A baby isn’t going to change that.
Come on, London. Be realistic. How is this going to work out? Mason hunts his enemies by day and comes home to help you change diapers and feed the baby at night? Don’t be ridiculous.
“London?”
I blink, and Mason has his arms around me again, concern etched on his face. “Yeah, sorry. I’m still a little… shaky.”
“If you don’t want to go, I’ll find another doctor who can treat you here,” he says. “Just say the word.”
I hold myself still and stare at him. “You can’t risk bringing in someone new.”
I love him for sensing my discomfort even if he doesn’t know the truth.
Mason laces his hand through mine and brings it up to his mouth.
The gesture is so unexpectedly tender and intimate that it brings tears to my eyes.
I drop my head. “I should go.”
Before I do something stupid that we’ll both end up paying for.
Mason doesn’t release my hand until I look at him. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
I offer him a watery smile. “I know.”
Slowly, I pry my fingers away. Mason doesn’t look away as I walk backward. When I reach the door, I reach behind me to turn the knob. Mason’s expression doesn’t change as I step out and nearly collide with Olivia, who gently turns me around.
I feel Mason’s eyes on me the whole time.
As soon as I get into the back of the car, Olivia rubs my back. Katia slides into the back with us and hands me a paper bag. I clutch it with both hands and bring it up to my mouth. I try inhaling several times, but the air won’t go through my lungs. The car inches forward until we reach the wrought-iron gates.
Once we crawl through, I squeeze my eyes shut and retch until I feel as though I might pass out.
Olivia’s voice is a low whisper in my ear, and her hands continue to move up and down my back. My ears are ringing, and there’s a bitter taste in my mouth when I look up and see Katia with the window rolled down, a pained expression on her face. Finally, I lift my head and use the back of my hand to wipe my mouth.
Katia holds her hand out, I give her the paper bag, and she throws it out the window.
Then Olivia presses a bottle of water to my lips, and I guzzle it like my life depends on it. She drapes an arm over me and smooths my hair from my face. I lean into her and squeeze my eyes shut.
All I can picture is Mason’s face, anger, and disappointment rolling off him.
I awaken sometime later and realize that Olivia is still holding me and stroking my hair. My throat is still dry when I sit up. After clearing my throat a few times, I glance out the window at the late-morning sun and wait for my vision to adjust.There’s nothing for miles except a tall metal building with glass windows, and a few armed men and women out front.
Katia is already outside talking to one of them, and I recognize Nadia. The two assassins turn to face the car, and Olivia insists on helping me out of the car and holding my hand as the sun shines down on us.
She’s still holding my hand when someone punches in a code and flashes a badge. The double doors whoosh open and cold air greets me. The smell of disinfectant rises to greet me inside, and I recoil, clenching my free hand into a fist. Olivia leads me to a set of leather chairs set against a cream-colored wall.
I blink and see Katia leaning over a large desk, talking to a woman with a blonde bob.
The blonde looks at us, pushes her glasses up her nose, and nods.
Katia exchanges a glance with Olivia before walking away.
I fold my hands in my lap and try not to bounce my legs.
There’s a low automated sound somewhere in the background, and now and again, a door opens to reveal men and women in blue scrubs. No one pays us any attention as we sit there. Guilt and worry gnaw at me, drowning out everything else.
I’m half out of my seat, ready to bolt when the door opens again, revealing Doctor Shepard. He stops to talk to the blonde, who makes a sweeping hand gesture in our direction. Immediately, he adjusts his white coat and crosses over to us in two strides. He and Olivia exchange pleasantries, but I feel his eyes on me the whole time.
