Page 168 of Merciless Desires

Darragh.

I wave, but then something shifts, and I see he’s talking to a woman. With a very big smile on his face. My throat closes, remembering Cormac’s comment of how Darragh got rid of his wife. That he’ll get rid of me, too.

But already?

My stomach revolts. I can’t watch this. Instead, I stare at Sophie’s cracked phone screen, wishing I had someone to call. I can’t even call Katya, because I heard Papa took her phone away. That was the only number of hers I know by heart. The only other number saved on Sophie’s phone is Cormac’s.

God, I feel so utterly alone.

I duck behind a pillar, watching Darragh, who looks smitten with the woman. Sure, why would he want a big ol’ pregnant woman whose family will bring him nothing but trouble?

I turn to walk away when a pain even worse than the other night hits me, and I drop Sophie’s phone again. I feel a little popping sensation between my legs, and warm liquid gushes down the inside of my thighs, soaking my jeans.

Jesus Christ, I think my water just broke.

I glance up nervously and sigh. At least I’m already at the hospital.

I clutch the check-in desk at the Emergency entrance a half block down from the hospital’s main lobby. “I think I’m having my baby.”

“How far apart are your contractions?” The receptionist stands up and snaps her fingers to get someone’s attention.

“I don’t know. But my water broke.”

“Name?”

I breathe heavily, considering giving yet another false name. Darragh registered me here. They’ll contact him. I don’t want to see him right now, but… Sophie. No, it’s not about me anymore. It’s not about wounded pride that he may have been flirting with someone. He and I are nothing. He doesn’t owe me anything in that department.

I didn’t come here to be his.

“Ma’am? Are you all right? Can I call your husband?” She looks down at my hand, but it means nothing. At the prenatal class, most of the pregnant women complained of swollen fingers and the inability to wear their rings.

“My name is Ana Michaels. I had a couple of ultrasounds here. I just… I just moved to Seattle.”

A woman in scrubs approaches me with a wheelchair. “Ma’am, have a seat. We’ll bring you into the birthing and delivery center.”

“Here you are.” The receptionist’s eyes lift to me. “You’re…with Dr. O’Rourke.”

I close my eyes. “Um. Yeah.”

“Does he know you’re here?”

“No. I was… I was across the street. Meeting a friend. I… I don’t want to bother him.” I lower into the wheelchair, feeling the wetness on my ass.

“I’ll page him.” The receptionist barks something to the woman, who’s escorting me, and it’s all administrative jargon.

I’m wheeled past a set of double doors and into chaos when the pain hits again. I cry out, unable to hold anything in anymore. I’m cracked open and done.

“Breathe, honey,” the woman pushing me says.

“I’m trying!” I snap, full of fear, thinking this sudden and advanced labor may be my reaction to seeing Darragh with that woman. And stupid Cormac’s comment about how he’ll want to get rid of me after the baby is born.

I’ve fallen for him, and I’m so upset, I can’t breathe!

“I can’t get a hold of Dr. O’Rourke,” the nurse says.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her he’s outside, flirting with a woman.

“Put her in bay four. Dr. Federov reviewed her ultrasound. I’ll call him.”

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