MILLIE
I found myself in a state of constant discomfort, struggling to settle into a position that would alleviate the increasing pain in my lower back. Over the past week, the pain had been intensifying, and tonight it had reached a new level of agony. I maneuvered the nursing pillow beneath my protruding belly, my attempt to find some relief. With a sigh, I closed my eyes, hoping to find solace in sleep. The clock on the wall indicated it was only ten in the evening, yet weariness had become my constant companion. Despite the fact that there were still five days left until my official due date, time seemed to crawl by as the impending birth drew nearer.
Eventually, I must have drifted off, as I was abruptly woken by a sharp, searing pain that sliced through my lower abdomen. My eyes snapped open, and I let out an involuntary gasp. Struggling against the pain, I propped myself up on one arm, attempting to shift into a sitting position. The effort was twice as challenging due to the intensity of the pain. Once I had managed to perch on the edge of the mattress, I had to take a moment to catch my breath. Uncertainty loomed over me was this it? The force of the pain led me to believe that I was experiencing contractions.
I placed a soothing hand on my rounded stomach, waiting for the pain to ebb before reaching for my mobile phone on the nightstand. A dilemma surfaced should I call Gio? However, I was aware that he had a meeting with his comrades tonight, a discussion centered on tactics to dismantle the Bratva’s operations, matters he didn’t entirely disclose to me. I hesitated, but then resolved to send him a message instead: “When will you be home?”
My fingers had just managed to hit the “send” button when another contraction seized me, leaving me wheezing and breathless. Clutching onto the mattress for support, I attempted to endure the pain, though my efforts at controlled breathing were falling short. Amidst the struggle, I found my voice and called out, “Leonardo!”
Summoning my strength, I slid off the bed and inched towards the bedroom door, clutching my phone tightly. It vibrated, drawing my attention to the screen.
“Two hours. You okay?” Gio’s response came.
With determination, I reached the door, my fingers gripping the handle as I paused to steady myself. “Leonardo!” I called again, a note of urgency in my voice.
Emerging from the staircase, Leonardo appeared, his hair disheveled and his face marked by sleep. Evidently, he must have dozed off. “Is everything alright?”
Exhaustion mingled with pain made me irritable, causing my words to come out sharper than intended. “Of course not, or I wouldn’t have summoned you.” The pain, however, swiftly silenced any guilt I felt for my tone.
Leonardo’s eyes widened with concern. “Are you…?”
My response was interrupted by another surge of pain, which prompted me to hiss through gritted teeth. “Get Harper.”
Without hesitation, Leonardo sprinted towards the elevator, pressing the button urgently. I realized, though, that he lacked the access code to send the elevator to Sebastian’s apartment. The realization dawned on me was I destined to navigate this alone?
Clutching the banister for support, I contemplated descending the stairs to aid Leonardo in his fruitless efforts, but my resolve crumbled halfway down as pain washed over me once more.
Another vibration from my phone drew my attention.
“Millie? Are you okay?” Gio’s concern manifested in his message.
Gripping my phone with a mixture of desperation and determination, I muttered, “Call Sebastian.”
The next few minutes were a blur, and then the elevator chimed. Harper rushed out, wrapped in a bathrobe, closely followed by Sebastian in boxers and a t-shirt.
With a sense of urgency, Harper ascended the steps and halted beside me. Her hand hovered close, almost touching my arm. “Millie? What’s happening? Is the baby on its way?”
Suppressing a retort, I managed a nod.
“Let’s get you to the hospital,” she said gently, her hand resting lightly on my arm.
Meanwhile, Sebastian stood on the first step, and Leonardo hovered behind him, all three looking to me for guidance.
In a shaky voice, I admitted, “I don’t think I can walk right now.”
Harper’s expression shifted to one of alarm.
“Take action. You must know what to do,” Sebastian directed Harper, taking a step forward.
The tension between them was palpable, and I silently wished for their squabble to cease.
“Sebastian, please help me,” I implored in a hushed tone. Harper lacked the strength to carry me, and I knew my ability to walk was dwindling rapidly. This was happening faster than I had anticipated.
