“She’s in surgery. I’m heading there to check on her now. We’ll update you as soon as we can.”
* * *
Under the blinding lights of the OR, I stood beside Dr. Chen as she barked orders. My gloved hands trembled as I realized she was no longer trying to save Naomi. My friend was gone before Dr. Chen pulled a limp newborn from the bloody womb.
“Come on, baby girl,” Dr. Chen urged, rubbing the infant’s chest gently. Finally, a scream pierced the sterile surgical suite.
She handed the baby to a waiting nurse and then glanced at me. “You can either close her up or inform the husband.”
“I’ll go tell Amir,” I whispered.
Chapter Six
Merrick and I stood in the doorway, watching the prospects haul Merci’s bags and boxes through the door.
“Thanks for helping her while I was gone,” Merrick gruffed.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and shrugged my shoulders. “Wish she’d let me teach him a lesson.”
Merrick huffed a laugh. “I think she’d prefer to take care of that herself. She’s handling the breakup OK though, right?”
I tried to keep my expression neutral.
“What?” Merrick asked, his eyes narrowing.
I chuckled. “Dude, you have no idea how much work it was to keep that woman out of trouble. And the shit her ex has been texting her makes me want to slit his throat.”
“The fuck you mean?”
I grimaced, remembering that Merci didn’t want her brother to know the details.
“Don’t tell her I said anything. But, he’s been texting her some nasty shit.”
Merrick pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. “This is why I can’t go on a fucking vacation.”
“I blocked his number. Then I got my ass chewed the next morning when she found out.”
Merrick snickered. “Can you keep an eye on her? I don’t trust that guy. And she’d never call me for help because she knows I’ll kill him.”
I grimaced. “I’m no babysitter.” I needed to put as much distance between Merci and me before a line was crossed.
Merrick leveled a glare at me.
I sighed, lamenting. “Fine. Yeah, I’ll keep an eye on her. You know we all will.”
“Good.”
“Shouldn’t she be back already?” I asked, checking the time on my phone.
“We’ll barely see her with the hours she works.”
Kenna pulled up and parked her Land Rover in front of Merrick’s house. She moved to the back hatch, grabbing an armful of groceries. Merrick jogged down the stairs and pulled the grocery bags from her grip. He kissed her before carrying them into their kitchen.
I averted my eyes. While whatever I’d thought I’d had with Kenna had fizzled before it even had a chance to start, sometimes seeing their love on display left me longing.
“Staying for dinner?” Kenna asked. “I’m making shepherd’s pie.”
I flashed a smile. “I’ll never say no to your cooking.”
