Page 19 of Sinner
“She’s going into labor,” Mary said and shouldered her way to Gloria’s side. “Give her space.”
Mary placed her hand at the small of Gloria’s back and whispered to her.
Julius’s companions grumbled amongst themselves. They glowered in Gloria’s direction, but took a step backward. The Japanese man’s lips whitened around the edges, as though he were suppressing a tidal wave. Then he couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“No,” he said. “We will not be deterred. Contractions can last hours, days even. Once this one is finished, we will continue with the amputation.”
“I agree,” the military man said. “We’ve waited too long. I’m flying out of this God-forsaken city tomorrow afternoon and I have to take news back to the Syndicate. They’ll want evidence of progress.”
“Who is the Syndicate?” Gloria panted.
The military man’s face deadpanned. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do. You said Syndicate. That name doesn’t appear in our contract.”
Julius nudged the military man out of the way with a disparaging look. “It’s just another name for investors, you know that. Now, please can we focus on an amputation.”
From the look on Mary’s face, it was clear she didn’t believe him. Gloria made a pained sound, doubling over, rubbing her underbelly.
Flint had stood still until now, too shocked to move. But these men, they were complete and utter fuckwits. His mouth couldn’t form words. Fury licked up his spine, coating his body in trembling waves of heat. The gadget in his pocket felt like the perfect bludgeoning weapon. He could take one of them out, easy. The other two would be harder, but if Mary truly was who she said she was, then between the two of them, they’d be fine.
God, was he even considering this?
Then Flint heard the distinct sound of water splashing, and Gloria’s whimpers became a wail.
“Her waters broke,” Mary said. “Everyone out!”
Julius’s face contorted in rage, and his gaze snapped between his partners. Whatever he’d promised them, he’d have to wait for another day.
“Fine,” Julius said to Gloria. “Tomorrow morning we will return.” Then he stalked toward the exit, not once taking the time to check on the woman about to give birth.
When all three men vacated, Flint rushed to Gloria’s side.
“What can I do?” he asked.
But Gloria stopped panting, stood up straight and gave a big sigh. She patted her head and went to her desk to search through some papers. She calmly picked up the phone receiver and dialed a number. Confused, Flint turned to Mary for answers.
She held up an empty test tube bottle in her hand. “Fake.”
“Yes, hello, Dr. Stilenski, it’s Gloria. I’ve gone into labor, can you please come as soon as possible to deliver the baby? Great.” She hung up the phone and waddled to the medical bed where she pulled out a drip bag and intravenous kit from a cupboard. “I think it’s best we start the oxytocin now. It could be hours before it works.”
Mary went to her side and put her hand on the drip bag to stop her. “No. It’s too risky. We should continue our plan and leave tonight. You can have the baby at the abbey. It will be safe there.”
“Um, excuse me, but what the hell is going on?” Flint asked.
Mary glanced at him. “Flint, we lied about her being in labor.”
“I can see that. So what are you doing?”
“Mary,” Gloria continued, ignoring Flint, “don’t you see? He won’t stop coming. He might even be back this afternoon and if there’s no baby…”
Shit. Flint scrubbed his face. He felt like he was stuck in some alternate reality. How could he have worked for a company that tortured children?
Mary pushed the IV bag down again. “I’ll deal with him then, but running away with a newborn and a woman recovering from childbirth is not good. You could get injured. There are too many variables unaccounted for. What if the birth doesn’t go as planned?”
“This is my eighth child. I will be fine.”
Gloria slipped the bag from beneath Mary’s hands and set about unpacking it.
