“I’m sorry I scared you.”
I let out a gruff snort. “Scared doesn’t even come close, baby. For fuck’s sake, you fuckin’ terrified me. The second I saw that note on the bed, my entire world blew up right in front of me. You were reckless, and what you did was beyond dangerous. I’m so fuckin’ mad at you I can’t even think straight.” Kaia’s eyes begin to water, and one tear floats down her cheek, so I bring my other hand up to gently cup her face. “But… I understand your motives. And I know you well enough that nothin’ I woulda said or done woulda stopped ya from goin’. I just wish you trustedme enough to let me help you. We coulda been there sooner. Stopped you from bein’ hurt so bad.”
She bites her bottom lip and nods. “I know… I’m sorry. I should have trusted you. I honestly thought, with the baby, there wasno wayyou’d let me try to help Nalani. And I knew I could. I felt it in my bones, Hurricane. I got through to her. We were almost out and on the way back to the club when the guard saw me trying to escape through the window. We were a couple of seconds too late to slip away.”
Exhaling, I swipe my hand through my long hair and shake my head. “I still think you took far too big a risk goin’ in alone like that. Not talkin’ to me about it first was fuckin’ crazy. But…” I take a deep, long breath, “… we got the win in the end. Let’s hope it’s not at the cost of somethin’ else.” I place my hand on her stomach. The anxiety flowing through me is catastrophic.
She rests her hand over mine and nods. “I’m pretty sure peanut’s okay. I haven’t had any cramping, but we need the ultrasound to check.”
As if on cue, the curtain pulls back, and a doctor strolls in with an ultrasound machine and a bright smile on his face. “I’m Dr. Kapule. I note you’ve had a positive pregnancy test but haven’t had any scans for confirmation as yet?”
Kaia shakes her head, and I stand taller, puffing out my chest. “Doc, listen. My wife got knocked around by this jackass. Don’t worry, I took care of that motherfucker, but that’s all beside the point. What I mean to say is… this kid means everythin’ to us. So I need you to ensure the little peanut is doin’ okay in there. So can you check every-fuckin’-thing you can?”
He smirks, then wheels the ultrasound unit over to Kaia’s bedside. “Protective father already. He’s going to make a great dad, Kaia,” Dr. Kapule states.
She reaches out for my hand, gripping it tight. “He already is. We have a little one at home back in New Orleans. She’s close to two and a half years, and Hurricane is so patient with her.”
“Little bit cold…” The doctor squirts some gel on Kaia’s stomach. “She didn’t come on the vacation with you?”
“It’s our delayed honeymoon. Things haven’t exactly gone to plan,” I reply.
He places the scanner on Kaia’s stomach and begins searching. “Not quite the sit-by-the-pool-and-relax weekend getaway you were hoping for?”
Kaia smiles as I let out a snort. “Not quite, no. But findin’ out about the baby was excitin’. So I’m pumped to see the little peanut on the screen.” I reach out for Kaia’s hand, squeezing it tight while she smiles at me.
The doctor spins the screen for us to see and tilts his head. “Well, I can tell you that everything looks great from where I am sitting. Nothing has been affected by your injuries. Would you like to hear the heartbeat?”
A bright smile flashes across my face. “Fuck yeah.”
Kaia chuckles as the doctor hits a button, and the whooshing sound starts. I hear it instantly, and my head snaps to Kaia. Her eyes flood with tears, and I lean down, pressing my lips to hers.
“That’s your little peanut,” the doctor says, then he moves the scanner on her stomach. “Aaand this… this is peanut’s little sibling,” he announces when another whooshing noise sounds over the speakers.
I snap my head back to the monitor as I stare at the screen. “I’m sorry, what?”
Kaia widens her eyes as the doctor points to the two babies on the screen. “Congratulations, you’re having twins.”
I laugh, but Kaia turns pale as I shift back to her. “T-twins?” she whispers.
“You want me to give birth twice in a row? It was hard enough doing it once with Immy. Now you want me to do it twice…” She pauses. “In a row?” she repeats, her voice going higher in pitch as she turns her face from mine in sheer panic.
I grip her face hard, forcing her eyes to stay on mine, my voice low and edged with a growl. “Don’t you fuckin’ look away from me. You’re the woman who went toe-to-toe with me and proved she’s got the fire to fight for what she loves. My Old Lady, the one who can cut a man down with one glance and still be the reason my world spins. You’ve walked through hell, and every time you came out stronger, fiercer, and more goddamn beautiful than before. Don’t youdaretell me youcan’tdo this. Youwill! You’ll fight through the pain, make it your bitch, and I’ll be right here, your man, your shield, your fuckin’ forever, every damn step of the way.”
A single tear rolls down her face, her bottom lip trembling as she nods. “Have I told you that I love you?”
I let out a small laugh. “Yes, but I love hearin’ it.”
Kaia sniffles and spins back to the doctor, who is printing off a picture of our twins and going about other checks while we silently freak out off to the side.
“Hey, Doc? Don’t I have to be a few weeks along to be able to see that we’re having twins?” Kaia asks.
He tilts his head. “From what I can tell, you’re around ten weeks or so.”
Kaia furrows her brow. “But I had a period about four weeks ago. I mean, it wasn’t heavy. It was more like spotting than anything, but I assumed it was a light period. Is that normal?”
He wipes the gel from Kaia’s stomach and gently pats her arm. “Totally fine. It’s normal to have the occasional spotting early on. But from what I can see of your twins, everything is absolutely fine. You will obviously have to keep up with your routine checks and scans when you arrive back home, but rightnow, you’re clear to go. The nurse will have your discharge papers waiting for you at the desk.”
“Thanks, Doc, really appreciate this,” Kaia says.
