“A new life—to fulfil a barren couple’s dreams.”
Alexia’s eyes went wide. “You’re selling babies.”
The man’s sinister laugh tore through her. “Two weeks with us and you will be ready to do anything I ask.” He left her in the cold metal box.
She shook with fear. Chained to the bed, all she was left with was her own thoughts. Outside the door, she heard the man’s deep voice. “Silence and starvation protocols. Start the shots in three days.”
* * *
Belinda West changed the diaper on the little boy. “You’re going to your new home soon.” She leaned down to give the child a kiss. There was nothing like newborn smell. The infant’s hands pulled on her blonde curls. “Ellie, you should be here. I could use your assistance.” She zipped up the baby’s onesie.
“Lindy, is he dressed?” the woman known as the Major asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Here he is.” Belinda cradled the boy in his arms.
“Good. Cora is in early labor. Check on her, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Belinda nodded. She handed her mother the baby boy.
* * *
Wes answered Yvonne’s intercom call. “Wes, Ken Clarke is on the line; he says it’s urgent.”
“Put him on.” Wes listened, and with every word, he gripped the receiver tighter.
Once the call was over, both Troy and Kip picked up on the tension running through Wes’s body. “What happened?” Troy asked.
“Ellie fell in the barn. Ken had her transported to the clinic.” Wes’s tone was even despite his pounding heart.
“And why are you still sitting here?” Troy asked matter-of-factly.
Wes nodded and ran out to his car. After parking in front of the clinic, he forced himself to walk through the door at an even pace. An operator in a suit identified him and let him pass down the corridor. He found Ken standing against the wall across from one of the examination room’s doorways. “What happened?” Wes asked.
“Addy Ratliff.” Ken explained the situation. “She fired her while lying flat on her back. She’s tough.”
“Hmm, we will also see if she’s lucky. Who’s with her?” Wes stared at the door.
“Baker is on his way. She’s with a PA, Desi Barrett, and a nurse, Kolvin Czar.”
Wes’s brow pinched. He knocked and walked into the room. Eleanor’s eyes met his, and she began to tear up.
“Desi, Kolvin, how’s the patient?” He interlaced his fingers with Eleanor’s and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I heard you went boom again, Curly.” No one in that room could mistake he had feelings for her. And he didn’t care.
“They’re waiting for my CT scan. I got dizzy and…” Eleanor started.
Wes pressed his lips together and increased his grip. “And?”
“Addy and I were having words. As I looked down to step off the stool, she kicked it free.”
“I’m sorry, Ellie.” He pulled up a chair. “How are you feeling now?”
“I’m okay. I’ve got the sniffles. I think that’s what made me dizzy to begin with,” she said.
“Mr. Crockett, I’m going to write some orders for a saline nasal rinse. We will see what the CT scan shows, but I think it was a stuffed head and the kicked stool that caused the fall. Nothing else is injured,” Desi said.
“Except my pride,” Eleanor said.
Wes chuckled and lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. Alone with her, he sighed and pulled her against him. “You could have said no to our dinner date instead of falling on your head.”
