Page 111 of Truck Stop Titan

Mim dropped to her knees beside me, combing her fingers through my hair in soft strokes. I felt no pain. Only anguish.

Why wasn’t I in pain?

Dane pressed a kiss to my head. “They’re here, gorgeous. They’re gonna take you to the hospital. I’ll be right behind you.”

His face was so pale. His lids so heavy. His grip loosening.

His words slurred. “Mim. Go with your aunt.”

I was lifted out of his arms, laid down.

Our baby. Our baby. Our baby.

“Sir, you’ve been shot,” I heard someone say.

Who’d been shot?

Dane pushed a uniformed man out of the way. “She’s pregnant. Take care of her first.”

Two men surrounded Dane.

“Get them to the fucking hospital,” he roared, rising on shaky legs.

Only then did I notice the blood oozing from his chest. So much blood.

“Dane!” Oh God. “Dane!”

I needed to get to him. I needed to hold him. Why were they taking me away? He needed me.

Slade ran to my side, scooping Mim into her arms. “He’ll be fine, Moriah. They’ll meet us at the hospital. They’ll take good care of him.”

I stretched my neck, tried to call out, but my voice failed me, overcome by pure terror. And I watched, helpless, as Dane fell to the ground.

More uniformed workers surrounded him. I squeezed my eyes closed. I prayed. I prayed. I prayed.

All the way to the hospital, I prayed.

While they examined me.

When they told me there was no heartbeat.

While they scraped my uterine walls, I prayed.

When they moved me to a private room, and Mim crawled into the bed with me, we cried, and I prayed.

I wasn’t brave enough to ask about Dane. I’d lost our baby. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him, too.

The sleeping girl in my arms kept me from falling apart.

God, I loved her.

# # #

“Hey.” Leticia caressed my wrist, rubbing a soothing circle with her thumb.

“Morning.” I rolled to my side, laying a hand over the dull ache in my abdomen. “How’s Mim?”

“She fine. Having breakfast with Slade and Rocky in the cafeteria.”

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