Without hesitation, Sebastian stepped closer. “What can I do?”
With each contraction, my body tensed and I found myself swaying forward, my fingers digging into Sebastian’s strong arms for support. His steady presence reassured me as he held me upright, my grip tightening on him. Amid the intensity of the moment, his voice broke through the tension. “Call Gio.”
Reluctantly, I looked up at him, my resolve evident in my gaze. “You need to let go of me,” he said with an edge of urgency, but I couldn’t comply. Sebastian was my lifeline in that moment, the anchor keeping me steady amidst the storm that raged within me. My grasp on his arms grew tighter, conveying the unspoken message that I needed his strength.
Beside us, Harper reached for her phone, her fingers swiftly dialing a number. “Yes, it’s Millie,” her voice conveyed a mix of worry and purpose. Calling Gio was synonymous with calling for help, and I knew my condition was the reason for her call. My previous message to Gio had undoubtedly stirred concern, maybe even causing a rush of panic on his end.
As Harper spoke to Gio, her words concise and laden with urgency, her phone call seemed to promise a lifeline. “We’ll take her to the hospital,” she affirmed with a decisive nod, concluding the conversation. Her attention shifted to me, her eyes locking with mine. “He’s already on his way.”
Sebastian’s voice broke the silence that followed. “Can you walk?” he inquired, his concern tangible. I summoned a faint nod, the slightest hint of strength returning to me. With his support, I cautiously took a step downward, his grip on my arm steady and reassuring. The descent felt like an eternity, every step a testament to the effort it took to continue. Harper and Leonardo’s watchful eyes, filled with a mix of concern and fear, heightened the weight of the situation.
The ringtone pierced the air, jolting us all momentarily. Harper’s phone beckoned attention once more. “No, we’re still at home. Millie is too slow,” she responded, a touch of exasperation in her voice. Her description of my pace as ‘slow’ provoked an inner scowl. Walking felt like navigating through a tempest that threatened to tear me apart from within. I paused, my chest heaving as I caught my breath, my strength waning.
Unexpectedly, Sebastian’s arm enveloped my shoulder while his other slid beneath my legs. Before I could fully comprehend his intention, he lifted me gently, his effort evident. The gesture surprised me, his unwavering support a reminder of the complex layers of our relationship. My growing pregnancy had changed me physically, but Sebastian’s strength hadn’t wavered.
“Thanks,” I murmured, my gratitude genuine and tinged with vulnerability. His usually intense gaze softened, a rare moment of tenderness that conveyed more than words could express. Despite our clashes and disagreements, I trusted him implicitly in that moment. He would ensure my safety.
Harper’s reassurance attempted to ease the tension that hung in the air. “Everything will be all right,” she affirmed, yet her own demeanor betrayed traces of her inner turmoil. Her fragile composure hardly masked the concern etched into her features.
Leonardo’s departure to retrieve the car signaled a new phase in our journey. The elevator’s descent left us momentarily stranded, and Sebastian’s frustration was palpable. “Hey!” he called out, his voice echoing futilely as the doors closed. “What the fuck is he doing?” The elevator’s return felt agonizingly slow as Harper impatiently pressed the button, as if her determination could expedite its arrival.
“He’s nervous,” I whispered, the words a brief insight into Leonardo’s emotions. The contraction subsided slightly, allowing me a brief moment of respite before the pain surged once more. My body arched involuntarily in Sebastian’s arms, a cry escaping my lips as I clung to him.
“Fuck,” Sebastian’s curse mirrored the frustration and helplessness that swirled around us. Harper’s futile attempts to manipulate the elevator’s speed were a testament to human impatience in the face of adversity.
“Will you be able to keep the baby in until we’re in the hospital?” Sebastian’s worry spilled into his words, his concern evident. The question, though, was a reminder of my lack of control over the situation. I managed a sardonic roll of my eyes, his query a blend of absurdity and desperation. I couldn’t simply halt the impending arrival.