Page 57 of Capitally Unexpected

“No more thank yous, okay? This is what you do for your people. Let’s get you to the hospital. Have you called your OB yet?” A twinge unrelated to whatever’s happening with Cumulus goes through my heart. We start down the stairs slowly.

“Michelle, where’s Hunter?” The heart twinge intensifies. I think she waited until the stairs to ask so I didn’t have to meet her in the eye.

“I don’t know. He texted he had some meeting. He might be with Hayden or Duncan or both.” I catch her nod once out of the corner of my eye.

“Can I call Charlotte from the cab and do some digging?” We reach the car, which gives me the time until she climbs in the other side to answer.

“Yes, please. Find him. I want . . . I need him here.”

That’s all she needs before the phone’s at her ear. “Charlotte, I need you to find Hayden. Is he with Hunter?” Her answer is muffled. “I’m on the way to the hospital with Michelle. He’s not answering our calls.” I flash her a grateful smile for leaving out I’m not sure where exactly he is.

I hear Charlotte’s voice loud and clear now. “Shit, I’ll find them right now. I think I know where the meeting is. I’ll head that way now. If Hay doesn’t answer, which he fucking better when I call repeatedly, I’ll deliver the message in person.” The line goes dead.

“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say fuck before,” Jax says, the fondness clear in her voice. This makes me laugh, and she joins me. Her hand reaches across the seat for mine. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

“You don’t know that,” I whisper, my hand resting on my stomach. It’ll stay there until someone pulls it away.

“You’re right,” she says, squeezing my hand, right as we pull up to the emergency room. “I really, really hope it will be okay. But if it’s not, you’re not alone.”

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Hunter

Twenty-nine weeks pregnant

The investors are talking with Duncan at the end of the impromptu meeting. I think it went well. All I’ve been focused on the past few weeks is making this business as successful as I can to support Michelle and our baby. I’ve taken to picking up kitchen shifts during the day and working through the night. If I can’t offer them anything else, at least I can try to provide financial security. But even with that goal at the forefront, I couldn’t tell you what anyone said in this meeting, myself included. My mind’s been focused on picturing Michelle’s face fall when she got the text canceling our plans to work on the nursery today.

“Shit,” Hayden mutters. “I have seven missed calls from Charlotte. And one text saying, ‘I’m okay, but I better find you dead or dismembered.’”

“What?” I pull out my phone. Only two calls, but both from Michelle, along with a text that says, “Call me.”

Duncan’s assistant knocks on the door. “Mr. Brandt?” Three heads swivel in her direction. “There’s a Charlotte Reid here to see you?”

“Shit,” Hayden mutters, before waving at the room and walking out. Right as the door shuts, I hear Charlotte say. “Go get Hunter.”

I’m in the lobby with them before Hayden can open the door again. “What’s wrong? It’s Michelle. She called, but my phone was on silent.”

All the fight drains out of Charlotte, and she leans on Hayden. “Michelle’s at the emergency room. GW Hospital. She had some pain and some spotting. They took her back from the waiting room a few minutes ago.”

“Fuck.” I’m running for the elevator and hear Charlotte and Hayden behind me. “Is she alone?”

Smashing the button over and over isn’t making the elevator come any faster. Why the fuck not?

“Jax is with her,” Charlotte says as the elevator dings.

“Well thank fuck for that,” I mutter, getting in.

“Do you want us to come?” Hayden asks, his eyes full of fear. Gives me a fraction of an idea of what I must look like.

I shake my head. “Later. Go smooth over our exit with the investors, catch Duncan up. Then ...” The elevator door closes and cuts me off. Hopefully, he caught the gist.

I tumble out onto the street and spot a man getting into a taxi. I rush over. “Sir, can I please have this cab?” He blinks at me blankly. “My girl . . . the love of my life, hospital and our baby. She, she doesn’t know I love her.” I have no time for cohesive sentences.

He scoffs at me. “This isn’t some rom-com. Fuck off.” He ducks to get in the cab when a hand reaches for his collar and pulls him out.

“It’s not, but it’s about to become aJohn Wickmovie if you don’t give us the fucking cab.” Duncan releases the man, who gapes at him like a fish. “That’s what I thought.” Hayden andCharlotte come up behind him. “Hunter. Get in the fucking cab. And scoot over.”

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