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“You can do Viviana to make it extra Italian.”

“Don’t give Gio any ideas. He’s already tried suggesting Gia. Vetoed that one right away.”

Louis laughs along as we reach our next streetlight. The security car in front of us interrupts our conversation to radio in and converse with Louis. This happens often whenever we’re traveling as a unit like this, with multiple cars filling up traffic. I hardly pay attention as I return to my cheese and crackers and tell the baby about how Doctor Chambers is going to check us out. The baby usually kicks whenever we’re at the clinic, like he or she’s so excited to come into the world.

We turn onto the last street and pull up outside Chamber’s medical office. I feel as huge and uncoordinated as a walrus. I move like one too. Louis opens the door and takes mercy on me as I scoot off the seat and accept his helping hand.

The moment changes before any of us are ready for it. Gunshots crackle like a war zone. Tires screech on the pavement and smoke clouds the air. More gunshots break out as Gio’s men scramble to fire at the unmarked black cars that have popped up out of nowhere.

I scream at the top of my lungs, my heart almost exploding in my chest. I don’t realize I am until Louis throws his body over mine, pushing me down onto the floor of the car. The gunfire feels endless as I curl inward with an arm around my belly and clap my other hand over my ear. Sweat slicks my skin and dampens the flowy maternity dress I’m wearing. The longer the chaos rages on around us, the dizzier I feel. The more it feels like the car itself is moving again.

When more tires screech, this time growing distant by the second, and the last crackles of gunshots follow, I open my eyes to the most horrifying sight of my life.

“Louis!”

He’s collapsed halfway over the backseat of the car, his teeth clenched. Blood soaks his black crewneck shirt. He’s beenshot!

“Louis!” I cry out, struggling to push myself up from the car floor. I crawl over and reach for him.

For a puzzling second, I touch him, thinking the blood on my fingertips belongs to him. My heart shatters in the next second when I realize it’s not. It’s mine.

I’m bleeding.

Panic paralyzes me as a choked sob tumbles past my lips and tears fill my eyes.

“Oh…oh my God,” I pant, my bloodied hand shaking. “Help. Someone help! WE NEED HELP! PLEASE!”

My voice gives out as another sob sputters out of me and my heart pounds so hard, it’s painful. I curl my arm around my bump as a sudden, intense cramp makes it even harder to move an inch. I’ve never felt so helpless, like I can do nothing as I sit here and life slips through my bloody fingertips.

“No,” I rasp. “Please, no.”

The rest of the security detail flood the car, dragging out a now unconscious Louis and then picking me up.

But deep in the pit of my being, I know it no longer even matters. I know it’s already too late…

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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