“Nora mentioned that and it has no bearing on her condition. Sex is safe until a physician tells you otherwise.”
She snaps the bag shut and turns to look at Nora. “But let’s err on the safe side by putting you off your feet for twenty-four hours. Then if you have a reemergence of symptoms, let me know and I’ll schedule you to come into the clinic. Understood?”
“Yes, of course,” Nora replies. “I’ll do my best to take it easy for one day. How hard can it be to do nothing?”
Looking over at her and remembering that stress equals biscuits, I say, “For you, I suspect it’s gonna be harder than you think, sweetness.”
“Thank you for coming,” Nora says. “I didn’t… I haven’t had anybody to ask questions of about this.”
Dr. Marsh responds warmly, “Now you have me, honey. And you’ve got Jinx and the other old ladies in this club. You’re not doing this on your own anymore.”
“You’re right and I’m grateful for the support.”
“I’ll schedule that ultrasound for you, unless I hear from you sooner, we’ll make it in two weeks,” she says.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” I tell Dr. Marsh.
She picks up her bag, and glances at me. “Jinx. Walk me out. I want to talk to you privately.”
Nora didn’t hear that and my heart sinks, wondering what bad news the doc is gonna tell me.
At the front door, she stops and turns to me. “I wanted to take a minute to caution you about this overprotective bit you’re doing.”
“I just want everything to be okay, for Nora and the baby to be healthy.”
“I get that, but the extra stress of watching your anxiously hovering every minute of the day is not what your old lady needs right now. I need you to dial it back a notch and give her room to breathe and enjoy this pregnancy. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
I hesitate long enough to make her repeat herself. “Jinx, women have been doing this from time immemorial. I know it can be worrying, but you have to trust she knows she’s doing the best for her and the baby’s health.”
Swallowing thickly, I nod. “Yeah, I get what you’re laying down, Doc. I won’t let my worries become hers.”
“Good man. Just chill out and keep your eyes open. Nora is young and healthy. Nothing is going to happen that we can’t manage.”
I hold out my hand and we shake. “Thanks, Doc. We’re lucky to have you here for our womenfolk.”
“I’m happy to come anytime I’m needed. You know that, Jinx.”
She’s out the door before I can respond. I watch her walk out to the parking lot and can’t help but wonder how many women she’s treated in the course of her lifetime, how many babies she’s delivered.
***
After I get Nora settled into bed with a stack of books and some snacks and drinks, I head down to the basement. Jasper and Slate are already interrogating the cartel guy when I arrive. He’s been fed, watered, and zip-tied to a chair that’s bolted to the floor.
He looks up at me when I enter the room. “You’re the one who kicked me,” he says. “You asshole, you mangled my leg.”
“Yeah, that’ll happen when you’re guardin’ stolen property in Sons’ territory. Messin’ around with the Hyenas wasn’t one of your smarter moves.” I spin his chair around and squat down facing him. “Here’s where you are. Getting grabbed by us, well that makes you a loose end now. Santos doesn’t come ridin’ to the rescue for fools that got themselves abducted by the enemy. You know that, right?”
He gives one slight nod acknowledging what I said was true.
“That means the only people worth negotiating with are us. You don’t owe Santos anything. Talk to us and maybe we let you go if your intel is good.”
He looks at Slate, who’s leaning on the wall cleaning his nails with a huge hunting knife. He shoots Jasper a quick glance before looking back at me. He didn’t have any skin in the game and we all knew it. Even his cartel wouldn’t expect him to suffer for the Hyenas. As long as he didn’t talk about the cartel, he would likely remain in good standing with them.
“Fine, what do you want to know?” he asks.
“What would it take for Coal to walk away and leave his daughter with us? Everyone has a price. What’s his?”
The man actually laughs. “You think this is just a father missing his daughter or a pride thing?” He looks at me intently. “Coal bought his way into our pipeline. He now has access to everything our organization does to make money. That privilege didn’t come cheap.”
