Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
Jack
Five Months Later
“Can’t believe you would show your face again after slipping out in the dark,” I said.
Dante smirked.
“I had somewhere to be, but I owe you and Clan Marku owes you. Neither of us leaves obligations unfulfilled,” Dante said.
“You owe me, yet here you sit at my table, taking up space and resources,” I said.
“Had to check the place out. But I got a couple things that I think will more than make up,” he said.
“I’m listening,” I said.
“I need to talk to the lady in charge,” Dante said.
I smiled, but didn’t contradict him. “Me first,” I said.
“You really think your brother’s still out there?” Dante said. He chuckled at my arched brow. “I figured your casual questions weren’t so casual. Lourdes filled in the blanks, and before you take it out on her, she asked if I could help.”
“Sounds like her. And yeah, he is,” I said. I had to believe that he was.
“Got a couple guys willing to go look for him with you,” Dante said.
“Another mission. Just to help me out? I’m skeptical, Dante,” I said. My words were calm, but I tried to ignore the way my heart pounded.
“Like I said, big country out there. Lots of resources. Looking for places to expand. Don’t see why helping you out a little bit at the same time would hurt.”
“Yeah, I’ll pass,” I said.
Dante quirked a brow.
“Can’t risk it,” I said. “Baby’s coming in a few… I can’t risk it.”
I wanted to look, just to put eyes on Asia, so I stood and glanced out the kitchen window.
“Stubborn-ass woman,” I muttered.
“Won’t stay put, huh?”
“No,” I said, ignoring my displeasure as I watched her try to weed the vegetable garden. Miles was next to her, and she practically pulled the kid to the ground trying to get down in the dirt.
“Well, what’s your brother’s name?” he said.
The softness in my chest at watching her faded, choked up at the mention of Evan.
“Evan. Evan Thorne,” I said.
“All right. Well, as to the other thing, looks like you and the missus don’t have so long before the little one comes,” he said.
“Yeah. Not sure, though,” I said.
“Great. Wait here,” he said.
Dante stood, and I watched Asia as I listened to him leave and hop into the SUV he drove up in.
Asia came back into the kitchen, wiping her brow before she settled one hand on her hip and let the other rest on her rounded stomach. I walked over to her and put my hand on hers. “You doing okay?” I asked.
She chuckled and patted her stomach. “Other than your son kicking the crap out of me, I’m fine.”
“I’m telling Levi on you,” I said.
“You know what snitches get, Jackson,” she said.
I frowned at her, but gently rubbed her belly again.
“You have to start taking it easy,” I said.
“Yes, sir,” she said.
I shook my head, then put a glass of water in front of her.
“Dante gone so soon?” she said.
“You said he’d be back,” I said.
“Looks like he will be,” Asia responded.
The sSUV drove back up the drive, and Dante got out, but this time, he wasn’t alone.
“Brought us another mouth to feed, I see,” I said, looking up and down at the woman through the window before I went to meet them outside.
She stood at the bottom of the stairs next to Dante when I made it outside.
“Jackson Thorne, meet Miranda Warren, formerly chief of obstetrics at Atlanta Metro.”
The woman looked me up and down. “Dante, I don’t think your friend here is in need of my services,” she said.
“You’re a doctor?” I said.
The woman looked at Dante. He didn’t look at her, but I didn’t miss the little twitch in his fingers. “You heard the man,” she finally responded.
I looked at Dante.
“Yeah. Thought she might be helpful.”
“Maybe. This is a farm, not a hospital. There’s only so much I can do,” she said.
“Don’t sell yourself short, Doc,” he said.
She scowled at him, then looked at me. “I’m assuming there’s a pregnant woman here.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Come in.”
The woman followed me into the house, and with each step, relief hit me like a ton of bricks.
“My equipment is limited, but I can do a check and see what we have going on,” she said as we made our way to the kitchen.
When we got there, Asia was standing, and I was sure she overheard the conversation. She looked at me, I looked at her, and she burst into tears.
The doctor seemed unbothered and walked over to Asia, her hand extended. “I’m Miranda Warren. Pleased to meet you.”
Asia wiped her tears and then wiped her hand on her pants and shook the doctor’s. “Sorry. Hormones and whatnot.” Her brows dropped, the weight she tried so hard to pretend she wasn’t carrying falling from her face. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Warren.”
The doctor smiled. “Just Miranda. Would you be open to me performing an examination?”
Asia smiled and nodded, words having failed her.
We went to the small parlor bedroom, and I held Asia’s hand as the doctor conducted her exam. Her movements were practiced, rote in the most reassuring way.
She measured Asia’s belly with a tape measure and listening to her heart and lungs, did a breast and vaginal exam. Then she flipped on the handheld Doppler Dante brought into the house, squirted gel on Asia’s belly, and I heard a sound I never once imagined I would.
Thud-thud, thud-thud, thud-thud.
Listening to that galloping thud had my chest twisted with emotion I didn’t have a name for.
There was even a crack in Miranda’s professional facade. She smiled. “Good, strong heartbeat. Based on measurements, I’d say you’re thirty-eight weeks. Maybe thirty-seven if the baby’s big.”
“So soon then?” Asia looked from Miranda to me and back again.
Her smile was brighter. “Any day now.”