THE DANGER INSIDE THE HOSPITAL

The delivery room doors closed behind me.

For several seconds, I could still see Roman standing in the hallway.

Then he disappeared from view.

A nurse immediately began preparing me.

“Try to relax,” she said.

“Someone followed us into the hospital.”

She looked at me.

“What?”

“I saw a man watching Roman.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

The nurse exchanged a quick glance with another nurse.

Then she smiled.

“You’re frightened. That’s understandable.”

“No.”

I grabbed her wrist.

“I’m not imagining it.”

Before she could answer, another contraction hit.

I cried out.

Everything became a blur again.

The doctors told me to breathe.

I tried.

But my mind kept returning to Roman.

Who was he really?

And why did dangerous people seem to appear wherever he went?

Then I heard footsteps outside the door.

Fast.

Heavy.

Someone stopped directly outside.

The nurse looked toward the door.

It opened.

Roman stepped inside.

There was blood on his sleeve.

My heart jumped.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Whose blood is that?”

His expression remained calm.

“Not mine.”

I stared at him.

“What happened?”

“The man you saw has been found.”

My stomach tightened.

“Who was he?”

“He wasn’t hospital staff.”

“Then who was he?”

Roman walked closer.

“One of the men who attacked us outside.”

I felt a chill run through me.

“He got inside?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Roman looked at my stomach.

“We don’t know.”

Then another contraction hit.

The doctor immediately stepped forward.

“She’s fully dilated.”

Roman moved back.

The nurse looked at him.

“You need to wait outside.”

Roman nodded.

Before he left, I reached for his hand.

He took it.

“I’ll be right outside.”

“Don’t disappear.”

“I won’t.”

The door closed.

I screamed as another wave of pain overwhelmed me.

And somewhere outside that room, Roman Blackwood was preparing to discover who had sent those men after me.