31. Thirty
Thirty
Kayleigh
W hen I go back to class two days later, Sarah comes in and glares at me. I know for a fact that Erik had words with the dean about his daughter. I knew Daid donated money to the school, but I didn’t know Erik had as well. Erik pulled his funding out, and then he called Daid to do the same.
I guess her daddy isn’t happy because she wanted to be a bitch and now, he has lost funding. I tried to tell them not to do it as it’s not fair to the other students who could benefit from it, but they wouldn’t agree. However, I was able to convince them to put money toward scholarships.
And, oh boy, the anger radiating from her when she sees my engagement ring. First, she says it looks like he doesn’t love me that much because he gave me a small ring, and it takes everything in me not to throttle her. But I couldn’t put my baby at risk and decided to be mature.
“You might think it is small, but this ring has been handed down for generations, and the fact he chose to give it to me and not his ex-wife must mean something.”
I laugh when she screeches and storms off. If she was a cartoon, she would have steam coming from her ears.
Today my classes end early, and I told Erik I was going to go to a baby boutique to look around for ideas of how I want to set up the nursey. Which is why I’m currently rolling my eyes while I’m texting him.
I just finished my meeting. I will meet you there.
You mean you canceled your meetings to come shopping with me.
I’m the boss, and if I want to cancel my meetings to go shopping with my fiancée, then I can.
Just admit you are coming so you can be an overprotective Viking and watch me with your own eyes.
Brat. I will see you soon.
I put my phone away and shake my head, turning to Darius. “Can you get your brother to calm down on the Viking act?”
He just laughs at me. “Do you think I am a god? I don’t think there is a single person on this earth who could stop Erik.”
I sink back into my seat and groan. “I guess I will just have to deal with it.”
“Basically.”
“Thanks for the help.”
“Anytime,” he says with a wink as he climbs out of the vehicle. I wait until he opens my door and helps me out. He stays by my side as we walk inside the boutique, but I let him know I’m going to go to the bathroom before I start shopping.
“I will wait outside the door for you.”
“I promise not to take too long,” I joke. It seems like all I do these days is pee. His chuckle is cut off when I shut the door.
“What are you doing here?” I ask in shock when I see Eva with her hip resting against the sink.
“It’s time we have a little chat.”
“No, I have nothing to say to you.”
“But I have something to say to you.” She smirks while stepping closer to me. I reach for the door handle, but she yanks me by my shirt, causing me to fall on my hands and knees.
“You promised you would leave Erik alone.”
“I left Scottland.”
“Yes, and you should have stayed away, but you didn’t. Not only that, you came back pregnant.” She sneers pointing at my stomach. I slowly stand to my feet and cradle my stomach in my arms. “How do you have that?”
“What?”
“The Duncan family ring! You stole it!”
“It’s my engagement ring.”
“You stupid fucking bitch, ruining all my plans.” She sneers as she tries to smack me across my face, but I grab her hand and push her away.
“You are not going to lay your hands on me. Especially while I’m pregnant with Erik’s baby. You know the hell he will bring down on you if you hurt either of us.”
“Doesn’t matter, that baby will not be surviving much longer.”
“What?” I ask, and before I know it, my legs are kicked out from underneath me and I fall to my stomach.
“NO! My baby!” I scream.
“Stupid whore. No worries, we will take care of you soon enough,” she whispers as I watch in horror as Eva brings down a syringe and plunges it into my thigh.
“What did you do?”
“I killed your baby, and I will be back to kill you.” She stands and I watch as a man drops down from the ceiling.
“Because if I can’t have Erik’s baby, then no one will.” She walks over to the man, who stands on the toilet, lifts her up, and then climbs up after her.
“HELP! Darius!” I yell and get no answer. I grab my necklace and hit the button. I can hear it chirp on a phone outside the bathroom door and a few others nearby. Why isn’t anyone coming in?
“HELPPPPPPP!” I scream. I curl in a ball and wail when my stomach becomes hard and I feel like vines are wrapped around my belly, squeezing it.
“Please, someone help me.”
“Ahh!” Another pain washes over me. “I’m so sorry, baby. Please hold on. I promise I will get you help,” I beg.
“Kayleigh! Move away from the door, I’m coming in,” I hear Darius yell. I stay where I am and the door slams against the wall.
“Oh fuck!” Darius mumbles as he takes in my position on the floor.
“What happened?”
“Eva was in here and she injected something in my leg. I can’t lose my baby,” I wail.
“Come on, let’s get you to the hospital. I will call Erik.”
Erik
On my way out of my office, my assistant stops me to let me know the wedding planner had gotten back in contact with her. Kayleigh wants to be married before our baby is born, which I am hundred percent on board with.
To keep Kayleigh’s life as stress free as possible, I’m letting the wedding planner deal with everything. Kayleigh will tell her what she wants, and the wedding planner will make it happen or she will be out of a job.
Chirp. Chirp.
