Page 33 of Valentine's with the Cartel

I had to get to the hospital now before it was too late. But how? Rafael had taken the car keys with him when he left, and I was in no condition to drive myself anywhere. We didn't have any other cars present; they had been taken for his mission. I also couldn't see any of the guards who kept the property safe.

Feeling my chest tight, I stumbled towards the front door of the mansion, praying that I would find a way to make it to safety before the worst of my contractions hit, or at least find one of the guards so they could help me. I couldn't do this alone—I needed Rafael now more than ever, or just someone equally capable.

I stumbled through the halls of the mansion, my heart pounding as I sought out any sign of the guards who were normally stationed throughout the property at all times. But the silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of my own ragged breathing and the occasional groan that escaped me as another contraction seized my abdomen.

Where were they? I asked myself, but I knew that no answer was going to come anytime soon.

It was surreal to think that just moments ago, I had been standing in the kitchen, humming happily as I prepared a comforting meal for myself and Rafael to share together.

And now here I was, alone and in labor, with no one around to help or guide me through this terrifying ordeal. I never thought something like this would ever happen.

As I reached the front foyer, I paused to catch my breath, one hand braced against the wall while the other cradled my swollen belly.

The pain was intensifying rapidly now, each contraction more powerful and prolonged than the last, making it increasingly difficult to think clearly or move with any degree of coordination. And to top it off, there wasn't much I could do to remediate the situation.

I needed to get to a hospital right away—that much was clear. But without a car or any means of transportation, I was trapped here until Rafael returned. And God only knew how long that would take given the nature of his current mission.

He told me he was going to hurry and even though I knew he was trying to get back here as quickly as possible, I didn't know if he was going to make it in that time.

A fresh wave of panic crashed over me at the thought of trying to deliver these twins on my own with no medical assistance whatsoever. I had never even attended a birthing class or learned anything about the process beyond the most basic information. How was I supposed to handle this?

And the answer to that question was that I couldn't handle it on my own. I needed help.

I was still grappling with that terrifying realization when the sound of tires screeching on the gravel outside caught my attention, followed by the slam of a car door and the rapid thump of footsteps approaching the house.

Someone was coming, finally.

"Anan!" Rafael's voice boomed through the foyer a split second before he burst into view, his expression a mask of pureanguish as he took in my disheveled state. "What happened? Are you alright?"

I opened my mouth to respond but was cut off by another vicious contraction that stole the breath from my lungs and left me gasping against the wall. Rafael was at my side in an instant, one strong arm wrapping around my waist to support me as he guided me towards the door.

"I'm here now," he murmured fiercely even as he hustled me out onto the front porch and down the steps toward the waiting car. "I've got you, baby. Just hold on a little longer."

As we tumbled into the backseat, Rafael already barking orders to the driver to get us to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible, I clung to him like a lifeline even as I struggled to remain coherent through the haze of pain.

It was difficult to do that, to say the least. Almost impossible.

"I'm scared," I whimpered, hating how weak and pathetic I sounded but unable to stop myself. "The contractions are coming so fast now—I don't know if I can make it to the hospital in time."

Rafael's expression hardened with grim determination even as he gathered me closer against his chest, one large hand splaying over the dome of my belly.

"You will make it," he vowed, his voice brooking no argument. "I will not allow anything to happen to you or our babies, do you understand? You are my everything—my heart and soul—and I will move heaven and earth to ensure your safety."

I nodded against his shoulder, too overwhelmed by emotion to form a coherent response. And then another contraction hit, stealing the very breath from my lungs as my body began to bear down with a force that defied description.

"Fuck," Rafael swore, his eyes widening in alarm as he felt my muscles clenching and fluttering beneath his palm. "We'renot going to make it to the hospital in time. The babies are coming right now."

I could only whimper in response, too far gone in the throes of labor to do anything but hang on for dear life as Rafael barked out a string of orders to the driver and the guards who had suddenly appeared from nowhere.

"Pull over!" He commanded with his voice raised. "We're going to have to deliver these babies right here in the car. Get me towels and hot water stat!"

Where were they going to get those? I asked myself. Then I realized it didn't matter. Rafael was going to find them somewhere and bring them here. I knew he could do it; he was capable of anything.

As the vehicle screeched to a halt on the side of the road, I could only pray that Rafael's medical knowledge was as extensive as his confidence would lead me to believe. Because if not... well, I didn't even want to think about what might happen.

But then he was there, cradling my head in his hands and gazing down at me with an intensity that stole the very air from my lungs.

"You are the strongest person I know," he declared with his eyes locked with mine, his thumbs stroking soothingly over my cheekbones. "And you will get through this because you have to—for our babies and for me. I believe in you, Anan."

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