Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, this has never happened before,” I say quickly, stumbling over the words. “This is so fucking embarrassing. I swear, I don’t normally pee myself.”
“Lena,” Sona says gently. I try to stand, but she keeps me in my chair.
“It’s just I’m so pregnant and it’s hard to control my bladder. I didn’t even realize I had to go. It must be these stupid cramps—”
“Lena,” Sona says, forcefully this time. “Those aren’t cramps. They’re contractions. And that’s not urine.”
The room stares at me. Eight big, hulking, violent gangsters.
“Oh, no,” I whisper as reality hits me. This can’t be happening right now. This isn’t part of the plan. Arsen’s supposed to be here—not some questionably loyal gangsters.
“Holy fuck!” Haik yells, leaping to his feet. “The patron’s wife is going into labor!”
The room explodes into motion. Haik shouts at his soldiers to clear the way. Vartan runs around like he doesn’t know what to do. Everyone’s screaming at each other, making phone calls, sending texts, basically freaking out. It’s total chaos and I’m sitting in the middle of it with wet pants and the deep, looming terror of going into labor without my husband.
“We’ll get you to the hospital,” Haik says, helping me to my feet. “Joshua! Give me your fucking shirt! You can wrap it around your waist, my queen.”
I’ve never, ever heard Haik talk to me this way. Normally, he’s standoffish and kind of a prick. But the guy does have like nine kids. Maybe all it takes is a little early labor to make him act like a human.
“Arsen,” I grit out through my teeth as another contraction hits me. The guard named Joshua gives me his shirt and I tie it around my hips to cover the wet stain.
Sona guides me to the door. “We’re already calling.”
“Call my mom too. She needs to know.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“My car is downstairs and waiting,” Haik says, keeping pace as we hustle to the elevators. “We’ll break every fucking law to reach the hospital on time.”
“Thank you, Haik, but let’s just get there without getting pulled over.”
“Whatever you want, my queen.” He roars at some people milling around the lobby downstairs. “Out of the way! Move, you fucking peasants! This woman is in labor!”
“Oh my god,” I murmur at Sona, who’s grinning like a maniac.
“He’s going overboard, but you have to hand it to him.”
Haik and his guards clear a path. They hustle me to the door and into the back of a waiting sedan. The driver’s another Armenian Brotherhood member, a young guy I vaguely recognize.
“Drive, you fucking cocksucker!” Haik roars at him.
Sona sits in the back with me as the young driver speeds through traffic.
“Contractions are still relatively far apart,” Sona says as we barely make it through a yellow light and swerve around an old lady trying to cross the street. “There’s time. You’ll be okay.”
“I just want Arsen.” I’m so scared I can barely think. Now that we’re out of the building and the chaos of my water breaking is over, I’m starting to come to grips with what’s happening.
The baby’s coming, and he’s coming right now.
“He hasn’t answered his phone yet, but we’re trying.” Sona sounds so calm. She snaps directions at the driver and Haik shouts at him to go faster. Everyone’s on edge, and I can barely think.
“I’m not ready,” I say quietly, hands shaking. Another contraction hits and I grunt through the pain.
“Nobody’s ever ready, but you’ll make it through.”
“Oh my god. The Sarkissian head. My cervix. Sona, it’s going to rip me in half.”
She stares at me grimly. “You’ll survive. You’re strong, Lena. You can do this.”
“I didn’t read the books.” I gasp and squeeze Sona’s hand. “Oh my god. I never read them. Arsen told me I should and I promised that I would, but I never did. I’m the worst mother in the world. I’m going to screw this up so badly. Oh, shit, I can’t do this!”
“Lena, stop it.” She leans in close and touches my cheek. It’s the most intimate we’ve been since we started working together. “You are going to be a wonderful mother. You know what I was worried about when Arsen was coming? I kept thinking my figure was about to be ruined. But you care about this baby. Arsen cares about both of you. Things are going to be alright, I promise.”
The car lurches to a halt. “We’re here,” Haik shouts and throws open the door. “You there! Orderly with the ugly shoes! I need a wheelchair for my pregnant queen. What the fuck do you mean, you don’t work here?” He storms off into the building, yelling like a madman.
“You can do this,” Sona says, pushing open our door.
“I just want Arsen,” I say, struggling to keep myself from crying.
I thought I had more time. Two whole weeks! We planned on being together twenty-four-seven starting soon so there’d be no way I could go into labor without him, and look at what’s happening. It’s all falling apart.