taking a breath then letting out a sigh. His eyes twinkle like he knows the effect he has on women, but those eyes are locked on me.

Again, Taz begins wailing and shit, I don’t know his name, so I ask.

“Hey, Doc, what’s your name?”

Turning, he looks at me and grins.

“If you promise not to laugh, badass, I’ll tell you.”

As I nod, he’s checking Taz’s pulse and asking Enforcer some questions quietly.

“My name is Atlas Gianopoulos. And you are?”

“Motherfucker, we ain’t on some goddamn dating game show. Take care of my wife if you want to continue breathing. Rebel, where the hell is that ambulance?”

Taz reaches up and caresses Enforcer’s face.

“Travis, honey, it’ll be good. Can you grab my bag and place my crystals around the room? Give my sage to one of the sisters so she can smudge this room. Hurry, this little one is going to make their appearance soon.”

“I’m not leaving your side, Que. Tink, Glory, you heard her, grab that bag and place her rocks around the room. Heartbreaker, can you get the dried weeds and blow smoke around the room, please?”

Taz giggles at his attempt to do what she wants. I hear Atlas tell Enforcer they need to get her undressed and Enforcer loses his mind. The doc never flinches, just calmly explains that for him to help deliver the baby she can’t be wearing yoga pants and drawers. Taz is giggling so hard she passes wind. The room empties pretty quickly, except for Doc Atlas, Enforcer, Shadow, Tink, Glory, and me. Taz’s face is as red as an apple, but Atlas just keeps explaining the ABCs of labor and delivery to Enforcer. Finally, he agrees and very carefully the two men slowly remove Taz’s clothes. I just saw her the other day when I helped her take a shower but, man, her belly seems even bigger than that day, though now it’s really dropped down. It is huge when they get her to move to remove her yoga pants, undies, and socks. Once she’s naked from the waist down, Atlas puts her feet flat on the table and he flips the privacy blanket on top of her tummy so he can see underneath to examine her.

“Well, Miss Taz, you’re right, this little one is on their way. Don’t push until I tell you to. Can someone get me a clean sheet, preferably white? Also, that tray in the corner, push it next to the bed. Enforcer, before we get too involved, pull that T-shirt off of her. Bra too. Once the baby comes, we will need to put the child on her belly and chest. On second thought, take your shirt off too. No, don’t argue, man, just do it. You’ll thank me later.”

Watching Atlas, you can tell the man knows exactly what he’s doing. The confidence he has in himself is pretty sexy. So is every movement and his whispered words to Taz trying to keep her calm. The room now has crystals all over on the counters, floor, and even on the table she’s lying on. Enforcer will do whatever she wants.

“Doctor, do we have time before the baby arrives for my sisters to set up the water bath so I can deliver the little one in there? I’ve researched it, and they say it’s a better experience for the baby.”

Before Atlas can even respond, Enforcer loses it.

“Que, goddamn it, told you that shit ain’t gonna happen. Not having my kid drown before it takes its first breath. Let that shit go, please. I let you have the rocks and that smelly shit blown all over, let’s be happy with that, woman.”

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