“No. Thanks, Doc.” Quinn sighs. “You’ve made me feel really good about this.”
“That’s what I’m here for. Call me anytime. You have the office number, and they can get in touch with me day or night if you have any issues. Otherwise, enjoy your pregnancy. The first one is always so special.” She takes Quinn’s chart and leaves.
“You like her?” I ask.
“She’s wonderful.” Quinn smiles. “Like a sassy gramma who knows her way around a vagina.”
I snort a laugh. “That’s not exactly what her reviews said, but sure.”
“Did you hear her?”
I help Quinn off the exam table. “Every word.”
“About the sex?”
“Yes.” I kiss her.
She leans into me, her hands roving my chest. God, she’s so sexy. Even in this office with the hustle and bustle of doctors and nurses all around, I’d be more than happy to lift her back onto the table and—
My phone goes off again.
She pulls back and eyes my pocket. “Who’s been calling?”
“Ben.” No one else has or needs my number, though Clevenger always finds a way to get to me.
“Is it work?” she asks as I guide her out the door and down the hall to the exit.
“Yeah, but it can wait. You come first.” I clasp her hand in mine and open the door to the elevator bank. “You and the baby will always come first.”
“It’s so good to hear that.” She squeezes my hand, her palm so small in mine.
“Just the truth, sugar. That’s what you get from me.” A pang of guilt hits me when I say it, mainly because I still haven’t told her the truth about what I do for a living. I tried to, but I honestly didn’t try hard enough. That’s not something you whisper late at night. It’s a conversation we should have face to face where I lay it all out so she can decide if she … If she what? If she wants to leave? That’s not happening. I’ll never let her walk away from me. I can’t.
“What?” She cups my face as we ride the elevator down.
“Hmm?” I meet her gaze.
“You just got this worried look on your face. It scared me. Are you okay?”
“Don’t be scared.” I kiss her palms, one after the other. “I never want you to be afraid.”
“Okay, so what’s upsetting you? Are you still worried about the baby?”
“No. I mean, a little, I guess. I suppose it’s normal to worry. But you’re healthy and I’ve got the pics. I’ll get them framed.” I pat my coat pocket.
She smiles and gets on her tiptoes to kiss me. “I love you, Logan.”
I meet her smile with my own. We kiss until the elevator slows and stops. Someone must’ve pushed the lobby button, because we’re not at the parking level yet. Right before the doors open, I hear a sound. One I’d know from a dead sleep or in the middle of a skydive. Gunfire.
I instinctively step in front of Quinn and push her behind me.
“Logan!” She squeaks as more gunfire sounds in the lobby.
I pull the blade from my boot, the only weapon on me. I have a small arsenal in the car, but bringing a gun to a baby appointment didn’t seem right.
Screams echo, and the sound of people running are all around. I pull Quinn to the side of the elevator carriage, keeping my body in front of her, and I slam my palm against the button for the parking garage. My brain’s already done a quick calculation of the safest place in this melee, and it’s in this metal elevator shaft.
The doors finally start to close as I see an operative round the corner ahead of us, his Uzi pointed right at the elevator. He lifts the gun to fire, and without even thinking, I rear back and hurl my blade straight for his head. It embeds between his eyes, and he falls, his gun firing up into the ceiling as the doors close.
Quinn screams, and I turn and pull her into my arms as we move downward again.
“Shh, I’ve got you. I’ve got you, sugar. I swear.”
“What’s happening. What … What? Why did you have a knife? How did you …. How did you throw it like that?” Her voice shakes. “Who was that man with—”
“Listen closely, Quinn. When the doors open again, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I need you to stay behind me. I’ll keep you safe.” I pull her back and stare into her terrified eyes. “If I fall, you keep going. Understand? No matter what, you get to the car and take off. Get back to the house. You’ll be safe there.”
“If you … if you fall?” she cries.
But we’re out of time. The carriage slows and stops, and I push her behind me once again.
As the doors open, I see a dark shape hurtling toward us, the silver glint of metal in his hand.