Page 58 of Justice

This fucker will get his day.

I can’t wait.

Chapter 11

Elle

ONE WEEK LATER

I’mat the clubhouse while the guys are playing pool after we’ve all just had a family dinner.

It has been a quiet week; nothing eventful has happened the last few days, and I needed to get out of the house to spend time with my family before I have the baby.

I can’t wait until I have her but at the same time, it’s scary. She isn’t moving much anymore, so I figure she is running out of room.

My body is aching and hurting, especially in the small of my back. My phone pings with a message and without thinking, I open it to see another news article with a breaking headline.

My heart sinks while staring at the screen, the girl's smiling face frozen in time. Christopher notices my expression and gently takes the phone from my hands, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Elle, you shouldn't be looking at that," he says softly, pulling me into a comforting embrace. I bury my face in his chest, trying to block out the world and the growing fear that gnaws at my insides.

As I pull away from Christopher's embrace, I catch sight of my father across the room. His usually stoic face is etched withworry, and I know he is just as troubled by the recent turn of events as I am.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I had to be strong, not just for myself, but for my family because there is absolutely nothing I can do to change the fact.

My lower back pain intensifies, and I wince, rubbing the spot with my hand. Christopher notices my discomfort and gently guides me to a nearby chair.

"Here, sit down," he says, helping me ease into the seat. "Is it your back again?"

I nod, gritting my teeth as another wave of pain washes over me. "It's been getting worse lately," I admit. "I think it's just the weight of the baby putting pressure on my spine."

Christopher kneels beside me, his hand resting on my belly. "Maybe we should head home," he suggests. "You need to rest."

I shake my head stubbornly. "No, I want to stay. I need this time with everyone." I glance around the room at my family, all of them engrossed in their own conversations and activities. "I don't want to miss out on these moments."

Christopher sighs, knowing there is no point in arguing with me. "All right, but promise me you'll tell me if it gets too much."

Sitting is making the pain worse, so I put my hands on the armrests to stand back up, not feeling the best. I push myself up from the chair, a sharp, searing pain ripping through my abdomen and causing me to cry out in agony. Christopher's eyes widen in alarm as he quickly grabs my arm to support me.

"Elle, what's wrong?" he asks, his voice laced with panic.

I can’t respond, the pain stealing my breath away. I clutch my belly, doubling over.

I feel a sensation that can only be described as a popping-like feeling, followed by a trickle running down my legs.

Christopher's eyes dart down to the floor, his face paling as he notices the small puddle forming at my feet. "Oh my God,Elle, your water just broke," he says, his voice trembling. "We need to get you to the hospital, since Meadow is out of town right now.”

The room falls silent as everyone's attention turns to me. My father rushes over, his face etched with concern. "Elle, sweetheart, are you all right?"

I shake my head, tears streaming down my face as another contraction grips me. "No, it hurts so much," I gasp, clutching Christopher's hand tightly.

My mother appears at my side, her eyes wide with worry. "We need to move, now," she says, her voice calm but firm. "Christopher, help her to the car. I'll grab her bag and meet you there."

Christopher nods, scooping me up into his arms as if I weigh nothing. I cling to him, burying my face in his chest as he carries me out of the clubhouse and toward the car. The cool evening air hits my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

As Christopher gently lowers me into the back seat, another contraction tears through me, causing me to cry out in pain. "Breathe, Elle," he says softly, climbing in beside me and taking my hand. "Just breathe through it."

I pant heavily as I try to focus on my breathing. “Fuck, Meadow is out of town by a couple of hours, so it’s best we go to the hospital until she can get to us,” Christopher rambles, and all I can worry about is my breathing.

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