Page 43 of Confined Space

"Yeah, I was able to rework my schedule because I have to go in early tomorrow."

"I have to get back to work."

"I've got little man. Kiss me. We’ll bring you dinner in a couple of hours. Okay?"

"Are you sure you got this?" I wave my hand behind me.

"Yep. Now kiss me and get back to work."

I lean up on my toes as he pulls me up more and kisses me. I'm dizzy and want to spend time with him, but I need to get back to work. I smile as I rush over to my car and take off. When I pull out, I notice Rowdy is talking to the deputy and the head of the daycare. I hope they don't kick Archer out because of what happened.

* * *

Another day down, and I'm tired from meeting with CPS this morning. Ramona called for another visit because of what happened at the daycare yesterday. My attorney was with me, so he was able to keep things under control and demanded again that I have a different caseworker because of the conflict of interest on her part. JoAnna decided to take some time off from work, and Archer is home with her to keep him safe. I've tried to have a discussion with Rowdy about him adopting Archer, but he insists it's what he wants to do no matter the status of our relationship.

The phone rings, and I notice it's from the switchboard. I say a silent prayer that it's not going to be anything bad.

"ER, this is Coral."

"Coral, we need you to come out front right away. There is a belligerent man out here who says he’s your boyfriend. We've contacted security and they are on their way. Give it about five minutes for them to arrive,” the front desk admissions representative states. Well, so much for my prayer.

My boyfriend? Rowdy wouldn't act that way. Plus, he comes straight back because he can badge through with his ID. I get another nurse to watch the desk and then make my way toward the entrance. I'm walking slow enough to allow security time to get there, but if it's Rowdy, I don't know what could have set him off. I still haven't told him about how Archer was conceived.

I push through the heavy fire doors and instantly stop. Davis is standing there yelling at the front desk admissions girls and security.

"I demand to see my girlfriend right now. You can't keep me from her."

"I'm not your girlfriend," I yell. I can't stop myself. How dare he make that claim. I was never his girlfriend. We went out on one date before that fateful night and then he did what he did.

"Coral, is there a problem? We've called the sheriff’s office already."

"Davis, you can't come here and cause problems. This is my place of employment. Leave."

"I want to see my child. You can't keep me from my child. That’s cruel." He turns to me and yells back.

Everyone turns to look at me like I'm the villain when he's the crazy person here. He signed papers stating he held no responsibility for my unborn child and had them delivered to me.

"You are forcing me to get a restraining order against you, Davis. You can't be here." I lower my voice to try to calm him. But all it does is enrage him more.

His hand flashes out like a snake striking, and he grabs my hair and yanks me toward him. His other hand grips my left arm, and I cry out when he twists it up behind my back as he moves us around. I recently got the okay to keep the hard brace off. My arm was healing earlier than expected. Security moves closer, trying to extricate me from his grasp.

"You are making this worse, Coral. Let me see my child, or I'll make you sorry," he says loud enough for the others to hear, but then his head drops down close to mine. "I'll kill you both if you don't give it up now," he hisses so only I can hear. In the struggle, he's twisted my arm up more.

"Help me," I cry as I feel the bones about ready to snap again. "My arm."

"Let her go,” a deputy says as he holds out his Taser. If he shoots Davis with that while he’s touching me, I'll be shocked as well.

"Do it," Davis says, obviously he knows that too.

My back is to Davis's chest and I'm in the way. I'll take the brunt of the shot. I plead with my eyes to the officer, the pain from my arm too great to open my mouth and say anything. They can't get to him. I grit my teeth as Davis aims us toward the door, where more officers arrive. I see Logan making his way in, and the look of pity in his eyes tells me he knows who this is. I'm not shocked, but Davis is when Logan says his full name.

"Winston Davis Steingold the fourth, let her go. You don't want to make this worse than it already is. You don't want the press to catch wind of this when your father is up for reelection now, do you? He might be a representative for California, but people around here know who he is too." Logan goes for the low and obvious blow.

"How? How do you know who I am?" Davis, who goes by his middle name because his father is named Winston and so is his grandfather, utters against my head in confusion.

"I know. Now let Coral go. You don't want to hurt her."

"She won't let me see my child. She is keeping my baby from me." Davis tries to get sympathy for himself. Always the politician, he is trying to use public opinion against me. But I'm the hostage, he isn't.

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