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“I can’t let him die, Axel. You know what he means to me.”
“You offered to take his place, didn’t you?” I say, my heart sinking.
“I didn’t have a choice. But they don’t want me dead. I only have to survive forty-eight hours.”
“Lia, don’t do this.”
“It’s already done. I’ve signed the contract.”
“Fuck’s sake, Arcelia!” I snap. “He had better be worth it.”
“He is. He’s everything to me.”
“More than the hotel?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck. Okay…what can I do? You know I can’t get you out of this, right?”
“I’m not asking you to. I just need someone to run the hotel while I’m…out of action for a while.”
“Shit. Okay. Leave it with me. I’ll ask Nico to step in.”
Arcelia groans. “Not Nico, Axel.”
“Beggars can’t really be choosers right now,” I huff. “Sorry. Leave it with me. I’ll sort it, I promise. When does the contract begin?”
“I’ve got four hours to get things in order.”
Fuck. I hang up the phone with Arcelia, my mind racing. I glance back at the delivery room where Odi is still in the midst of labour. I can’t leave her now, not when she needs me the most. But I also can’t just abandon Arcelia and Hector.
The door opens and Zie comes out.
“Hey,” he says, his voice filled with concern as he walks up to me. “What’s going on? Who was that?”
I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. There’s no easy way to explain this.
“It was Arcelia,” I begin, glancing back at the delivery room again. “She got herself into some trouble. Hector’s life is at stake and she’s forfeiting hers to save him.”
Zie’s eyes widen in understanding. He knows how much we owe Hector, how much Arcelia cares for him. “What are we going to do?”
I clench my fists. “I don’t know yet. But we need to find a way to help her. She only has four hours before the contract begins. I’m thinking get Nico inside to oversee operations…but aside from that…” I shake my head. “I just don’t know. Those contracts are iron-tight. I can’t see a way to get her out of it.”
Kaiden joins us, his face pale, obviously having caught part of the conversation at least. “Did she say what will happen if…” he trails off.
“She didn’t specify,” I reply, my mind racing with all the possible outcomes and dangers that Arcelia could be facing. “But you know the business. We have to assume the worst and do everything we can to protect her.”
Zie nods determinedly. “I’ll call Nico. We’re in this together. Axel, get back in there. Odi needs you.”
I give him a grateful nod, knowing that I can rely on my brothers no matter what challenges we face. I take a moment to release my stress, not wanting to worry Odi, and step back into the delivery room.
“How are you doing, my love?” I ask, moving to her side and taking her hand.
“I’m so tired,” she sighs, almost in tears. “It wasn’t like this with Rose. I think something’s wrong.”
Alarmed, I look to the midwives for answers but they give me a subtle shake of their heads. I sigh in relief and turn back to my overwhelmed wife.
“Nothing’s wrong, princess. You’re doing amazing. I’m in awe of you. I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you or them. We’re so close now. Our daughters are ready to meet you. A few more pushes and it’s all done and we can have cuddles, okay? You want cuddles, right?”
