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Placing a hand out, I waited for Alessio to take it. When he did, I pulled him to me. My rounded belly was cradled against Alessio’s lower abdomen as I hugged him.
“I’m going to be fine. You need to breathe or you’re going to pass out, and I can’t have you passing out on me, Alessio,” I said softly against his chest.
I could feel Lena and Maddie at my side. They were practically plastered against me, not that I was complaining. I was glad for their support. I needed it more than I would admit.
Alessio’s arms went around me, hugging me tight. I felt him relax as he breathed out. With my ear over his chest, I could hear and feel his pounding heart.
It matched my own.
I was a nervous wreck inside—panicking but trying to act as calm as I could. If everyone else was freaking out, they needed someone to be calm.
It appeared that the pregnant lady herself was going to be the peacemaker.
“Are you hurting?” he asked quietly. I could hear the tint of fear in his voice.
I shook my head before pulling away. “I’m okay. For now. We just need to get to the hospital.”
“I got the bag!” Phoenix practically screamed from the top of the stairs.
“The car is here. It’s parked.” Nikolay came rushing in, screaming too.
“Where the fuck is the baby’s bag?” Alessio snapped.
“Huh?” Phoenix looked at the bag he was holding stupidly. “I got Ayla’s bag.”
“You are useless.” With a growl, Alessio was taking off himself. I watched him run up the stairs as I felt another pain shoot up my spine.
I winced, my hand going to rub at my back.
“What’s wrong?” Maddie asked nervously.
“My back is hurting,” I finally admitted.
Just then I felt my stomach cramp. It wasn’t too painful, but it was enough to make me gasp in shock. It felt like my skin was stretching, and my lower belly felt heavy. It was an uncomfortable feeling.
“The contractions have started, haven’t they?” Lena said with a knowing look.
I nodded.
“Will you be coming with us?” I asked Lena, with a pout.
She shook her head. “Maddie will be there for you. I’ll stay home and get everything ready for the big homecoming.”
Lena pressed her palm dramatically to her forehead and sighed. I rolled my eyes because it was such a Maddie move.
“There is so much to do,” Lena sighed but with a happy, serene look on her face.
“While Mom is busy, we’ll pop the baby out. It’s a fair plan,” Maddie added.
More like I would be doing the popping.
I shuddered at the thought just as another intense ache went through my back and lower belly. That hurt!
And it was only the beginning.
I felt a slight tremor of fear, and the panic continued to rise. “Maddie, you can’t leave my side, okay?”
She soothingly patted my arm. “I’m not gonna leave. Even when you threaten to kill me.”
“Okay, good.”
When I was finally reassured, Maddie and I made our way out of the kitchen. I was slow, much slower as each step felt too uncomfortable. It felt like my stomach would drop any second now.
I heard a shout. I furrowed my forehead in confusion.
Alessio?
“I got the bag,” he bellowed.
Maddie and I were just walking into the living room when we saw him practically beeline toward the door without even a glance our way.
Huh?
I waddled to the entrance with Maddie at my side. Just when we reached outside, we saw the two cars rushing out of the driveway as if some kind of demon was chasing them.
Wait, what? WHAT?
“Did they just drive off without us?” Maddie growled at the empty parking spot. “Who’s going to pop out the baby? Alessio? Or Viktor? Freaking stupid assholes.”
I rubbed my temple tiredly. This was a mess…a total mess.
When another pain coursed through my lower belly and I doubled over, the cars rushed back in.
Alessio and Viktor jumped out, almost falling in their haste. “What the fuck? Why aren’t you in the car?” Viktor snapped.
Alessio silently made his way to me, and I glared. There was a sheepish look on his face, and he mouthed a quick sorry.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Lyov and Isaak coming from the courtyard. They looked at everyone gathered, and their steps hastened to me.
“What’s wrong?” Lyov asked quickly.
“It’s time. The baby is coming. But she’s two days early. That’s not good. Not normal, right?” Alessio rattled back, his hand molding over my stomach protectively.
Isaak’s and Lyov’s eyes widened, and they paused with their mouth hanging open.
Great. Just what I needed. Two more panicking Mafia men.
“Alessio, two days early is nothing. I’m sure everything is good,” I tried to reason.
Isaak’s and Lyov’s mouths snapped shut.
“It’s time,” Isaak muttered. “Fuck.”
“It’s okay. We got this. It’s cool. Everyone stay calm. Stay calm. Isaak, we have done this before. We’re good,” Lyov muttered back.
