35. Thirty-Four
Thirty-Four
Erk
“T ell me where he is,” I demand as I press my knife against Brodie’s friend William’s throat.
“I can’t tell you.”
“You can and you will.”
William shakes his head. The fucker has already peed himself and has puke at his feet. I don’t care what he does. He can piss, shit, and vomit on himself for all I care, but I am not leaving here until I find out where Brodie is. It has been months since Emilia tortured Eva. The next day I left Kayleigh at home with the De Lucas and went to Zimbabwe with a team only to find his friend’s house empty. It seems like Brodie has more friends than I thought, and he was keeping William hidden until William made the mistake of using his credit card in Portland—where I sent Darius with a team to drag his sorry ass back here.
Even though I wanted to go with them, no way was I leaving Kayleigh this far along in her pregnancy. Hell, I hated being away from her just to go to the office.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then help me understand, William.”
“Brodie said if I said anything, he would go after my girlfriend.”
“You tell me what I want to know, and she will be safe from him.”
“Promise me. Please. I have been at the mercy of Brodie and I can’t have her suffer because my college roommate is a psychopath.”
“I promise. What is her name?”
“Phoebe Anderson.”
I nod and after a moment he starts to talk. “He wants you to believe he is in America, but he is with his grandfather waiting for something. He supposedly has plans, but I don’t know what they are.”
“Thank you.”
“Am I free to leave?”
I chuckle darkly. “Did you think after you refused to tell me about Brodie I would let you live?”
“But I told you.”
“Yes, but I had to force it out of you. And you are a risk I can’t have.”
“I’m not a risk.”
“Look how easy you gave in to me. I didn’t have to draw any of your blood.”
“Please,” he starts to beg, but I ignore it when I see Kayleigh is calling me.
Erik: Seamrag bhea I start to ask her why she is awake at four a.m., but she cuts me off.
Kayleigh: Erik, something is wrong, I’m bleeding.
I run out of the room.
Erik: I’m on my way, seamrag bhea. Where are you?
Kayleigh: In our bathroom.
Erik: Okay, I’m sending Ember to help you.
Kayleigh: Hurry, Erik.
Erik: I will.
I hang up and immediately call Darius, who is at home.
Darius: Hey, Erik. Did you get answers?
Erik: That isn’t important right now. Kayleigh called me and she is bleeding. I need you and Ember to stay with her; I’m only a few minutes out.
Darius: I’ll carry her out to an SUV so she is ready for you.
Erik: Thanks. Call Rowan and have him deal with the friend.
I hang up and continue speeding the rest of the way. My tires squeal as I slam my brakes behind the SUV which is idling in front of the house. I jump out, leaving my door wide open, find the SUV empty, rush inside the house, and before I can call her name I hear Kayleigh scream. I run up the stairs two at a time. I see her in Darius’s arms and clutching his shirt in her hands. When I stop and scan down her body I see blood pooling under Darius’s feet and a trail of it coming from our room. I am once again paralyzed with fear that she may not make it.
“Erik,” she cries out, begging for me. I swallow my fear and step up to them and gently lift her into my arms.
“I’m here, seamrag bhea,” I tell her, kissing the top of her head and hurrying out to the SUV.
“I’m scared,” she says with big fat tears rolling down her cheeks.
“I know, I am too. I will be with you every step of the way.” She nods and buries her head in my chest. Darius has the door open for us to climb into the backseat. He quickly runs around to the driver’s seat. Freya gets in on the other side of me and has a cool cloth she puts to Kayleigh’s forehead.
“Deep breaths. I know it hurts,” she coos softly to Kayleigh, who nods but still holds tight to my shirt.
“I called the O’Sullivans,” Freya whispers to me. I give her a thankful nod but don’t take my eyes off Kayleigh.
When we get to the hospital, I rush out of the SUV, yelling for help.
“HELP! My fiancée needs help!”
A nurse rushes out and mumbles, “Oh shit,” before yelling to another staff member to get a gurney and notify maternity they have a bleeding pregnant woman on their way up. In a few moments they wheel a gurney in front of me and I gently lower Kayleigh down. She grabs me, and I move her hand to my hand.
“I’m right here; I’m not going anywhere.”
“Alright, Dad, let’s go.” A male nurse gives us a reassuring smile, but we hurry to the elevator before rushing Kayleigh into a room. A doctor is already there waiting for her when she is wheeled inside. The doctor looks at the blood under me and then at my clothes.
