PART 2

Roman Takes Her

Roman carried me through the rain as if the storm around us didn’t exist.

His long black coat was getting soaked, but he didn’t seem to notice. One arm supported my back while the other held me securely beneath my knees.

I could barely think.

Another contraction was building.

I closed my eyes and tried to breathe through it.

Then I heard Julian.

“Madeline!”

His voice sounded different now.

Not angry.

Not annoyed.

Afraid.

I turned my head.

Julian had finally stepped away from Celeste’s Porsche. Rain was running down his face as he stared at Roman carrying me toward the SUV.

“Put her down!” he shouted.

Roman didn’t stop.

“She needs a hospital.”

“She is my wife!”

Roman slowed.

For the first time, he looked directly at Julian.

“Then you should have behaved like her husband.”

Julian’s face went pale.

Celeste opened the Porsche door.

“Julian, what are you doing?”

He ignored her.

He took a few steps toward us.

“You don’t know anything about her.”

Roman’s expression didn’t change.

“I know she’s in labor.”

“You have no right to take her.”

Roman’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Neither did you.”

Julian stopped.

The rain continued falling between them.

I watched my husband stare at Roman.

There was something strange in his expression.

Recognition.

Fear.

And something else I couldn’t identify.

“Blackwood,” Julian whispered.

Roman said nothing.

But that single word made my stomach twist.

How did Julian know his name?

And why did he look like he’d just seen a ghost?

Roman turned away and continued toward the SUV.

“Wait!” Julian shouted.

Roman didn’t even glance back.

“Madeline!”

I looked at him.

For one brief second, I saw the husband I had once loved.

The man who had held my hand when we first learned we were having a baby.

The man who had promised that nothing would ever come between us.

Then I remembered him leaving me outside in the rain.

For Celeste.

I looked away.

Roman opened the rear door of the SUV.

One of his men immediately placed a blanket across the seat.

“Careful,” Roman said.

He lowered me gently.

I grabbed the edge of his coat before he could step away.

“Please.”

He looked at me.

“I need a hospital.”

“You’re going to one.”

“No.”

I swallowed.

“Please don’t leave me.”

Something changed in his eyes.

“You’re not going alone.”

He climbed into the SUV beside me.

The door slammed shut.

Through the darkened window, I saw Julian standing in the rain.

Celeste was still beside his Porsche.

Neither of them moved.

The SUV pulled away.

I watched Julian disappear behind us.

And for the first time since our marriage began, I didn’t turn around.

I pressed one hand against my stomach.

“My baby…”

Roman looked at me.

“She’ll be okay.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No.”

He paused.

“But we’re going to make sure she is.”

Another contraction hit.

I gasped and gripped the seat.

Roman immediately leaned toward me.

“How far apart?”

“I don’t know.”

“When was the last one?”

“Maybe two minutes.”

He looked at the driver.

“Call the hospital.”

The driver immediately picked up his phone.

Roman looked back at me.

“Breathe slowly.”

“I am breathing.”

“Barely.”

I gave him an angry look.

“I’m in labor.”

“I noticed.”

Despite the pain, a tiny laugh escaped me.

Then I remembered something.

“Why did Julian recognize you?”

Roman’s expression became unreadable.

“What?”

“When he said your name.”

I watched him carefully.

“He knew who you were.”

Roman looked through the windshield.

“He shouldn’t have.”

“Who are you?”

Silence.

“Roman.”

He finally looked at me.

“Someone your husband should have stayed away from.”

“That isn’t an answer.”

“No.”

His voice was quiet.

“But it’s the safest answer I can give you right now.”

I stared at him.

“I’ve been married to Julian for almost two years. If my husband is involved in something dangerous, I deserve to know.”

Roman’s jaw tightened.

“Your husband has been involved in things you know nothing about.”

My heart began beating faster.

“What things?”

Before he could answer, his phone rang.

Roman picked it up immediately.

“What?”

He listened.

His expression changed.

“Say that again.”

I watched his eyes harden.

He turned toward the driver.

“Lock down the emergency entrance.”

My breathing stopped.

Roman continued.

“No civilian vehicles near the maternity ward.”

He listened again.

“Put two men at the rear entrance.”

He ended the call.

I stared at him.

“What happened?”

He didn’t answer.

“Roman?”

His eyes met mine.

“Someone knows we’re coming.”

A chill ran through me.

“Who?”

“We don’t know yet.”

“Is someone trying to hurt me?”

Roman hesitated.

That hesitation told me everything.

“Roman…”

He leaned closer.

“You’re not the target.”

My heart sank.

“Then who is?”

His answer was barely a whisper.

“Your husband.”

Before I could ask why, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes.

The SUV stopped hard.

I was thrown forward.

Roman immediately caught me.

“What happened?”