It doesn't need to be told twice.
The remaining entities flee in its wake, scrambling over each other to escape. In seconds, the bakery is empty except for Nick, Everett, and me.
Silence falls, broken only by the sound of my own ragged breathing.
Nick turns to Everett, his expression softening slightly. "Thank you, old friend."
Everett grins, though there's blood on his knuckles. "Anytime, boss. That was almost fun."
"Almost?"
"Would've been better with more demons."
Nick actually laughs, the sound rough but genuine. Then his attention shifts to something behind them.
I follow his gaze.
Ella.
She's standing in the doorway, eyes wide, face pale. She must have heard the commotion. Must have come to check on me.
And she's seen everything.
The demons. The angels. The magic. All of it.
Her mouth opens. Closes. Opens again.
"What," she finally says, her voice barely a whisper. "In. The. Absolute. Fuck?"
Nick and Everett exchange a glance.
I want to laugh. Or cry. Or maybe both at once.
But then pain rips through my abdomen, sharp and sudden, stealing the air right out of my lungs.
I double over, clutching my belly. The pain eases, then comes back, harder this time.
Oh, no.
Oh no. No, no, no.
"Samantha?" Nick's across the bakery in an instant, his hands on my arms. "What's wrong?"
I look up at him, breathless, terrified, excited.
"I think..." I gasp as the contraction deepens. "I think I'm going into labor."
The look on his face would be hilarious if I wasn't currently dealing with my insides trying to tie themselves in knots.
"Right now?" he asks.
"Apparently, your daughter has impeccable timing."
Ella's already moving, her shock forgotten. "Okay. Okay, we need to get her to the hospital. Now. I'll get the car."
Everett's grinning like this is the best thing that's happened all year. "Congratulations, boss. Looks like you're about to bea father. But might I suggest another location other than the hospital?"
I feel more than hear Ella's frustrated sigh. "What in the hell are you talking about, GQ?"
