Page 51 of Corbin
“None of your business. I have to get inside. Get out of here.” She started for the door.
He rushed ahead, blocking her. Even now, he couldn’t convince himself she was a killer, but he did believe she had gotten involved in something bad. “Better to tell me the truth now before the cops show up.”
Long fingers grabbed his shoulders, digging in, then she shoved him aside.
Hell, that never happened. For a female shifter to push him anywhere, adrenaline must have flooded her body.
She tore inside the building.
The door had been left unlocked the whole time.
He lunged forward, pulling the door open before she could lock him out. The hard yank knocked her back, but he caught an arm and kept her on her feet. She snatched her arm free and came at him.
Another scream pierced the air. It sounded worse than the first one.
He put a hand up and snarled at her, “If someone is being tortured or dying, tell me now. I might be able to save him and help you.”
“Tortured? Dying? I can’t deal with you.” She turned and raced down the dark hall then up the metal stairs that had low-voltage lighting.
Yet another horrific scream followed.
He pounded up right behind her.
At the top of the stairs, she turned and ran down a long corridor that divided the building on this level.
He stayed on her heels. If she stopped, he’d run her over.
Holding up a hand in his direction, she hissed, “Stop or you’ll terrify her.”
Her? That word exploded in his head. He didn’t move.
She banged on the metal door, every motion more fearful than deadly. “It’s me, Eirene. Let me in.”
The door swung into the room hard and slammed against the wall.
A frantic thirtyish female with black hair askew cried out, “Hurry. She’s been in labor for hours. I don’t want to lose her and the baby.”
Chapter 16
Eirene hugged Sully. “I got here as soon as I could. When did her water break?”
“Almost five hours ago. I didn’t want to call until she was closer to delivery. She’s been having spasms more than labor pains. For the last half hour, she’s been in so much agony I don’t think she can tell when a labor pain comes and goes.”
“What’s wrong then?” Eirene fought the chill of facing a crisis beyond her ability range. Helping Sully and her pregnant sister, Kesa, had sounded doable when Eirene thought that bitch Nova would pick them up by now.
It sure didn’t seem doable at this moment.
“The baby is not right.” Tears streamed down Sully’s face. “I tried to help turn it with my one good hand.” Sully’s right arm had been broken by their abusive alpha who tied her to a tree, so the arm never healed correctly. She could hardly use it.
Why had Eirene thought she could manage the care of a woman with a badly damaged arm and another ready to give birth? She’d been excited to bring the women a change of freshly washed clothes, diapers, food supplies, and other baby products, including a blanket. All this time, she’d been telling herself she could make a difference, but she had no experience with a breech birth.
She had no experience withanybirth.
Had she damned Kesa and her baby to death by failing to provide the medical aid they needed? Her heart jumped up and down, driving a stake of guilt into her chest.
Kesa howled in pain.
Eirene ran to her and knelt at her side. Her pale face showed the strain she’d been under for too long. Sweat poured off her.The sheet-covered mattress beneath her dipped with the weight of her huge bulge. The baby moved, pushing and kicking.
