Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“The police found one of them smashed into your bakery counter,” Carianne told Sloane. “Callie just smashed his head right in there. Really bad arse of her. They took him away in an ambulance too. I don’t know if he’s alive.”
Pride and rage mingled. That Callie had even been in that position …
“Anyway, she got out and ran into the street. I was coming out of the Gloaming. I broke up with my single dad and was feeling sorry for myself, so I’d wasted the whole night looking for a hookup.” She blanched. “Getting off track. Anyway, I glanced down the street and I thought I was seeing things because there was Callie backing onto the road with her hands up in the air. So, I was about to go to her when I saw this huge bloke with a gun pointed in her face. It was like a scene from a movie. Well, I didn’t think.” Tears blurred in her eyes. “I just hopped into my car and drove the bloody thing at him. What if I killed him?”
“Carianne.” Walker bent his head to meet her eyes. “You saved my daughter’s life. There is no way I’m letting anyone punish you for that.”
“Really?” Her tears spilled over.
“Really.”
“I second that.” Sloane slid her arm around Carianne’s shoulders. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” She sniffled and then looked at me.
I nodded in gratitude. “Anything you ever need, it’s yours.”
Carianne shook her head. “Callie’s my friend, Lewis. I’ve always kind of hero-worshipped her, you know. I’d never let anyone hurt her if it was in my power to stop it.”
“Thank you.” I gave her a comforting pat on the arm before striding toward the reception area where a nurse worked at a computer. “Hi, I’m looking for my fiancée, Callie Ironside.”
She held up a finger before continuing to type.
I tried not to get agitated.
And just when I was on the cusp of barking at her, the nurse finally stopped typing and looked at me. “Can I help?”
Grinding my teeth, I took a second before I repeated my words.
She nodded and typed at her computer. “She’s with the doctor now. I’ll let you know when you can see her.”
“Is she okay?”
Her expression softened. “I can’t say.”
Fuck.
I reluctantly returned to the waiting area and slumped down into a chair next to Walker, repeating what the nurse said.
A little while later a woman in a blue midwife’s smock appeared. “Callie Ironside’s family?”
We all popped up out of our chairs like we were in a game of Whac-A-Mole.
The midwife approached us. “Callie is asking for Lewis?”
“That’s me.” I was relieved to hear she was still conscious.
“This way.”
I looked at Sloane. She gave me a strained smile. “Tell her I’m here.”
I nodded, squeezing her hand before following the midwife out of reception and through the ward. She led us into a private room and the sight of Callie made my legs fucking tremble.
She was on a bed with her shirt pulled up, while a doctor stood at her side with an ultrasound machine.
“Callie.” I crossed the room, reaching for her. I kissed her before she could say anything. She kissed me back and when I finally let her go, she gave me a tired smile.
“I’m okay. The baby is okay.”
Tears clogged my throat. “Really?”
“Really.” She caressed my face. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”
I shook my head, clasping her hand to my cheek. “Not your fault. Your parents are here.”
Callie nodded. “Good.”
“Should we call them in?”
“Well.” Callie looked at the doctor. “I wanted you here because Dr. Andrews checked me over, and all is well, but she kindly offered to share the gender of the baby. And I didn’t want to do it without you.”
Not having expected that, I curled her hand in both of mine, my gaze going from her belly to the ultrasound screen. “Oh. Aye. That would be good.”
Callie smiled, and I marveled at her strength. That after everything she’d gone through tonight, she could still smile.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” I asked.
Dr. Andrews spoke, “Your fiancée is a fighter. Quite literally. I assume because of her extensive martial arts training, her body was able to absorb the shock of the physicality of the fight without endangering the baby.”
“But she passed out.”
“From dehydration.” She nodded to something I hadn’t noticed. A needle in Callie’s other hand, hooked up to a bag of fluids.
Callie grimaced sheepishly. “I was so excited about finding out the gender that I barely ate or drank. I left you a note in case you woke up because I couldn’t sleep and thought I’d do some work at the bakery. Sorry.”
I kissed her free hand. “It’s okay. You’re okay, that’s all that matters. We need to make sure you’re drinking enough from now on, though.”
“Ready then?” Dr. Andrews asked.
My pulse raced as we shared a look and then nodded at the doctor.