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Damn it, I should have gotten Ella’s number or even Donna's. What happened? Did Massimo get to her? When I get my hands on that bastard…my hands clench on the steering wheel. My toes tap rhythmically as I race down the highway, breaking the speed limit and several other traffic laws on my way.
I arrive at the clinic we had come to together for her checkup over a week ago in an hour and rush to the receptionist, hopingthis is where she is. “I’m here for Charlotte Square. Where is she?” I demand chest heaving as If I had run a marathon to get here.
The woman scowls at me, then taps away on her computer presumably to check for information. “Oh, you must be Mr. Square. Your wife and babies are fine.” She gives me a kind smile as she gives me Charlie’s ward number. Oh, thank God. I don’t know what I would have done if she weren’t here.
I don’t bother correcting the woman about my last name. I just thank her as I rush to the elevator. It seems to be taking forever, though, so I switch tactics, going for the stairs instead, taking them two at a time to the third floor.
I give myself a moment to catch my breath when I get to her door, then knock softly. Ella opens the door, her eyes going wide when she sees me. “Ezra? You’re here already? You didn’t have to leave your business trip. Charlie is fine now, and so are the kids.” She gives me a warm smile as she takes a step back to allow me to walk in.
Business trip? I frown at her momentarily before my eyes go straight to the hospital beds. It’s a shared room and both beds are occupied. I glance at the woman in the other bed before my eyes rest on Charlie. She’s fast asleep, looking so small and a little pale. A line is set into her veins, and an IV bag hangs beside her bed.
Donna is sitting next to her, but stands up when she sees me. “Ezra.” She gives me a small hug. “They’re fine now.”
“What happened?” I ask hoarsely as I take the seat Donna vacated, my hand going to Charlie’s free hand under the covers.
“Her uterus was stimulated, which caused some circulation problems for the babies. This made her have some cramps and a little bit of spotting,” Donna explains as her hand taps my shoulder.
“Do we know what caused it?” God help me, if it has anything to do with Massimo, I’m going to tear down his entire fucking empire and drag him down to hell with me if that’s what it takes.
Donna sniffles and responds, “Raspberry tea.”
I glance back at her with a little frown. “What?”
“It was the herbal tea. She didn’t used to drink it before her pregnancy and suddenly drinking a lot of it every day caused her uterus to contract,” Ella says and shrugs.
I blow out a breath, the tension slowly leaving my body. It wasn’t Massimo.This time.But how long are we going to play this game? What if next time he really sends one of his men to hurt her? What am I going to do? I know he doesn’t hurt women or children, but I can’t trust him not to harm her as a way of getting to me.
Charlie stirs on the bed, and I realize my grip on her hand tightened. I force myself to relax again, loosening it. She blinks her eyes open. One blue, one mixed blue and brown. Stunning. I lift our hands up to press my lips into her palm.
“Ezra?”
The door closes behind me. I glance back to see her sister and mother have left the room. “Hi,bébé.”
“What are you doing here?”
“You’re here,” I answer simply. I’ve come to a realization. Ican’tleave her alone and not just for her safety. Yes, I have to protect her, and I can’t do that from Brattleboro. But I also want to be near her… to touch her on a whim.Bewith her. “I’m moving to Burlington.”
“What?” She frowns and tries to sit up. I get up from the chair to help her. “What are you talking about?”
“You don’t need to worry about it for now,” I say soothingly. It can’t be good for her to get spooked.
“I told you not to come.”
“Iwasdrunk before you called. I’m sorry. Something happened, and I just sort of wanted to forget for a little while. It was stupid and won’t happen again,” I promise. I have a family to protect now, and I can’t do that if I turn to alcohol every time I feel frustrated.
She stares at me wearily for a moment, then nods. “Okay. I’ll believe you.”
I lift her hand up and kiss the back of it. “Thank you.”
She glances at the door and chuckles. “What are you guys doing? Come on in.” I glance back to see Donna and Ella hovering outside the door. I wave them in.
“We wanted to give you guys a little privacy,” Donna explains as they enter.
“Thank you,” I say appreciatively. “Hold on, I need to make a call,” I tell Charlie as I get up from the chair. I press a hard kiss on her forehead and walk out of the ward. I take out my phone and dial my brother.
“Alexander Beaufort.”
“Alex, it’s me.”
