Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Red
W aiting fucking sucks. This helpless feeling in the pit of my stomach is making me sick. What if Nadia is in there losing our baby and I’m out here pacing like a stuck pig? What if I lose both of them? Is God playing a cruel joke on me? I’d never forgive myself if something happened to either Nadia or our unborn child. I will burn every corner of every state to find Lattimer if something happens to either of them. My cold, dead heart finally started beating again and now there is a chance I will lose the two people who make me feel alive. I don’t want to be numb anymore. I want to live. I want to feel. I want to love.
“Red,” Kensi asks quietly from the comfort of Aftermath’s arms. “What is going on with Nadia? Why was she in so much pain?”
I stop pacing and turn to look at my best friend’s Ol’ Lady. She has tears welling up in her hypnotic eyes and I release a deep sigh. “We need to wait for the Doc to tell us what’s going on.” It’s not my place to tell Kensi about the baby. If Nadia does lose it, the last thing she’ll need is pity. This will be her choice to tell Kensi or not.
Exleigh and Syvannah are next to the door, holding onto each other and crying. I owe these two my life for protecting Nadia and the baby for the last few months. I bend down so I’m level with them when Exleigh looks up at me. My throat clogs and I can’t find the words I want to say to these two. She offers me a small, timid smile and a nod of her head. I rest my hand on her shoulder and Exleigh doesn’t flinch. Syvannah stops crying long enough to look at the two of us through red-rimmed eyes. She grabs my hand and gives me a gentle squeeze. I hug them both, telling them with my actions how much their sacrifice means to me.
Watching these two, I swear by everything I am, I will protect them with my life. Not only did they save my woman and baby, but they also saved me in the process. For that, they will always have my protection and the protection of the Royal Bastards.
“Exleigh and Syvannah, I want to tell you thank you. With everything the two of you have done, you will always have my protection and the protection of the Royal Bastards. Whatever the two of you need, just ask and it’s yours.” I clear my throat to hold back the tears.
“Thank you, Red.” Exleigh acknowledges. Syvannah nods her head while tears stream down her face.
I stand up and continue to pace, waiting for someone to tell me what is going on. I haven’t heard any screams or sobs. Nothing is coming from the other side of the door and that worries me.
Capone and Danyella come down the hallway a little while later followed by Dagger, Torch, Daisy, Blayze, Monica, Derange and Jezebelle. It’s like a Royal Bastard reunion here and this hallway isn’t big enough for all of us. I’ve lost track of how long it’s been but I hope Capone doesn’t tell me he needs me to take a walk. Each time I did, something bad has happened and I’ll be damned if I do it again.
“Anything yet?” Capone asks.
I shake my head and lean against the wall. “Nothing yet, Prez. This waiting is killing me.” I prop a boot behind me and hang my head. “I just got her back, Capone. I can’t lose her.”
Capone rests his hand on my shoulder. “Doc Emma is the best at what she does. Keep the faith that everything will be OK. Are you claiming her?”
“Fuck yeah, I am,” I answer with no hesitation. Nadia is my Ol’ Lady. My forever.
Dagger pushes his way through everyone and rests his hand on my shoulder, “Pray with me.” Everyone bows their heads while he leads us in prayer. “Heavenly Father, we are asking you today to look upon Nadia. Please heal her, help her and guide her. Give her strength in you and through you during this time and every time in the future. Also, please give your strength to Exleigh and Syvannah and help them heal. In Jesus Christ we name. Amen.”
“Amen.” We all answer in unison. I dry my eyes and stare at the door to my bedroom. They should have come out here already. What is taking so long?
I start counting the what ifs and putting the blame back on me when the door opens. Emma sticks her head out, not letting me see past her. “She’s going to be fine. Red, if you will please?”
I push off the hallway and follow Emma into my room. Nadia is lying in the middle of my bed. No, our bed. There is a big band around her belly and a machine set up to the left of her that is printing out something like waves. Another machine with a screen, a weird wand of some sort and another flat looking thing is placed in front of Doc Emma and she is typing away. Nadia looks so small compared to all the machines in here. She lifts her tired eyes and smiles when she spots me standing at the door.
“What’s going on?” I quietly ask.
Nadia holds her slender hand out and I hurry to her side and take it. Her fingers are ice cold in my grasp. “Everything is going to be fine. I must have overdone it earlier today and with not eating as much, my body didn’t want to cooperate.”
I release a harsh breath, “So you and the baby are going to be ok?” I look from Nadia to Doc Emma.
“Yes, they both are healthy and thriving. But Nadia does need to take it easy for the next few weeks. Her body has been under so much pressure and stress, that it’s still in fight mode.” Doc Emma informs me.
“What was it then? What caused her pain?”
Emma looks at Nadia and Nadia nods her head before answering me. “Since Nadia isn’t spotting, bleeding or having an abnormal discharge, I’m almost certain it’s Round Ligament Pain. RLP happens when pregnant people start showing. Since Nadia has lost a lot of weight but still managed to keep sustenance down for the baby, her belly is growing bigger, even though she isn’t. Once she starts putting weight on to grow with the baby, RLP will be less and less. She just needs to limit what she does and how often she does it until her body adjusts.”
“What do you mean you’re almost certain?” This chick has a medical degree and can’t give me a straight answer, what the fuck! “You better be certain, Doc.”
“Matt,” Nadia groans in frustration. “Listen to the Doc, she does know what she’s doing.”
