Page 110 of Empowered
“I like driving too, you know.”
Lucas rolled his eyes. Alice chose that moment to join them. She was without her female bodyguard that Mr. Monroe insisted on her having. Seemed everyone had the day off that day.Soon it won’t be my job to worry about that.
Alice’s pale, lined face worried Sarah almost immediately. That was the same face Alice had when she showed up to work shortly after an assassin paid for by her father-in-law tried to put a bullet in her head. No wonder Mr. Monroe loved her so much – and no wonder Sarah had a level of respect for her. Alice was a queen when it came to keeping a poker face under duress.
So something must have been really, really wrong.
“What’s wrong?” Lucas must have sensed it too, for his hand tightened on Sarah’s arm.
“I have something I need to tell you two.” She swallowed. “First I need you two to promise tonotcause a commotion and to be consummate professionals.”
“Of course.”
Alice wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I need to go to the hospital. Please.”
“Are you…”
“To be on the safe side.”
She had a false alarm the week before, and the only reason she ended up at the hospital was because she made the “mistake” of telling her husband before anyone else.Who knew that was a dumb idea?If Damon Monroe smelled a whiff of his wife in labor, everyone’s asses were down at the hospital waiting for the doctor’s official word. Alice had grumbled about the wasted three hours on a Wednesday night when she could have been at home with her great discomfort.
“Let’s go, then.” If Alice was asking, then she must have thought it was serious enough. After all, her due date was only a week away. Who was Sarah to tell her nothing was amiss? “I’ll drive. I know the direct route to the hospital.” That would put an end to the discussion aboutwhowas driving.He gets to do all the driving when we get to Denmark. I don’t want to hear it.
Alice walked between them as they entered the elevator and rode down to the parking garage. Since Alice had forgotten her sweater in all the commotion, Lucas removed his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Do you want me to call Damon for you?”
“No. Not until I’m sure.”
“All right. Just know that this wouldn’t be my first birthday.”
“I know that I am in good hands should something be serious.”
The doors opened. Sarah accepted the keys to the BMW currently held behind a sheet of bulletproof glass. The security guard on duty tipped his hat as the three of them got into the car. Alice found the back more comfortable. Lucas surprised them both by joining her back there. For comfort, he assured.
Sarah readjusted the seat and mirrors before buckling up and starting the ignition. The guard waved at them on their way by. As soon as the bright May sunlight blinded Sarah in the face, she fished out the usual driver’s spare pair of sunglasses from the glove compartment and hoped they wouldn’t slide off her lean face.
“Oh…”
“Well!” Lucas scooted to the far side of the backseat away from Alice. “Also not the first time I’ve been on the receiving end of a woman’s water breaking.”
“I’m so sorry!”
Sarah changed gears and honked her horn at the car in front of them. Come on! The hospital was only, what, a mile away? It shouldnothave been a ten-minute ordeal getting there!
“Okay, wow… that hurts.”
The façade was quickly dropping. Alice winced in the rearview mirror whenever Sarah glanced over. Lucas tried to keep it cool, but there was no mistaking how uncomfortable he was now that his best friend’s wife was in labor.
“Breathe. Remember. Breathing.”
Sarah rolled her eyes.What is with this guy up here?She swerved into the other lane and honked her horn again. Assholes. Every driver in this city was an asshole. Except her, of course.
“Fuck it,” she muttered. She was leaving the country soon. She could risk having her license suspended due to reckless driving. When was she going to use it again, anyway?
***
“I’ve got chocolate, chips, and peanuts. Pick your poison.”
