Chapter Forty-Eight Ella
Chapter Forty-Eight
Ella
“Get settled in,” Dr. Smith says the next morning when he checks on me before the iron infusion.
I slept like a log in Tiero’s arms, even though there was barely enough room for both of us in the bed. To keep me from falling out, he pulled the railing up on my side, always so protective.
“This will take about an hour, and we’ll be monitoring you closely the entire time,” Dr. Smith tells us.
He said that yesterday too. Why does he keep repeating it? Isn’t this a safe procedure?
“Why do I need monitoring during the infusion?” I ask, a hint of apprehension creeping into my voice.
Dr. Smith offers a reassuring smile, his demeanor calm.
“Monitoring is standard practice during an iron infusion. While it’s generally safe, there can be rare instances of allergic reactions, changes in blood pressure, or other side effects.
We observe your body’s response so we can catch any adverse reactions early and address them if needed. Your safety is our top priority.”
His explanation eases some of my concerns, and I’m reminded once again of how thorough they are when it comes to my well-being. I do wonder, though, how much of that has to do with the Tiero’s donation.
“I’ll come back to check on you after the infusion. If there are any issues, Nurse Anne will call me immediately,” Dr. Smith says, gesturing to the nurse beside him before leaving the room.
A flurry of activity erupts around me. Nurse Anne carefully positions a pillow under my arm, elevating it for comfort. The rhythmic beeping of machines fills the air, and I exchange a reassuring glance with Tiero, his presence a steady anchor beside me.
A male nurse wheels in the IV drip and then leaves, while Nurse Anne attaches a blood pressure cuff to my arm and clips a heart rate monitor onto my finger. She inserts a sterile IV line into my arm, the prick of the needle making me flinch.
“Sorry about that,” she murmurs, casting an apprehensive look at Tiero, who glares at her.
If I could, I’d squeeze his hand to reassure him I’m okay, but my only good arm is currently being fussed over.
“From here on, the procedure is swift and painless,” she promises.
She flips a small lever, and the clear liquid begins to flow slowly into my veins. Satisfied that everything is as it should be, she settles into a chair beside the bed, her eyes fixed on the monitors.
Tiero leans over and covers the fingers of my plastered arm with his hand. I love that he’s always touching me. It’s as if he needs to remind himself that I’m really here, that we are together.
Works for me.
Closing my eyes, I focus on the steady rhythm of my breathing. I’m glad we caught this issue when we did. I’m not sure how we would have dealt with it at Mountain Breath.
A sense of trust settles over me. Trust in the medical team’s expertise, and in the future stretching out ahead of us.
Tiero and I are starting our family. It still feels unreal.
Tears gather behind my closed lids, and I roll my eyes at myself. This is the one thing I truly hate about being pregnant.
Suddenly, loud shouting erupts in the corridor. Tiero is on his feet instantly, stepping in front of the bed, his body a shield as he prepares to protect me from whatever is happening.
The door bursts open and Lex storms in, his face twisted with rage and alarm, two guards hot on his heels.
“Stop!” he shouts, breathless as they try to grab him. “Remove that IV!”
The urgency in his voice sends a shockwave of fear through the room.
Confused, I stare at him, my heart pounding wildly. Nurse Anne jumps to her feet and flicks the lever to halt the flow of liquid, her eyes wide with terror.
Tiero’s voice cuts through the chaos. “Dougal, what’s this—”
“The IV has been tampered with.”
The words drain every ounce of blood from my body. I have no idea where it’s gone, only that it no longer seems like it’s moving through me.
Lex’s explanation spills out in a frantic rush.
“It’s not an iron solution. I found an unconscious nurse in the supply room, an iron drip knocked over beside her. Someone switched the solution.”
Time seems to stop as his words sink in. My gaze drops to the IV line in my arm, my thoughts spiraling with terror and disbelief.
Tiero is at my side in an instant, pulling the IV out of my arm in one swift motion. I feel no pain at all, too numb and stunned to even flinch.
Thunderous fury crackles in the air around him.
“Let go of him,” Tiero orders. His men immediately step back.
“You,” he says, pointing at Anne. “Page the doctor and get him here.”
She nods and fumbles with her pager, her hands shaking so badly she drops it twice before finally managing to press the button.
I’m frozen, watching everything unfold as if I’m no longer part of it. Unable to process the implications of what Lex just said, my gaze drifts to my arm, to the spot where the IV was attached only moments ago.
Fear surges through me, raw and all-consuming.
Peanut.
What did they pump into me?
“What were you doing in the supply room?” Tiero’s voice is sharp with suspicion.
My head snaps up. He’s right in Lex’s face now, slamming him back against the wall.
Is he accusing Lex?
But Lex just saved us.
I swing my legs out of bed and rush toward them. Stepping between them is impossible, so I grab Tiero’s arm and yank.
“Let him go. Lex might have just saved my life, and the baby’s.”
Tiero takes a step back but repeats, his tone unyielding, “What were you doing in the supply room?”
“I spotted a guy on my way to the cafeteria,” Lex explains.
“The way he was looking around, surveying everything, something felt off. I followed him but lost him. Ten minutes later, the supply room door was ajar. I looked inside. A nurse was on the floor, a locker with uniforms open, and an iron drip knocked over. It doesn’t take a genius to put it together. ”
His hands slice through the air in sharp, frustrated gestures, his words edged with anger and concern.