Dread fills my stomach as I pull out my phone and see Kayleigh has activated her necklace. I don’t bother saying anything to my assistant and haul ass out of the office. Darius calls me as I’m speeding toward the boutique. “I have her. Eva injected her with something. We are on our way to the hospital.”
“Is she okay?”
“She passed out. We will be there in two minutes.”
“I’ll meet you there.” I hang up and floor it the rest of the way. My tires squeal when I slam on the brakes in front of the hospital. I toss my keys to one of the valets, not caring what happens to my car. I need to be by Kayleigh’s side.
The receptionist jumps when I slam my hands on the desk. “My fiancée is being brought in, I need to know where she is.”
“What’s her name.”
“Kayleigh O’Sullivan.”
“Let me check; I don’t see her name in yet.”
“Call whoever you need to, my brother is bringing her in. She is pregnant and passed out after being attacked.”
“Let me make a call. Why don’t you take a seat?”
“I’m not moving until I’m with my fiancée.” She motions for me to step aside, but I don’t move a muscle. She sighs and picks up the phone. I wait what seems like forever but maybe a minute later, she hangs up the phone.
“Go through those doors, take the elevator to the fifth floor, and the nurses will be able to direct you to your fiancée’s room.” I mumble thanks before rushing through the doors.
“Are you Kayleigh O’Sullivan’s fiancé?” a nurse asks when I rush to the nurse’s station.
“Yes, where is she?” I demand.
“Follow me.” I don’t say anything. I can feel the anger radiating off me in waves. If anything happens to Kayleigh or my baby, I’m going on a murder spree until I find Eva and Brodie. I see Darius sitting outside a room that has nurses and doctors going in and out.
I pace up and down the space in front of her door. I want to go in there, but I know I will get in the way.
“What happened?”
“You already know she was out when I called you, but she has been in and out of consciousness. When I told the nurses that she had been attacked and injected with something they rushed her in here, and since then it has been a revolving door of staff.”
“Go hunt that bitch and her demented nephew down. I want them captured and held until I can deal with them. Grab her little fuck toy too. It’s time for Eva to pay for her sins.”
“Already have Grant tracking them.”
Two hours later, and after multiple threats to nurses, the doctor finally emerges from Kayleigh’s door.
“Family of Kayleigh O’Sullivan?”
“I’m her fiancé, Erik Duncan.”
“Erik Duncan.” His face pales and I can see the fear in his eyes.
“Yes, you know who I am?”
“Yes, Mr. Duncan.”
“Good. I expect my fiancée to get nothing but the best care.”
“Of course.”
“Tell me what happened and what is wrong with my fiancée and baby.”
“They both are safe for now. Your fiancée has a minor concussion though. It seems like whoever injected your fiancée, it was a with the intent of killing the baby.”
“Did they?”
“No, we were able to save the baby, but they are not completely out of the woods yet.”
“Okay, what do we need to do?”
“She is on mandatory bedrest for the rest of her pregnancy, and she needs to be seen by her OB/GYN at least twice a week.”
“I can arrange for an OB/GYN to see her everyday if you think that is what they need.”
“For now, I think it would be best, or at a minimum, every other day. The baby’s heartbeat is high because of the drugs and it needs to be watched closely.”
“What can we do to help keep the heartrate down?”
“Your fiancée needs to be as stress free as possible. The baby feels everything she does.”
“Okay, is there anything else I need to know?”
“She needs to stay here for a few days so we can monitor both of them. Let her get some rest, but please let us know when she is awake. A nurse will be by soon to escort you to her room.” I nod, and within a few minutes, I am inside her room.
“Thank you,” I tell the nurse. I wait until she closes the door and bend down, kissing Kayleigh’s forehead. “Seamrag bhea, rest. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
I pull out my phone and tell Darius to get security to the hospital as Kayleigh is being admitted. After that I sit down in the chair next to her bed and hold her hand. I kiss her palm. Hearing the beeping from the monitors is enough to temporarily soothe the anger inside me.
“I promise I will make them pay for hurting both of you.”
“Erik,” I hear my seamrag bhea whisper. I push all my murderous thoughts to the back of my head.
“Seamrag bhea. Thank god you’re okay,” I say, choking back my tears.
Her hands cup her swollen belly. “Is the baby…?”
“The baby survived.”
“What else, Erik?”
“You are on strict bedrest for the rest of your pregnancy, as the baby isn’t completely out of the woods.”
“Okay. I don’t care; I will do whatever I need to.”
“I know we will. I’m here, and you’re not doing this alone.”
“I know,” she says softly while stroking her stomach. I bend down and place a lingering kiss on her belly.
“Our baby is a fighter like their mama.”
“I’m scared,” she admits while tears roll down her cheeks. I lean up and cup her face with my hands.
“I know you are. I am too, but we will do whatever the doctors tell us.”
“Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Make sure her death is long and painful.”
“Don’t worry, she will regret the day she ever crossed your path.”