Page 36 of Baratta's Darkness

Pointing at my brother, “Look how pale he is. The blood is draining from his face. Get it? Blood is losing blood.” Miranda and Bella snicker but nobody finds it as funny as I do. If looks could kill my brother would be committing murder right now.

“Mina, what time is Timber supposed to be picking you up?”

“In about fifteen minutes.”

“Call him. If he hasn’t left yet he can grab your go bag. Bella are you her birth coach?”

“Yes”

“Good. Call the hospital; let them know she is on her way. Then call Blade. I assume he is watching the kids.”

“No, we had already planned for them to stay at Mom’s tonight. She offered to give us some time alone.”

He is giving out orders. I wonder what he is going to tell me to do.

“Miranda dear, we will follow them to the hospital. We aren’t staying. We are going to help Mina settle in, and then you are going to bed. You haven’t slept much at all this week”

She looks like she wants to argue with him but one look at Mina stops her.

“Fiona,” he pauses to think. “Fiona, go home. I’ll have Butcher walk you back. Before you get all hot, think about it. The hospital staff won’t see you as family and it could be hours before the baby is actually born.”

Sadly I have to admit, my brother is right, so while he goes outside and yells down the street for Butcher, we say our goodbyes. Mina hugs me, promising to have someone update me every couple of hours.

I can’t resist poking at Blood when he comes back in. “You know you could have just texted him.”

“Shut up Brat.” He growls at me. I'm speechless. My brother, the boy I stitched up almost daily when we were kids. The man that covered up a double homicide for me, just growled at me. My jaw drops. I can’t believe my brother just growled at me.

“Close your mouth Fiona; you’ll catch flies if you keep your jaw hanging open like that. You know I love you but now is not the time for your humor.”

Just then Butcher charges through the door, gun drawn looking for trouble.

“Butcher, walk my sister home.”

“You screamed down the street like a Banshee, for me to walk your sister home? Why didn’t you just text me?”

I lose it, I’m doubled over laughing. When Mina pipes in, “That’s what she said.” I hit the floor. I can’t even stand up, I’m laughing so hard. I crawl over to Miranda and rub her belly.

“I can’t wait for you to be born Little Bean. You and Me, we are going to drive your Daddy crazy.”

Butcher just looks at all of us like we have lost our minds. “What is going on, Blood?”

“Mina is in labor. Timber and Blade are on their way here. I’m following them to the hospital. Please make sure my sister gets home safe. Thank you.”

Everyone clears out pretty quickly after that. I take a minute to calm myself, before telling Butcher I’m ready. Bella left the keys with him, so he can lock up behind us.

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