“And you always think you have more time than you do.”
The words collided, overlapping, neither of us backing down, neither of us giving an inch.
“Stop!” Isla stressed.
My chest feels tight, and I was unable to get a full breath, no matter how hard I tried. This confrontation was weighing on me. Through the years, we’d gotten in fights, but usually with our fists. Since we’d brought Isla into our lives, we’d been verbal sparring more often.
“You’re not listening,” she chimed in, her voice trembled despite her best effort to keep it steady. “Both of you… just stop for a second.”
I dragged my hand through my hair, pacing once before turning back to Kraven. I didn’t know what to do with any of this, unsure of how to fight him when part of me understood where he was coming from.
“I’m telling you the truth,” he insisted.
“Doesn’t mean you’re not reckless.”
“I’m realistic, protecting what matters.”
“And what—” I stepped closer to him again. “You think she matters more than I do?”
His expression hardened. “That’s not what I said.”
“That’s what you meant.”
Isla tried again, weaker that time. “Please stop.”
Kraven and I snapped our heads in her direction. The fight in us left as if it was never there to begin with. Nothing elsemattered except the way she was doubled over slightly with her hand pressed against her stomach.
“Isla?” I was already moving toward her.
“I…” She inhaled sharply, shaking her head. “It’s just… just a cramp…” Another one hit, and she folded.
Everything else disappeared.
The fight.
Kraven.
Me.
None of it mattered, just that baby.
“Get the keys,” I ordered, picking her up in my arms.
Kraven didn’t argue. For once, he didn’t say a damn thing and just followed my orders. Since the first time any of this started…
We were on the same side.
ISLA
Hospitals always smelled the same. It was that pungent scent you couldn’t wash off. It clung to my skin even after they told me everything was fine.
I was fine.
The baby was fine.
I didn’t feel fine.
Twenty-four hours later, and I still didn’t feel fine.