“If the solutions were swapped, what’s in this one?” I ask, pointing at the bag of liquid hanging beside the bed.
Fear clamps down on my chest, an icy grip tightening around my throat.
I feel violated.
Something malicious has entered my body, and I have no idea what the consequences will be.
Was I poisoned?
Am I going to die?
I’m trembling uncontrollably now. Tiero notices immediately and scoops me up, carrying me back to the bed. He sits down with me on his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around me.
“Angel, listen to me,” he whispers into my ear. “I will sort this out. I will make it right.”
What if it’s already too late for that?
Still, I nod, not wanting to push him closer to the edge than he already is. His breathing is heavy, nostrils flaring as he struggles to rein in his fury. He’s seconds away from tearing into someone.
The room spins with tension as Dr. Smith rushes in, closely followed by Dr. Agosti and Santino.
The doctor moves straight to my side, and Tiero rises instantly, sending death glares in his direction as he settles me onto the bed.
“This isn’t an iron infusion. Check on my wife and get someone to analyze what it is immediately,” Tiero barks his orders, his voice icy cold.
“The IV was only in for a few minutes. Her vitals are within range,” Nurse Anne tells the doctor as he examines me. I barely register what he’s doing, my awareness slipping. A light flashes in my eyes, making me flinch.
“Have the results back here in the next ten minutes or I swear to God I’ll—”
Tiero’s voice fades into the background, my heartbeat pounding so loudly in my ears it drowns out everything else.
My breath stutters in my chest, coming faster with every second. The air thickens, pressing down on me.
I can’t breathe.
Fear splinters my thoughts. It’s a storm inside my head, blurring reality, leaving me untethered.
I’m going to die.
I’m going to die and join Ma and Da in heaven. Peanut… I’ll never get to meet her.
Tears burn behind my eyes, desperate to fall, but my body is too rigid to let them through.
Oh God. This is it.
Lex steps forward, his sharp gaze locking onto me.
The room spins, and my fingers claw at the sheets.
He drops to his knees in front of me and takes my good hand in his, trying to catch my eyes. My vision won’t cooperate. Everything is blurred, doubled. There are two of him.
“Ella,” he says steadily. “You’re having a panic attack.”
I am?
No. It’s the poison in my blood. What if these are my last minutes on earth?
“I don’t want to die yet,” I whisper.
“You’re not going to die,” Lex says firmly. “We won’t let that happen. Focus on my voice, Ella. Breathe with me.”
He slows his words deliberately. “Deep breath in. Good. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. Now let it out slowly.”
I barely follow.
“You’re doing great,” he says. “Again. In. Hold. And out.”
We repeat it again and again.
Gradually, my heart stops racing. My breaths come less jagged, less desperate. The room steadies. My vision clears, just enough.
There is only one Lex now.
“You’re doing so well,” he murmurs. “So good. One more time.”
His voice is calm, steady, reassuring. If I listened to that alone, I would think he was unaffected. But his eyes give him away.
The fear there mirrors my own.
I lift my head and scan the room for Tiero. He’s standing at the foot of the bed, arms crossed, watching us closely.
His expression is unreadable, though he looks calmer than he did when my panic first struck. I don’t see anger in his demeanor.
And then the unthinkable happens.
Tiero steps toward Lex and holds out his hand.
“Thank you,” he says, his voice earnest, stripped of pride.
I let out a long breath, genuinely taken aback by the gesture.
Lex straightens slowly, staring at Tiero’s outstretched hand without moving. My breath catches as I watch the hesitation play across his face.
He glances at Tiero, then back at the offered hand, before finally taking it. Their grip is firm and deliberate.
Could this be the beginning of a truce? I pray that it is.
Tiero returns to my side and sits on the bed, pulling me gently against him. My limbs still tremble faintly, even though my breathing has slowed.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs against my neck. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize you were spiraling into a panic attack.” Guilt is etched across his face. “Please forgive me.”
I nuzzle closer, soothed by his warmth and his touch.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” I tell him softly. “You took control of the situation with the IV and the doctors. That’s what was needed.”
He presses a gentle kiss to my forehead and wipes away the last traces of tears with his thumbs.
“They’re testing the tampered IV solution,” Tiero says quietly. “We should have the results any minute now.”
Time stretches, every passing second heavy with tension. Nurse Anne keeps a close watch on me, checking my vitals every few minutes.
Tiero is glued to my side, making sure his hand never leaves me. It’s my anchor to sanity.
Finally, Dr. Smith enters the room, his face somber. Tiero stands at once, his hand tightening around mine.
“Mr. Dougal’s allegations were correct,” Dr. Smith says. “The IV solution was tampered with.”
He can’t meet my eyes.
He looks pale and visibly shaken. I suppose he’s realized exactly who he’s dealing with.
His expression sends a fresh surge of fear crashing through me. My stomach drops, my heart rate spiking.
Oh God.
What poison is running through my veins?
“The solution in the IV was intended to trigger an abortion,” Dr. Agosti adds. “It was double-strength.”
For the first time since I met him, his voice carries real apprehension.
No. No, no, no.
This isn’t happening.
Peanut.