Emma doesn’t bat an eye at my outburst. “That is why I have a monitor hooked up to Nadia, to check the baby’s heartbeat, which is strong and healthy and we’re going to do an ultrasound now.” She turns to the machine and fires it up.
“Wait.” Nadia stops Emma from continuing. “Can Exleigh and Syvannah come in?”
I know why she is asking and I agree with her. Those two sacrificed themselves for this baby and Nadia. Emma nods her head. I get off the bed and open the door. “Exleigh, Syvannah, can you two come in here?” The duo rise from the floor, still clutching onto each other, scared out of their minds. Everyone else is looking at me with worry in their eyes. “She’s going to be ok. Give us a few minutes and then you can see her.”
I close the door before anyone can ask questions or say anything. Exleigh and Syvannah are sitting on the edge of the bed, their eyes are stained red from crying. “Is the baby ok?” Exleigh asks.
Nadia nods her head, “Yes, everything is fine, girl. Doc Emma is going to do the ultrasound and Matt and I wanted you in here with us for it.” I approach the bed and sit next to Nadia, taking her hand in mine again.
“OK, Nadia, lay down and lift your shirt,” Emma instructs. Nadia does what she asks while Emma picks up a bottle that has jelly in it. “This will be cold at first, but then it’ll warm up.” She shakes the bottle and turns it upside down putting a blob on Nadia’s lower stomach.
Nadia releases a hiss. “Shit, you weren’t kidding. That is cold.” Exleigh giggles and Syvannah is watching in awe.
“Ok, now I’m going to take this wand and place it on your belly. I’ll get a few measurements and pictures. Are you ready?” Emma asks.
“Yes,” Nadia answers and I nod my head.
Emma places the wand on the area where she put the jelly and moves it around. She’s clicking away at the keyboard, while still moving the wand thingy. We all watch the screen as a little thing comes on. I’m shocked, Nadia squeezes my hand hard, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the screen.
My heart swells inside my chest as our baby comes to life on the screen. “Is that… I’m going… holy shit…” I rub my palm against my chest, trying to calm it down. My face turns bright red but I’m not embarrassed, I’m in awe.
“Yeah, Matt. That’s our baby.” Nadia’s throat clogs with emotion as we watch the screen together.
“Do you want to know if it’s a boy or girl?” Doc Emma asks.
“Yes.” I say at the exact moment Nadia says “No.”
Nadia frowns and looks at me, “You want to know?”
“You don’t?” I ask.
“I don’t… I don’t know if I do. What if something happens to them? My heart is already full, I don’t know if I can take it if I have a name picked out, clothes, all that crap and they’re ripped away from me?” Nadia’s bottom lip trembles with worry.
I kiss her on the forehead and look deep into her eyes. “I will help you through whatever heartache you have and together, you and I will burn this world down together if something were to happen to him or her.”
“What are you saying, Matt?” Nadia asks.
What am I saying? What am I trying to tell her? Do I love her? Will I sacrifice everything for her? Will I put anyone who harms her again to the ground? Yes, to it all. As I stare into Nadia’s eyes I know I can’t hold back any longer.
“I’m saying that I love you, Nadia. From the moment your fingernails ran across my chest, to the moment you gave yourself to me and only me, I fell for you. You are my world and I will kill anyone who harms you or our baby. You are mine. ”
Tears fall from Nadia’s eyes and roll down her cheeks. “I love you, too, Matt.”
“So does this mean you want to know if it’s a boy or girl?” Emma asks with a smile on her face.
“Yes.” We both say in unison.
A few more clicks and moves from the wand, Emma prints out a few pictures and hands them to us. After she wipes the jelly stuff off Nadia’s belly, she pulls her shirt back down. Nadia sits up in the bed and carefully swings her legs over the edge. I wrap my arms around her shoulders while we look at the ultrasound pictures. I’m not sure what I’m seeing but I’m not going to tell these women that. One photo has a small circle, which could be the head I’m guessing, a bigger circle attached to it and sticks coming from the big circle. I’m confused as hell but I keep my mouth shut.
Emma gives me mercy and points to the smaller circle. “This is the head.” Then she points to the other circle and sticks. “This is the body, arms and legs.” Then she points to what looks like a worm. “Congrats Mom and Dad, this means you’re having a boy. And by your measurements, Nadia, you have five months left. Which is right on target to what you told me earlier. I have a 3-D image machine in my office and I can set up an appointment so you can see what he looks like in a real image.”
Nadia nods her head, “That will be great. Thank you, Doc.”
“Anytime. I will check my schedule and give you a ring.” She puts her stuff away and goes into the attached bathroom to wash her hands.
Nadia hands Syvannah and Exleigh their own photos and they squeal in delight. “Ex, Anna, our little guy needs his Aunties to be strong for him. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Nadia.” They both nod their heads.
“I owe you two everything, so if you need anything, please find me,” Nadia tells them.
“Red has already promised us the protection of the Club and him,” Exleigh speaks up.
Nadia turns in my direction, a thankful look on her face. “You did?”
“Damn right I did. I owe these two my life for what they did for our son.” I nod my head, not taking my eyes off Nadia and her sexy body.
Nadia leans into me and plants her lips on mine. “You’re the best, Matt. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I hope I can keep my promise to bring retribution and vengeance to my woman and unborn son. I will do everything I can to find these motherfuckers and make them pay for touching what’s mine.
When I do find them, they’ll wish their faces never came through their mother’s crotch because I’m their judge, jury and executioner and I will not stop until I find them and end their terror.