Page 127 of My Knotty Mountain Men

“Okay?” Jenna shouts. “There were gunshots!”

“I just scared her away. I’m fine.”

“Scared who?” Nolan asks. “Because, baby, I’m so fucking confused right now. I was out back chopping up a dead tree, and the next thing I hear are gunshots going off.”

“Sylvia,” I spit.

“Fucking hell!” he roars. “That crazy bitch. That fucking crazy bitch. Did you shoot her?”

“No idea,” I groan, my head spinning. My eyes are still closed, a pounding headache making me feel like I’m going to puke.

“I hope so. And if you didn’t, I’ll fucking do it when I get there,” Jenny growls.

“Not if I beat you to it.” Nolan offers up. “Fuck, Sweets, are you okay?”

“No!” I shout, eyes snapping open as I shoot him a death glare. “I’m not okay. I’m about to push a fucking baby out of my vagina, and your batshit crazy ex just showed up telling me she’s going to ruin my life. So no, I’m not okay!”

Am I being a little bit of a bitch? Yes, but I think I have every right to at this moment.

“Babe, we’re going to let you go. I’m glad you're safe. We love you so fucking much. You're amazing and a badass bitch. You’ve got this. And I’m so happy you're okay. We’re hopping on the next plane and if we can’t get one, we’re driving. We’re coming to you, Letty.”

“Okay,” I sob out, another wave of pain hitting me. “I love you.”

They say their goodbyes and hang up as I grip the side of the door and the seat. “Violet, baby girl.”

Thomas' voice has a sob ripping from my chest. “Alpha,” I cry out. “I need you.”

“I know, baby girl. I know. We’re on our way, okay? I’m grabbing Aiden, and we’re going to meet you at the hospital. But I need you to be brave for me, okay?”

“Okay,” I whimper. The adrenaline from before is starting to slip away, but I can't be weak. I need to stay strong. I’ve got this. I can do this. My baby girl is depending on me.

“I love you.”

“I love you too,” I rasp out, screaming as another contraction hits me.

“We’re almost there, Sweets. Fuck, Violet, baby, you’re doing so good. Breathe, you got this,” Nolan coaches.

I feel like I’m out of my own body like I’ve detached from myself. I can feel the pain, but it’s like I’m not there.

There's this pressure added to the pain, the sudden need to shit. If I crap my pants right now, I’ll... I don't even know. I don’t even care. I have no fucking idea what’s going on right now.

“Almost there, Sweets, almost there,” Nolan says, voice panicked.

“I–I think I need to push,” I tell him.

“What!” he shouts. “No. No, Violet, don’t do that. Please, don’t do that.”

“I have to.” I take the seat belt off. “I have to. I don’t have control over it!” I shout.

“Wait!” he shouts, yanking the car to the side. “We’re here. Violet, we’re here. Just wait a minute longer.”

No joke, I have no control over my body. I’m not the one in the driver's seat here. It’s like I know what to do without thinking. The car comes to a stop, and I’m shoving the door open. The moment my feet are on the ground, I’m pulling my panties down, hiking up my dress, and squatting.

“Shit, Violet!” I hear Aiden’s voice somewhere nearby, but I’m not paying attention to him. I’m reaching between my legs and giving one hard push, screaming like a banshee out of hell.

“I got her!” I hear Thomas shout.

And then she’s sliding out.

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