Page 49 of Deadly Vows

A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my lower abdomen, and I gasped. The pain was sudden and intense, radiating across my belly. I shifted, trying to find relief, but it only grew worse, like my insides were being twisted and pulled. Panic surged through me.

No. Please, no.

I closed my eyes, willing the pain to stop, but it didn’t. Instead, it intensified, each cramp sharper than the last. My breaths became shallow and labored as I struggled to stay calm. I couldn’t lose the baby.

“Danny!” I screamed, my voice trembling with fear. “Danny, help! Hurry!”

For a moment, there was no response. But then I heard his footsteps growing louder as he approached the bedroom. The door creaked open and Danny stepped inside, his face twisted with annoyance.

“What now?” he grumbled.

“I’m in pain,” I said, my voice shaking. “Something’s wrong with the baby. I need to go to the hospital.”

Danny raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the doorframe as if I were wasting his time. “You’re fine. Just rest. I’m sure you’re overreacting.”

I clenched my teeth as another cramp shot through me. “I’m not overreacting! It’s the baby. I think you hurt the baby!”

He scoffed, shaking his head as if I were being dramatic. “You’ll be fine. Just breathe through it. Women get cramps all the time during pregnancy. You’re not going to die.”

I wanted to lunge at him and make him understand the terror that was gripping me. But the pain was growing worse, the cramps coming quickly, making it harder to think. “Danny,” I pleaded, tears stinging my eyes. “Please. I need help.”

Something in my voice must have finally registered with him. His brow furrowed, and he took a hesitant step forward, eyeing me with concern. “Wait… are you really in pain?”

I nodded as another wave of agony hit. “Yes! Please, Danny. I need to go to the hospital. Something’s wrong with the baby.”

He just stood there for a moment, staring at me like he was trying to figure out if I was faking. Then his expression shifted from annoyance to something close to fear. He glanced at my stomach, and I saw the uncertainty in his eyes.

“If something happens to the baby…” he muttered, more to himself than to me. He paced the room, running a hand through his hair. “No hospital. I can’t risk that.”

I stared at him, disbelief flooding through me. “You can’t be serious! I need a doctor!”

He shook his head, muttering as he reached for his phone. “I’ll call someone. Just stay calm.”

“What do you mean, call someone? We need to go now!” I cried, my voice rising in panic.

He ignored me, his fingers moving quickly as he dialed a number. Pain twisted through me again, and I groaned, curling in on myself as best I could with the restraints.

Danny held the phone to his ear, pacing in front of the bed. “Hey, it’s Danny. I need a favor… yeah, it’s urgent. She’s in pain, and I think it’s the baby.” He paused, glancing at me. “No, not a hospital. Do you know anyone who can handle this off the books? Yeah? Good. Get him over here.”

I was shaking with fear and anger as I listened to him arrange some kind of back-alley solution.

He hung up the phone, turning to me as anxiety shone in his eyes. “A doctor’s on his way. Just hold on.”

I groaned through another wave of cramps, my entire body tense with pain. “What kind of doctor? Who did you call?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Danny snapped. “He’s a professional. He’s just… not the type who asks questions, alright?”

I didn’t have the strength to argue. The pain was all-consuming now, and I was terrified of what was happening to the baby. All I could do was pray that whoever this shady doctor was, he could help.

It wasn’t long before I heard a knock at the front door. Danny disappeared, and moments later, he returned with a tall, thin man with a weathered face and dark, shrewd eyes. He carried a small black bag in one hand, his expression calm and businesslike.

“This is Doc,” Danny said, motioning toward the man. “He’s going to check you out.”

Doc didn’t waste any time. He walked over to the bed, glancing briefly at my restraints before setting his bag down and pulling on a pair of gloves. “How long have you been having cramps?” he asked in a monotone voice.

“About an hour,” I whispered, wincing as another cramp hit. “I was tasered,” I hissed, glaring at Danny. “Is the baby okay?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gently pressed his hands against my belly, feeling for any signs of distress. His touch was clinical and cold. I watched his face, desperate for a sign that the baby was alright.

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