“Do you remember anything when you were with Roman, by the way?” Tripp had questioned Ben the moment he became coherent, but he’d said Ben hadn’t learned anything that would give us a clue as to what Roman had up his sleeve.
“As I told Tripp, I overheard part of a phone conversation. Roman had been talking to some guy named Fred, demanding more money.”
Doc poked his head in. “Sam.”
“I’ll be right there,” I volleyed over my shoulder. “Dude, I have to give blood. Apparently, my little guy needs it.”
One of his thick eyebrows went up and the other down. “What? Why?”
“Million-dollar question. But I want to make sure Layla has a supply with her.”
He smirked. “I’m still blown away that you’re about to be a dad. And you said ‘little guy.’ Do you know if it’s a boy already?”
“Too early to tell. Heal, man. I need you more than ever. I’ll check in soon.” I gave Ben a quick hug, spun on my heel, then left.
Doc was waiting for me on the other side of the infirmary next to his lab bench. He and Jo each had their own workspace.
I sat in a metal chair with wide wooden arms for ease of drawing blood. “Any luck finding out why Layla needs blood for the baby?”
Doc went to work hooking me up to the equipment. “I doubt I’ll find an answer while she’s pregnant, but Alia is helping me search records. Maybe this has happened to someone more than a century old. Regardless, I don’t think it matters that much, as long as Layla and the baby stay healthy.”
After having lain awake for the last two nights, thinking about my kid, I agreed. True vampire baby or not, the kid was mine, and that was all that mattered to me.
As soon as my blood started flowing into the bag, Doc’s cell rang. He tore off his nitrile gloves and plucked it out of his lab coat. “I’ll be right back.” He sauntered toward his office with his phone to his ear.
I closed my eyes, thinking I could get a quick nap in. I had tuned out the hum of the lab equipment in the spacious room when thewhooshof the doors penetrated my eardrums.
“Sam, have you seen Layla?” Tripp’s fury-filled voice boomed.
My eyes bulged open, and all I could think was that Layla had run, that she’d finally decided that dating a vampire and having a baby wasn’t her gig. Then Rianne came to mind. I wondered if she’d called Layla and asked to meet her somewhere.
Tripp crossed the lab in a flash, his features pinched, his bronze eyes swirling to black. “She’s not at Harley’s, and neither is Jordyn.”
“Motherfucker.” My heart plummeted off a cliff. “I think she was meeting Alia at the library.”
His mouth tightened at the corners. “She’s not there. I’m trying to get Lane on the radio, but he isn’t answering.”
I ripped the needle from my arm as Doc hurried over. “I just hung up with Alia. She overheard Layla and Jordyn talking about new clothes.”
Tripp yanked the radio from his belt. “Lane, come in.”
The radio crackled. “Go, lieutenant.”
Tripp growled. “Why the fuck didn’t you answer before now?”
“Sorry,” Lane said. “I was using the head. I was about to call you.”
“Where’s Layla and Jordyn?” Tripp asked in a tone that brooked no argument.
“In the women’s dressing room at the base exchange,” he returned. “No need to worry. They’re fine. I can hear them laughing.”
My pulse slowed as I exhaled.
“Bring them to the war room. Now!”
“Copy that,” Lane said.
“I’ll go get them.” It would help ease my nerves to see Layla.
