Page 24 of Raptor

I watch as Maverick leaves, a sickening feeling in my gut. Something's happened. I just know it has. I shouldn’t have left it this long to come here. I should have trusted my gut when she stopped taking my calls.

Now I have to find her. I won't stop until I do.

Chapter 10

Mallory

Three Months Later

Iwince as another pain rips through me. God, did it have to be today? I'm in labor. There's no question about it. My contractions have been happening on and off all day, and they're getting more intense as the day wears on, not to mention they're happening more frequently too. I reach for my cell and hit dial on Ma’s number. For the past three months, she's been working from the office only once a week, ensuring she's home with me the majority of the time. Today, of course, had to be the day she's in the office, and she's not called me back despite the thirty missed calls she's had from me.

That night when Micah made his threat to me, Ma packed us up and moved us to the outskirts of Dublin. With a city with over a million people, it was easy enough for us to hide. Thankfully, Micah hasn't made an appearance since that night, and I know that's down to Ma hiding us. She's extremely careful to ensure that she's not followed when coming home from workor the grocery store. She's doing everything she can to ensure our safety and I love her so much for doing that.

"Ugh," I groan through the contraction. "Ma, please... God, please answer the damn phone."

I'm not going to be able to drive myself to the hospital and there's no way an ambulance will get to me in time. God, I really need my mam. Once again the phone goes to voicemail, and I'm left wondering what the hell I'm going to do. There's no way in hell I'm going to give birth at home. I'm scared enough as it is. I won't—can't do this alone.

I decide to do something I promised myself I wouldn't do. I call Jess, knowing Micah could be watching, which means she could end up being caught in this mess. Either way, I have no choice. She's my only option right now. I'm just praying she'll answer.

"Hello?" I hear her soft voice say, and I sob in relief. "Mallory?"

"Hey," I whisper, letting her know it's me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"What's wrong?" she asks. "Is everything okay?"

"Not really. Ma's at work and I'm in labor. I need to get to the hospital but my contractions are coming quickly. I won't be able to drive myself."

"I'm on the way," she assures me. I can hear her walking. "Mav's let me use his car if I need it. So far, I haven't needed to, but today I will. Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I say, grateful that I have her to talk to. "Are you sure you're okay to come?"

I hear her little laugh. "There's nowhere else in this world that I'd rather be. I'm in the car now and I'm coming."

Relief washes through me. God, what did I do to deserve a friend like her?

"I'll call you when I'm outside. Do you have everything packed?"

"Yes," I breathe. "I have the bag by the door waiting. I'm ready to go."

"Excellent," she cries. "I'll be there soon. Are you still staying in the same house?"

"Yeah, we're still here."

Jess has no idea why Ma and I left the house in the city and moved to the outskirts. She had Maverick check in on me and they discovered the house was empty after Ma and I left. We'd left our cells there in case Micah was tracking them. Thankfully, Jess hasn't really questioned it. I told her that Ma wanted to move due to it being better for the baby and the house having an office for her to work out of.

"See you soon. Today's the day we get to meet Shay."

My heart's racing, but the joy that fills it with her words is overwhelming. Yes, today is the day we get to meet my son. This is the day I've been looking forward to for so long. It's kind of hard to imagine that it's finally here. But I'm excited to meet him. We're all calling him Shay, and it's something that I love. I've known since the moment I found out I was having a boy what I wanted to name him. I wanted to name him after his father, Shane.

"I'm hanging up now, but I won't be long."

"Thank you. Drive safely," I urge as we end the call.

My cell starts to ring the moment my call with Jess finishes. Relief unlike any other hits me when I see Ma’s name flashing on the screen.

"Ma," I answer. "Finally. God, are you okay?"

"I'm so sorry, love. I've been in meetings all day. Is it time?"

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