Page 65 of Consume Me

“Shh!” Alexander brushed a lock of hair from my forehead. “She’s on her way. Georgia and Brex went to get her.”

I had no idea how he’d had the presence of mind to handle all of this, but my man—my strong, capable man—had rolled with every punch and fought beside me. Rawness coated my throat and I blinked against the heat prickling my eyes.

Too late.

It was all too much. It was everything I ever wanted.

“Everything’s okay. She’s coming,” Alexander said, trying to reassure me. He’d mistaken my tears for something else. Guilt? Fear?

Or maybe he hadn’t. Even as joy filled me, a dozen new sensations crowded inside me as well. The events of the last few days suddenly hit me. I’d been so focused on keeping my cool and staying alive that I’d never really allowed myself to give in to the fear or hopelessness. Now it hit me like a delayed-release capsule.

“There are things I need to tell you,” I choked out as the tears began to flow freely. “You need to know what they did. You need to know…”

I couldn’t bring myself to begin. Alexander cast a dark look at Dr. Thompson who was busy wrapping up the final birthing issues. Belle, who’d faded into the background, came near, drawn by my words.

I looked to my best friend, wondering how I could tell her what had happened—who had betrayed us.

“Belle, I need to speak to Edward…” I blubbered, becoming incoherent half-way through. I couldn’t talk to him. Not now.

“He’ll be here,” she said automatically, even as confusion dashed over her face. “I’ll go get him.”

“Not yet,” I stopped her. “We need some time.”

“Okay.” She smiled, but I noted she hadn’t come closer. Was I acting like a crazy person? “Do you mind if I update the others?”

“Please.” Alexander nodded, his attention staying on me.

“I’ll give you two a few minutes.” She hesitated mid-turn. “Call if you need me.”

As soon as she was out the door, the dam burst. Up until this moment, I hadn’t considered how my story was going to hurt the people in my life. “X, I have to tell you…who…”

“It can wait, poppet,” he murmured. He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder—an anchor to remind that he was here. I had nothing to fear.

But it wasn’t just about what they’d done. No one knew the extent of the havoc they’d wreaked.

No one knew their plan.

No one knew about David.

Cold suspicion broke over me as the nurse tried to come over for the baby. Would they have just let me go? What if this was their back-up plan? What if the moment I handed him over, they planned to whisk him away?

Dr. Rolland hadn’t come when called, which was smart. Regardless of the bullshit excuse that he only cared about the baby, that man was never going near my child. But could MI-18 find another doctor? Their whole plan was built around taking him from us.

“I just need to perform a few tests, ma’am,” the nurse said with a syrupy smile.

I held him away as my body began to shake.

“Is she okay?” Alexander asked in alarm as the tremors grew worse.

“It’s completely normal,” Dr. Thompson assured him. “Her body’s endured a lot. Let’s get her wrapped up.”

“And the baby?” Alexander’s eyes darted to me.

“He’s looking fine to me. I heard his lungs.” Thompson chuckled as she unfolded a blanket and eased it around me. “We can clean him up in a bit. I will need to administer some medicine and listen to his heart, Clara. But you may hold him.”

“But he needs surgery,” I whispered. I knew I couldn’t keep him in my arms forever. It was the painful truth of being a mother: eventually you had to let your child go. But this wasn’t a simple matter of not being ready. No one realized the danger he might be in.

“Yes,” Thompson said slowly, “but we don’t need to rush. This time is important for both of you. When the neonatal surgeon arrives, we’ll discuss the next steps. For now, take some time getting to know your son.”