Chapter 18 #3
He eases his hold enough for her to respond, but she doesn’t.
It’s not because she can’t. She won’t. Her mutinous glare earns her Joaquin’s fist to her sternum.
She doubles over. He immediately releases her when we hear people rushing toward the door.
Before anyone enters, he drives his knee into her kidney.
A doctor and three nurses burst into the room. One nurse falters and stares at the woman now curled on the floor. She glances at me then takes a step toward my assailant.
“Leave her. She attacked my girlfriend. I’ll deal with her.”
It’s clear Joaquin’s already dealt with her. That’s why the nurse still hesitates. Joaquin turns and looks directly at her. His shoulders go back, and his chest broadens.
“Look after my girlfriend.”
His tone has the power of one of those alpha commands in my shifter romances. No one can defy it. Certainly not this mere nurse. She nods and rushes forward, noticing the IV tubes now resting on the floor. She hurries to gather supplies to clean my arm and to put in a new line.
“Ms. Vizzini, are you cramping again?”
“Yes, Doctor. But it’s sharper than it was before.”
As though thinking I was miscarrying once today wasn’t enough.
This is even worse. Joaquin blocks the door, so the woman can’t slip out.
But I know he’s torn between that and being near me.
We both need to be close, but I don’t want that bitch going anywhere.
I focus on Joaquin while the doctor presses on my belly.
One nurse is inputting something into the computer she wheeled in with her.
The other is checking my monitors. Joaquin’s texting someone.
Before the first nurse gets the IV reattached, a guard knocks on the door and sticks his head in. Neither he nor Joaquin say anything, but my boyfriend nods toward the panting woman. The guard grabs her and yanks her to her feet. I watch Joaquin while he watches the guard drag her out.
The moment the door shuts, he spins on his heel and marches to me. He squats beside the bed, bringing him eye level to me. His hands engulf mine. As always, they’re warm without being clammy.
“Hang on, chica. Hang on, little one.”
I’m not sure if he’s speaking to me or the baby. Maybe both.
“Joaco, I’m scared.”
“Me too, Tre. But it’ll be okay.”
“Ms. Vizzini, I don’t know what happened in here, but your body can’t withstand all the bursts of adrenaline. I put you on bed rest for a reason. You’re not in enough danger to warrant any kind of drug intervention. But you need to keep your heart rate and blood pressure down.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
It’s Joaquin who answers. He reaches into his pocket, pulls out his phone, and furiously types something with just his thumb. He tucks the phone away and kisses the back of my hand just like he did before leaving me alone with my family. I clamp my hand around his.
“Don’t go.”
His face shows his surprise. “I’m not going anywhere, Tre. Nobody can make me.”
I rest back against the bed but shift uncomfortably. Joaquin looks around and spots my missing pillow. He stretches to grab it, then tucks it behind me.
“Ms. Vizzini, the nurses will check on you more frequently. If you want something to help you sleep, there are safe options.”
“No. I’m tired enough to go back to sleep.”
As the medical team leaves, I spy two of Joaquin’s men taking up position outside the door. My eyes drift closed, and I sigh.
“This is my fault.”
My eyes snap open. “No, it’s not. You didn’t send that woman.”
“I upset you with what I said. You started cramping, then I abandoned you when you said we should use the call button. The only reason that woman got near you was because I failed to protect you. I swore I would, and I failed.”
This goes far deeper than what just happened.
His eyes aren’t the brick wall they usually are.
They’re a window into his soul. He has deep-seated guilt about failing someone.
I fear it’s from when his father died. He wasn’t even eleven.
There was nothing he could do, but grief defies logic.
And if that guilt took root when he was a child, it’s grown into a dense forest with vines wrapped around him, trapping him.
“Don’t do that, Joaco. Don’t blame yourself for something you didn’t do.
I was as much a part of our argument as you were.
I could’ve been forthcoming, which would’ve prevented the entire disagreement.
I let myself get wound up, and that’s why the cramping started.
You did the right thing going for help. I believe the only reason someone responded was because you were at the nurses’ station when I pushed the button. ”
“I never want to hear you scream that word ever again. My heart can’t take it.”
“Come here, Daddy.”
I tug his hand, and he rises. I pat the bed beside me as I scoot to the far edge. I draw back the covers, and it tempts him.
“There’s not enough room, chica. I’ll make you uncomfortable.”
“The only thing that’ll make me relax is you holding me. Please, Joaco.”
He’s skeptical, but he sits on the edge of the bed before he kicks off his shoes. He gingerly rolls onto his side. He’s prepared to spoon me, but I turn toward him. He shifts so I can rest my head on his shoulder.
“Joaco, we need to meet with my brother and cousins.”