Page 114 of Deserter

The officer who’d caught me gave me a sympathetic nod. “Let’s get you to a hospital.”

“But, Jamie,” I panted, before screaming, “Jamie!”

He brought his hands up on top of his head before looking up at me and mouthing, “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Jamie.” I let the cop lead me over to his cruiser, dizziness washing over me in waves. He settled me in the passenger seat before coming back around.

“Celia,” he commanded as he got behind the wheel. “Look at me.”

I did, wondering how he knew my name.

“We’re gonna get Grey out. Let me handle this, okay? My top priority right now is getting you to the hospital.”

I’d always known that there were cops on the club’s payroll. It was the only way they’d been able to accomplish what they had. I just never imagined that one would be delivering me to the hospital as a favor to my husband.

I stayed silent and watched the clock as we raced toward the hospital with the red and blue strobe lights flashing. The contractions were too close together and everything in me screamed to push.

With one hand on the door and the other against the officer’s shoulder, I forced myself forward with a cry. “I can’t—I have to push.”

“We’re pulling in now. See the lights? Just hold on.”

“I—can’t!” I screamed in a voice that didn’t sound human.

The passenger door was thrown open and two orderlies pulled me into a wheelchair before running through the emergency room. I screamed through another contraction as my body bore down in a push.

I must’ve blacked out because when I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital gown, surrounded by beeping monitors and strangers.

A nurse approached. “Mrs. Quinn, can you tell us how far along you are?”

“Thirty-six weeks yesterday. Something’s wrong,” I responded groggily before trying to sit up. Kate had come quickly once I began pushing, but this one wasn’t moving.

She nodded. “The baby is in a breech presentation and showing signs of distress. There’s not enough amniotic fluid for us to turn him or her around.”

“What?” A tear streaked down my cheek, quickly followed by another. “What’s gonna happen to her?”

“The doctor feels that a caesarean is necessary.”

I nodded shakily. “Do it.”

“We’ll do a spinal block and get started, okay?”

Lights kicked on above my head and I stared up at them as I was poked and prodded. The pain in my belly lessened as the spinal took effect and an oxygen mask was slipped over my face. Another nurse stepped in and draped a blue sheet over me, making anything from my chest down impossible to see.

As the first nurse took my hand in hers, I kept watch over the door in the corner, convinced that Jamie was going to come rushing in at the last second.

The events of the night caught up with me and I cried out with the realization that he wasn’t going to make it. The mask over my nose and mouth fogged up with each hiccuped sob.

“Just take a deep breath. Nice and even. You’re doing great,” the woman encouraged with a light squeeze.

I nodded, even though I felt like I’d failed my daughter.

Tears flowed steadily from the corners of my eyes and I began shaking uncontrollably, sending the streams into my ears.

With Kate, I’d known what to expect. I’d read all the books and had Jamie by my side, coaching me through each breath.

Now, I was completely helpless, unable to do anything but lie still while the doctors and nurses worked to get my baby out.

I groaned out an exhale and gasped against the weight settling over my abdomen. It was as if one of them had decided to jump up and down on my ribs to get her out. “I can’t breathe.”

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