Page 115 of Gangster's Empire: Leeza & Havel

“Don’t be a jerk.” She pressed her hand to her stomach when the pressure increased. “My plan won’t change.”

“Okay, okay.” He tried to pick her up again.

“Stop it!” She stepped away from him and Kris moved in front of her, crossing his arms and staring hard at Havel. “You can’t pick me up, it’ll put too much pressure on the baby.”

Havel looked stricken. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Leeza swallowed her snappish response, reminding herself to be nice. He was worried about her and it wasn’t his fault she was beyond ready to have this baby. She wanted to be able to see her feet again, sleep through the night without having to get up to pee, and tuck Kris into bed without having to call for backup to help her get off the bed.

“The doula is on her way and Shaun isn’t far behind,” Leeza reassured him. “She’s finishing up at the hospital, then she’ll be right here.”

“She should be here now.” Havel paced, running a hand over his head. “You shouldn’t be alone.”

“I’m not alone,” she argued. “I have Kris and Ayaan is somewhere close by.”

“I mean medical personnel.”

Leeza wound her arms around his neck to stop him from pacing. It was awkward with her belly, but she went up on her toes and pulled his head down for a kiss. “I know what you mean, lásko, but I am truly fine. I want this birth to be everything my first one wasn’t.” She’d been in the hospital and alone through the whole thing.

He knew it, but apparently needed a reminder.

He took a long, deep breath. “Of course, sweetheart. You’ll have everything you want.”

“And you won’t interfere?” she asked.

“I won’t interfere,” he agreed, his tone chagrined. “I won’t cause you any needless stress.”

She knew it took a lot for him to exert iron control over his terror. His family was the one thing that could send him on a rampage.

“Will you help me set up the pool?” She took his hand and pulled him out of Kris’s room.

“Don’t you think – ”

“We’re doing the water birth,” she said. “No more arguing.”

They’d been fighting over Leeza’s birth plan from the moment they found out she was pregnant. Leeza wanted to make the birth a joyous occasion, surrounded by people she loved as she brought her new son or daughter into the world. She’d chosen a water birth and had hired a doula to help. Shaun would attend the actual birth once Leeza was ready to push.

The only kink in the plan was Havel.

He’d fired the doula twice and Shaun three times, insisting they would fly in the best obstetrician in the world who would give Leeza a painless C-section at the hospital.

Leeza had calmly rehired her birthing team and ignored Havel’s overreactive behaviour. He would get there eventually, he just needed to realize that Leeza was right and he was wrong.

Havel pulled the pool into the living room and filled it with air. It looked like a children’s play pool, but it was shaped in an oval so Leeza could rest her arms on the sides, and there was a seat in it.

A knock at the door had Havel reaching for his gun. Leeza grabbed his wrist. “Do you really think a hostile is going to knock before attacking us?” She made her way slowly to the door, but Havel got there first. His hand was on the butt of his pistol as he checked the peephole. “Your sister.”

Saskia bustled through, her arms laden with a giant stuffed panda and a bouquet of balloons. “We’re having a baby!” She threw her arms around Leeza, wrapping her in balloon ribbons.

Havel extricated Leeza. “Why all the gifts? The baby won’t care.”

“It’s not for the baby.” Saskia shoved the oversized panda at Kris, tipping him over. He giggled, sitting up with his arms firmly around the neck of his new bear. “I’ll spoil the baby when it can understand how cool Aunty Saskia is.”

Another knock announced the arrival of Katerina, the doula, followed a few minutes later by Shaun and Ayaan.

“Too many people,” Havel grumbled as the living room shrank with each arrival.

Leeza loved it. It was exactly what she wanted. To be surrounded by the people who loved and supported her. Babi was the last to arrive, coming from next door with her walker.

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