20. Cassandra #3
“What?” Natalie scoffs. “Are you kidding me?” But she does what she’s told, opening the glove box and digging around. “I don’t see anything.”
“Cassandra,” Cecilia says, voice tight. “Would you check beneath the seats?”
Before I bend to complete my task, I twist and look behind us. “Oh, fuck.”
A man hangs out the passenger seat window of the Lexus, a semi-automatic aimed toward Cecilia’s beamer.
I scramble, rubbing my hands under the front seats on the floor of the car. As much as I pray I won’t, I come up empty.
“Nothing,” I say, breathing hard.
Cecilia changes lanes, weaving through a set of cars before running a red light and sending a crossover into the median.
“Oops,” she gasps. “I feel so bad. Did anyone get their license plate? I should send a card with some money.”
“Seriously?” Natalie snaps. “Did we get their license plate?”
Cecilia shrugs, then, from the third lane to the left, jerks the car to the right, skidding into the turn lane for the freeway.
“Desert Canyon Memorial is only two exits up. Natalie, call them and tell them we’re on our way. Make sure they know Cecilia Tariello is with you.”
“Did Lucas answer the texts?” Sadie asks.
“No,” Natalie says, with a weak smile, before searching for the number to Desert Memorial and placing the call. “Hello, can I have labor and delivery, please?”
Pings of bullets hitting metal make Sadie and me peer out the back window.
“Cecilia, they’re gaining on us,” I warn.
She crosses three lanes, cutting off a big rig, whose horn subsequently blares at us.
“Hold on,” she says. “I have an idea.” Merging out of the lane, Cecilia drives us onto the shoulder and slows. She allows the big rig and a large SUV to pass before merging back into traffic.
“What the—” I stop mid-sentence as I realize the car chasing us is now fifty yards ahead, just passing the big rig. “Holy shit, that was brilliant!”
“I have my moments.” Cecilia beams.
“Okay, the hospital is sending staff outside to wait for us,” Natalie says. “They said to pull into the valet parking up front.”
“Hopefully, they can hide this car before anyone finds us.” I watch the black Lexus weaving through cars up ahead, clearly thinking we’ve gotten further in front of them.
As if she’s always been a perfectly proper driver, Cecilia merges toward the exit, going the exact speed limit.
“Almost there,” she says as we reach the off-ramp.
Collectively, we hold our breath as we make the green light coming off the freeway.
“Here we are,” Cecilia announces as she pulls to the entrance of the hospital.
As soon as the car is in park, we throw the doors open and jump out. A nurse is by Sadie’s side and helping her into a wheelchair before I have a chance to round the car. Natalie scurries behind with Sadie’s purse as she’s wheeled toward a bank of elevators.
I join Cecilia, who is handing the keys to a bewildered valet. The college-aged kid eyes the BMW with concern. Bullet holes riddle the sides and back. I’m beyond grateful that the men weren’t good enough shots to blow out a tire.
“Please get this in the back of the garage quickly,” Cecilia orders, handing the man the keys. “I’d appreciate it if you keep the state of the car to yourself. I’ll make sure you earn a hefty tip if no one knows we’re here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The kid shakes his head but does as asked.
“Holy shit,” I say to Cecilia as we enter the lobby. “Where did you learn to drive like that?”
She smirks and smooths a hand over her still-perfectly-in-place French twist. “There are some things you pick up when your husband is in a certain line of work.” She winks and nudges my side. “Let me know if you ever want lessons.”
I huff out a laugh as she steps forward to press the elevator button for the second floor.
I should have known defensive driving was a skill needed to be a Mafia wife. At least I’ll learn from one of the best.
We follow the signs to the labor and delivery unit, stepping out of the elevator on the second floor and quickly coming upon a waiting room. I sigh in relief when I spot Natalie standing in the center of the room. But my sense of calm quickly morphs when I see the panic on Natalie’s face.
“Uh, guys,” she says before adjusting her glasses nervously. “I think I was texting the wrong number.”
She holds up Sadie’s phone as Cecilia and I move closer.
Seven missed calls, ten missed texts.
“Open them!” I snap.
Right as she gets it unlocked, another text comes through.
SADIE!!! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU???
Natalie grimaces as I snatch the phone from her hand.
I go to recent calls and select Lucas’s name.
“Sadie!” he cries after one ring.
“Hey, Lucas,” I say. “So, we’re fine, but you might want to come to the hospital. Sadie’s in labor.”
“Holy shit!” In the background, I hear voices asking what’s wrong. “Nothing,” Lucas says. “I’m about to be a dad!”
With a wide smile, I tell Lucas to hurry and hang up.
“Hey, Cassie,” Natalie says. “If Lucas didn’t know where we are, that means . . .”
“Oh, shit.” I feel my face drain of color as I eye the device in my hand. “Dominic—”
“And Leo . . .” she adds.
“Don’t either.”