Chapter 12
Norri
Months later, my pregnancy was showing more than ever before. When I found out that I was carrying his child, we were both overjoyed. Each step was a labor, my body aching from the weight and the constant tension that had taken up residence in my muscles. Still, it was worth it.
Our tiny apartment above Mrs. Hargrove's boarding house was barely large enough for the two of us, let alone the life growing inside me. But it was ours, a sanctuary amidst the chaos that had become our lives. We'd been here for months, hiding from El Lobo Negro and his relentless pursuit, trying to build some semblance of a normal life. It was working, but only barely.
Gali was already home, his tall form hunched over the small table, poring over a crumpled map. His dark hair fell across his forehead, and his jaw was shadowed with stubble. He looked up as I entered, his eyes softening when they landed on my belly. A small smile played at the corners of his mouth, but it didn't reach his eyes. Those remained haunted, always watchful, always ready for the next threat. We never felt safe.
"Hey," I said softly, setting the bags down on the counter. "I got some canned beans and tomatoes. And look, they had apples."
Gali stood and crossed the room to me, wrapping his arms around me carefully. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his voice a low rumble against my ear. "That's good, little omega. You're doing well."
I leaned into him, letting his strength support me for a moment. Then I pulled back, my hands going to my belly instinctively. "How was your day?"
Gali's expression darkened. "Same as always. Watching, waiting. Trying to figure out where he might strike next." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But we won't think about that now. Let's eat."
I was thankful we didn't have to think about that right then. I just didn't want to deal with something that stressed me out immediately.
We sat down at the table, our knees brushing under its narrow surface. Gali helped me open the cans, his big hands gentle as he worked. We ate in silence for a while, the only sounds the scrape of forks against plates and the distant hum of traffic outside.
After dinner, Gali cleared the dishes while I settled onto the couch, my feet propped up on a stack of books. I rubbed my belly absently, feeling the baby kick beneath my touch. Gali joined me a moment later, sitting close and pulling my feet into his lap. He began to massage them, his strong fingers working out the knots and kinks. He was so good at that.
"You know," I said, closing my eyes and sighing contentedly, "sometimes I forget. Sometimes I look at you, at this place, and I forget that we're running. That there are people out there who want to hurt us. It's always so good when I don't have to think about that."
Gali's hands stilled for a moment before resuming their rhythm. "It's okay to forget, Norri. It's okay to find moments of peace, even if they're just fleeting."
I opened my eyes and looked at him. "Do you ever wish... Do you ever wish we could go back? To before all this? Before the cartel, before Harvard, even. Just... back to simple."
Gali's gaze was steady, unreadable. "There's no going back, Norri. Only forward. But I don't regret any of it. Because it led me to you."
My heart swelled, and I reached out, taking his hand in mine. "Me too," I whispered. "No matter what happens, I'm glad I found you."
Gali brought my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles. Then he set my feet gently aside and stood, holding out a hand to me. "Come on. Let's get you to bed."
In our bedroom, Gali undressed me slowly, his touch reverent. He helped me into one of his old shirts, the fabric soft and worn, smelling like him. I climbed into bed, watching as he stripped down to his boxers and crawled in beside me.
He spooned behind me, his arm wrapping around my waist, his hand splaying possessively over my belly. I covered his hand with mine, linking our fingers together. We lay like that for a while, just breathing, just being.
"I love you, Gali," I murmured, my eyelids growing heavy.
His voice was a low growl in my ear. "I love you too, Norri. More than anything."
As sleep claimed me, I felt safe and protected. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the cartel, not El Lobo Negro, not the future. There was only Gali, only us, only this love that had grown stronger than fear or danger.
But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, the reality of our situation became harder to ignore. My belly grew larger, heavier, and my body ached constantly. Gali was always there, always helping, always supporting. But I could see the strain on his face, the worry in his eyes. He couldn't stop thinking about the difficulties we were facing.
We were running out of money. Our savings were dwindling, and Gali's occasional jobs weren't bringing in enough to keep us afloat. The baby would be here soon, and we needed more space, more supplies, more everything.
