Page 76 of Torn In Two

Kara gasped. “Hawk! Stop it! He wasn’t doing anything wrong! I asked him to.”

“You don’t know how men think, Little Mouse. He’s been crushing on you ever since we stepped foot in that hospital.”

I shook my head angrily. He wasn’t exactly wrong, but it pissed me off that he was so wrapped up in his jealousy that he hadn’t even stopped to listen to Kara and what she wanted. “Don’t do that. Don’t dismiss her feelings.”

I wasn’t even surprised when Hawk launched himself across the room at me.

Or when Kara tried to force herself between us.

What was surprising was the scream of pain that stopped the three of us in our tracks, all of us swiveling toward the doorway and the rooms outside where more shouts and the rushing of feet came.

“Call an ambulance!” someone bellowed from somewhere down the hallway.

It was probably the only three words that could have had both me and Hawk forgetting our squabbles and running in unison from the room to help.

24

BLISS

I’d been ignoring my contractions for hours.

I’d done the same thing with both of my previous labors, and I knew now it was how I coped. I hated a big commotion, everybody staring at me, wincing as each contraction gripped my body. Concentrating on them only made me feel worse, and worrying over everyone worrying about me didn’t help.

So I’d gotten up that morning and ignored the tightening of my belly. I’d said goodbye to Nash and Vincent who needed to prepare for the Psychos party happening that night, in an attempt to compete with the Sinners’ grand opening. The contractions had been painful but not unbearable as I’d taken Lexa to school and Mila to daycare.

Not wanting to be home alone, I found myself at the clubhouse, seeking the comfort of being near War while he worked and also having the privacy of his clubhouse bedroom. I’d been happily laboring away in private, doing my thing, not bothering anyone.

Until the pain in my back became unbearable and I’d let out an involuntary scream.

I’d never felt pain like that before.

The realization that something was wrong hit me hard and fast, panic rising in my chest and wrapping its way around my throat. I opened the door and stumbled out into the hallway, another wave of pain hitting me, forcing me to lean on the wall for support. I shouted for someone to get me an ambulance.

Ice and War materialized from the clubhouse kitchen, Ice taking one look at me and pulling out his phone.

“I’m calling nine-one-one.”

War ran to my side, taking my weight and I turned into the warmth of his chest.

“Talk to me, baby girl. How long do we have?”

I shook my head. I didn’t know. Everything suddenly felt wrong, this baby taking a route of his or her own, that differed entirely to the way their older sisters had been born. Where minutes ago I’d felt safe and in control, I was now panicked and terrified and wishing I had gone to the hospital earlier.

Hawk and Kara came rushing from her bedroom, a third man I didn’t recognize with them. But in that moment, I couldn’t care less who was there. An entire marching band could have popped out of the cupboard and I would have barely noticed.

All I could focus on was breathing through the pain.

War’s gaze sought out his best friend’s. “Baby’s coming.”

Hawk gave him a reassuring smile. “Good day to be born. Just in time for Friday night drinks.” He moved to my side, peering at my clammy face. “How you doing there, Mama?”

“Something’s wrong.”

War froze.

Hawk widened his eyes. “What do you mean?”

I groaned, the start of another contraction hitting me squarely in the back. “I’ve had two babies already. I know what it’s supposed to feel like, and this isn’t it. That’s all I know. Please believe me. Please. Do something.”

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