Page 67 of Vegas Baby

Horror flooded her entire body and she began to shake.

No, please God, no.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Raina!” Howler raced up the stairs, his heart in his throat. She half-stood, her hand on her belly, lips pressed tight. “What’s wrong? Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m bleeding,” she said in a mere whisper, despair in every syllable. “A lot, I... Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick.”

The words were like a punch in the gut. “We need to go to the hospital.”

“I need to change my pants first,” she said on a sob, turning her back to him.

“No, there’s no time.” He clasped her elbow and she whipped her head around before she swayed on her feet. Howler slipped his arm under her legs and lifted her.

“Is everything all right?” Trent asked.

“She’s bleeding bad. Can you grab a few towels from the bathroom and meet us in the town car? I’m taking her to the hospital.” This was his fault, he’d been a dick and upset her, now she was having a miscarriage.

He sat her as gently as possible in the back seat before he crawled in after her. Trent sprinted out of the house, a stack of towels in hand. He climbed into the other side and the driver took off.

The interior of the car smelled of old leather and fear, either real or imagined, he had no idea. Raina moaned, her nails clawing into his arm. He welcomed the pain, a small sample of what she had to be going through.

“Do you feel dizzy or faint?” Trent asked, clasping her other hand. She tightened her jaw, lips pinched, a sheen of moisture covering her face.

“Just cramps, intense, in your gut cramps…I…I don’t want to lose my babies.” She threw her head back, the skin taut over her cheeks, mouth twisted in pure agony.

“We don’t know you’re losing the baby,” Trent said, his steady voice having a calming effect on both of them. “Spotting and cramps can happen during pregnancy. Remember the book we read?”

Howler prayed he was right.

The town car driver turned into the Emergency entrance and the valet opened the door. Howler helped Raina into the wheelchair, and followed the attendant into the ER.

“I’ll talk to the nurse. You stay with her.” Trent didn’t wait for an answer but shot up to the front of the line.

“How do you feel?”

“Hollow, I feel hollow.”

“I’m sorry. I... let’s not speculate until after you see the doctor.” The words sounded muted to his ears.

“I don’t need to see a doctor to know what happened, I… can’t explain it but I know, but I know.” She began to sob harder, her head bent, body shaking.

He massaged her shoulders, helpless to do anything else. If what she predicted came to pass, then he’d lose more than the baby. He’d lose her. They had a contract. A very specific contract.

Article II, the miscarriage clause. If you lose the baby, the deal is immediately null and void. They’d get the divorce and never have to talk about it again.

“Would you like something for pain?” the nurse asked.

“No, nothing.” Raina swallowed the lump in her throat, her entire world upside down. Tears ran into her hair, yet she was powerless to stop them. More hinged on this miscarriage than the babies. If Howler truly loved her, it might be easier to deal with this tragedy.

But he didn’t love her.

“Are you sure?” Howler asked from somewhere behind her.

“Yes, I’m sure.” Throughout the intrusive exam, she focused on a spot on the wall, a tiny fleck of chipped paint, barely discernable, trying to forget her argument with Howler. It was a simple misunderstanding and yet, it wasn’t simple nor a misunderstanding. He’d made it plain that he wanted to keep to the terms of the contract.

One particular entry rolled around her mind. No falling in love with Howler. She’d meant it as a joke but what she felt for him was anything but amusing.

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