One evening, as I sat on the couch, rubbing my aching back, Gali paced the room, his phone pressed to his ear. He was speaking in hushed tones, his brow furrowed in concentration. When he hung up, he turned to me, his expression grave.
"What is it?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
"That was an old contact," he said, shoving a hand through his hair. "He has a job for me. A big one. It could set us up for a while. Give us some breathing room."
Relief flooded through me, followed by a wave of fear. "What kind of job?"
He hesitated, then sighed. "The kind that could get me killed, Norri. The kind that could leave you alone, pregnant, and vulnerable."
I stood, waddling across the room to him. I took his hands in mine, squeezing tightly. "Then don't do it. We'll find another way. We can't risk losing you, Gali. Not now. Not ever."
Gali looked down at me, his eyes shimmering with determination. "This isn't just about money, little omega. This is about ending this once and for all. If I take this job, I can hit El Lobo where it hurts most. I can dismantle his operations and weaken him. It's risky, yes. But it's worth it. For you, for our child, and our future."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "And what if something goes wrong? What if you don't come back?"
Gali cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear. "Nothing will go wrong. I promise you, Norri. I'll come back. I always come back to you."
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust in his strength, in his skill, in his promise. But fear gnawed at me, a constant, insidious presence. I was terrified of losing him. Terrified of being left alone, pregnant, and scared, with no one to protect me, no one to help me raise our child. I couldn't let that happen.
But I also knew that Gali was right. This wasn't just about money. This was about our future, about our freedom. And if Gali thought this was the way to achieve it, then I had to trust him. I had to have faith in him.
So, I nodded, swallowing back my fears. "Okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Okay, Gali. Do what you need to do. But please, please be careful."
Gali pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around me and our baby. "I will, little omega," he murmured against my hair. "I will."
Over the next few days, Gali prepared for the job. He spent hours poring over maps and files, talking in low voices on the phone, packing weapons and gear. I tried to stay busy, cleaning the apartment, cooking meals, trying to keep my mind off the impending danger, but it wasn't easy.
On the day before Gali was due to leave, I woke up feeling strange. My stomach was cramping and my back aching worse than usual. I groaned as I rolled out of bed, clutching my belly.
Gali was instantly awake, sitting up and reaching for me. "Norri? What's wrong?"
"I don't know," I gasped, doubling over. "It hurts, Gali. Something's wrong."
Panic flashed across Gali's face, but he quickly masked it, taking control. "Okay, okay. Let's get you to the hospital."
He helped me dress, grabbed our things, and rushed me downstairs and into a cab. The ride to the hospital was a blur of pain and fear. Gali held my hand, his grip tight, his jaw clenched.
At the hospital, they wheeled me straight into a delivery room. Doctors and nurses bustled around me, their faces serious. Gali stayed by my side, his hand never leaving mine.
"Is it too early?" I cried, tears streaming down my face. "Is something wrong with the baby?"
A nurse smiled reassuringly at me. "You're only thirty-six weeks, dear. That's not too early. And your baby looks strong. Now let's focus on getting you through this, okay?"
I nodded, clinging to Gali's hand as another contraction hit. The pain was intense, unlike anything I'd ever experienced. It felt like my body was tearing itself apart from the inside.
Hours passed in a haze of agony and exhaustion. Gali never left my side, coaching me through each contraction, wiping the sweat from my forehead, reminding me to breathe. His voice was steady, calm, unwavering. It was the only thing keeping me grounded and sane.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doctor announced that it was time to push. With a last, herculean effort, I bore down, pushing with everything I had. And then, suddenly, it was over. The pain subsided, replaced by a strange, euphoric relief.
I collapsed back against the pillows, panting, as the sound of a baby crying filled the room. Gali leaned over me, his face pale but smiling, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
"It's him, Norri," he whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "We have our son."
They placed our baby on my chest, swaddled in a soft blanket. He was perfect, his tiny features scrunched up, his fists waving in the air. I looked up at Gali, my heart overflowing with love and gratitude.
"He's beautiful," I murmured, tears spilling down my cheeks. "Thank you, Gali. Thank you for bringing him into the world safely."
Gali's gaze was fierce, protective. "Always, little omega. Always."