“How far along is she?”
“She is thirty weeks.”
He turns to the nurse. “Page OR and let them know we are heading that way to do an emergency cesarean on a thirty-week-pregnant woman.”
“She has been on bedrest for months because of a high-risk pregnancy.”
“What is your name? I will read her chart while I prep.”
“Kayleigh Duncan,” she responds. In my mind I’m already her husband.
“Okay. A nurse will be in here to help you get ready for surgery. Dad, if you are going to be in the room with us, you will have to scrub up as well.”
“I’m not leaving her side.”
“I will have a nurse bring scrubs in for you,” he says before quickly leaving the room. Kayleigh looks at me with huge tears running down her cheeks. I cup her face, wiping them away.
“I know, seamrag bhea. Both of you will be okay; you have to be,” I say resting my forehead against hers.
“Sorry to interrupt, but it’s time to get Mom and Dad ready to meet their baby,” a sweet, older nurse says as she walks in with two other nurses. They come closer as I move my head off Kayleigh’s; the older woman has a pile of clothing in her hands.
“Alright, sweetheart. Let’s get you into these hospital gowns. Do you want help?” the nurse asks me. Kayleigh looks up at me. I extend my hand to the nurse, and she hands me the hospital gown. “Your scrubs are there too. We will step outside, and once you’re both dressed, let us know and we will get Mom all hooked up.”
They leave and I lift Kayleigh’s bloody nightgown over her head then drag her underwear down her legs and throw them away. I hate seeing her this quiet and withdrawn.
“Talk to me,” I say gently.
“I’m just scared, but you get changed.”
I give her a peck on the lips before shedding my bloody suit and dressing in the paper scrubs. I feel like if I move the wrong way, I could shred this damn thing.
“You look like your muscles are about to burst through the material.” Kayleigh giggles.
“You don’t say,” I tell her sarcastically, which causes her to giggle again.
I walk to the door and open it; the nurses are against the wall.
“Oh my,” one of the younger ones says.
“Be careful in that. You might give one of my nurses a heart attack,” the witty old nurse tells me.
“Can’t have that. Plus, I don’t want to piss off my seamrag bhea .”
“Smart man.” She turns her attention to Kayleigh, who is glaring at the younger nurse who has her eyes on me.
“Alright, Mom. Who is ready to have a baby? I’m sure they are eager to meet their parents.” Kayleigh moves her eyes from the younger nurse to the older nurse who begins barking orders at the others. I stand at Kayleigh’s side, holding her hand as they insert IV’s and hook up monitors for Kayleigh and the baby. Within ten minutes, Kayleigh has been given an epidural, and I’m at her head as the doctor starts cutting her open.
“I love you,” I whisper to her.
“I love you too,” she whispers on broken sob.
“Alright, Little Miss Eager. Time to get you off to the NICU,” the doctor says.
“A girl,” I whisper. Kayleigh silently nods as we listen to her cry.
“She’s per…” I look from the nurse wheeling my daughter away to Kayleigh. Her eyes are closed.
“Kayleigh?” She doesn’t respond. “Kayleigh!” I hear the monitors going crazy.
“Get him out of here.”
“Sir, come with us,” someone tells me as they gently lay a hand on my arm. I rip it away from me.
“No, I told her I would stay by her side.”
“I know you did, but if you want her to watch your daughter grow up, you need to let us do our job, and we can’t do that with you in here.”
“If she doesn’t make it, neither will you,” I tell the doctor who doesn’t seem affected by my threat.
“No need to threaten the doctor. I promise Mom is in good hands,” one of the nurses says.
I walk out even though it kills me. “Let’s have you wait in the waiting room, and as soon as we have updates on either Mom or baby girl, a nurse will come tell you.” She escorts me to where I see Darius and Freya waiting.
“Erik? What happened? Are they okay?” Darius asks cautiously.
“My baby girl was rushed to NICU,” I state as I lower myself to my seat. I lean forward feeling like I could puke my guts out at any moment.
“And Kayleigh?” Freya asks.
“I was pushed out of there when she went unconscious and the monitors were going haywire.”
“Oh god,” Freya says, covering her mouth.
“She will be okay; she has been to hell and back and survived. She is strong,” Darius tells me.
I nod, not being able to form any words, but I don’t move my eyes off the door. Each moment seems like it takes ten years off my life.