Page 120 of The Don's Soulmate

The car swerves violently, and I almost slide off the seat. Ettore's strong arms steady me.

"Breathe, amore mio," he murmurs, his usually commanding voice softened with concern. "Just breathe."

I try to focus on his words, on the rhythm of my breath, but the pain is overwhelming. Another scream escapes me as the car takes a sharp turn. I feel like I’m being torn apart, alive.

"Sofia!" Ettore barks, his patience wearing thin. "Be careful!"

"I'm trying!" Sofia shouts back, fear evident in her voice. "But he’s still on our tail!"

My heart races, not just from the labor but from the danger we're in. I want to look and assess if our baby will be safe by the end of it, but another contraction steals my breath away.

Ettore's hands are on me again, his touch sure and steady. "You're doing great, Carlotta," he says, his eyes never leaving mine. "Our bambino is almost here. You just focus on the baby, okay? Leave the rest to us."

Despite the pain and fear, my heart swells with love for this man, my soulmate. Even in this chaos, he's my anchor, my strength.

The car jerks again, and I hear Sofia curse under her breath. Through the rear window, I catch a glimpse of the other vehicle, sleek and sturdy, gaining on us.

"Ettore," I whimper, gripping his arm. "How far is the hospital?”

It’s not just that I fear delivering in a car. We’ll be safe in a hospital. He can’t shoot us there, not with a hundred people milling around, can he?

Ettore’s jaw clenches as he looks behind me, through the window, at the car chasing us, that familiar anger flashing in his eyes. "Don't worry about that now, amore. Focus on our baby."

But as another contraction wracks my body and Sofia takes another heart-stopping turn, I can't help but wonder what kind of world we're bringing our child into.

Ettore's calm voice cuts through my haze of pain. "Breathe, Carlotta. Just like we practiced." His hands are steady, his blue eyes focused as he guides me. "When the next contraction hits, I need you to push. I see the baby crowning."

I nod, gritting my teeth. The car swerves violently, and I hear Sofia cursing.

"What's happening?" I gasp, fear clawing at my throat.

Before Ettore can answer, a deafening crack pierces the air. Glass shatters, raining down on us.

Gunshots.

My heart pounds furiously. "Ettore!" I cry out, reaching for him.

He's already shielding me with his body, his muscular frame tense. "Stay down, amore," he growls.

Another contraction seizes me, and I can't hold back my scream. Ettore's eyes lock with mine, his gaze intense. "Push now, Carlotta. Push!"

I bear down, the pain and fear and adrenaline all mixing into a chaotic whirlwind. More gunshots ring out, bullets whizzing past us, narrowly missing.

Suddenly, Ettore's eyes flash with determination. He holds my hand but leans forward to the front seat, his voice low and urgent. "Sofia, listen carefully. We need to shake him. At the next intersection, make a hard U-turn. He’s going to follow and you slow down, let him be with us bumper to bumper. Drive into the next big vehicle you see, a large one, a truck preferably. Last minute, swerve."

My eyes widen in terror. "Ettore, are you insane? We can't—"

"Trust me, amore," he says, his hand squeezing mine reassuringly. "It's our best chance."

I want to protest, but another contraction hits, stealing my breath. Ettore shifts his attention back to me, his hands gentleyet firm as they support me. "You're doing beautifully, Carlotta. I can see the head. One more big push."

The car lurches as Sofia executes the U-turn. I cry out, partly from the pain of labor, partly from fear. Ettore's steady presence anchors me.

"Push, cara. Push now!" he commands.

I bear down with all my strength, feeling like death would be a welcome surrender. Ettore's eyes never leave mine as I clench his hand.

"That's it, amore. You're so strong. Our bambino is almost here," he murmurs, his voice a mix of pride and awe.

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