Page 108 of Cinderella and the Daddy
I reach for another castle wall piece, and suddenly the pain is back—sharper this time, radiating from my lower back around to my belly like a vise tightening. I gasp, my hand automatically going to my stomach.
"Whoa," I breathe, waiting for it to pass.
Leo scrambles closer, his castle forgotten. "What's wrong?"
The contraction—because that's definitely what it was—eases after what feels like forever but was probably only thirty seconds. I check my watch. If this is what I think it is, I need to start timing them.
"I think your little sister might be ready to meet us."
Leo's eyes go wide with excitement and a touch of worry. "Right now? Like, today?"
"Maybe. We'll see." I try to sound calmer than I feel. "Can you help me get to the couch?"
He springs into action, offering his small hand to help me up with the kind of careful concern that makes my heart squeeze. I've barely settled onto the cushions when another wave hits, stronger than the first. I check my watch again. Five minutes apart. Mac hops up and comes to rest his head on my knee. It’s his way of offering comfort.
"Leo, sweetie, I need you to go find your papa, okay? Tell him the baby is coming."
"Should I call 911?" he asks, already heading toward the door.
"No, just get Luka. He'll know what to do."
Leo disappears down the hall, his sneakers slapping against the marble floors as he runs toward Luka's office. “Papa! The baby's coming!"
Mac chases behind him, barking and sounding the alarm.
Within thirty seconds, heavy footsteps are thundering back down the hallway. Luka bursts into the living room, looking like he's expecting to find me unconscious on the floor. When he sees me sitting upright and relatively calm, some of the panic leaves his face.
"How far apart?" His voice is steady, but I see his hands clench and unclench—his tell when he's fighting for control.
"Started about twenty minutes ago. First two were eight minutes apart. Then seven. The last three..." I check my phone, where I've been tracking them. "Five minutes. Maybe four and a half."
The words are barely out when I feel it building—that deep, primal tightening that starts in my lower back and wraps around to my belly like a fist squeezing.
"Oh," I breathe, grabbing the couch arm. The leather creaks under my grip. "Oh, fuck. This one's—" I can't finish. The contraction crashes over me like a wave, stealing my words and breath. It's different from the others—deeper, more purposeful. This isn't my body practicing anymore. This is business.
Leo hovers anxiously while Luka kneels beside me, his hand finding mine. I crush his fingers as I ride out the pain, dimly aware I might be breaking something but unable to care.
"Breathe,dikaya," he murmurs. "Just like we practiced."
We never practiced. We meant to take classes, but between mob wars and morning sickness, we never got around to it. I want to laugh at the absurdity, but another wave is already building.
"Luka," I pant when I can speak again. "I think she changed her mind about waiting."
All of Luka's legendary composure evaporates in an instant. The man who can stare down a rival pakhan and negotiate million-dollar deals without blinking takes one look at me breathing through a contraction and goes completely to pieces.
"Five minutes? Dammit, Cindy, why didn't you call me sooner? We need to get you to the hospital right now. Where's your bag? Did you pack a bag? Of course, you packed a bag. I packed it. Where is it? Shit, should I call the doctor first? No, we should just go. Can you walk? Should I carry you?"
I would laugh if I weren't concentrating on breathing. "Luka. Baby. Take a breath."
"Don't tell me to breathe; you're the one having contractions!" He's already pulling out his phone, barking orders to someone. "Viktor, bring the car around. Now. Get Tony. He’ll be taking Leo.”
The contraction peaks and slowly ebbs. When I can speak again, I reach for his hand. "The bag is in our bedroom closet. And yes, I can walk. This is normal, remember? Women have been doing this for thousands of years."
"Not my woman," he mutters, but he's already moving toward the stairs, taking them two at a time.
Leo is bouncing on his toes with nervous energy. "Is it happening? Is the baby really coming?"
"She really is," I confirm. "Are you excited to meet your little sister?"
