“Can we change the subject?” She didn’t want to give into him. Yes, she believed in fun, but with Snake? She didn’t want to get involved with him.
“I will get past that little wall you’ve built up, Jessica.”
She didn’t say anything. They ate their lunch talking about Judi and what could happen. When it was over, Jessica was sad to see Snake leave.
Leaving the hospital, she dialed Lydia’s number. It went straight to the answering machine.
“Hey, Lydia. I miss you. Please give me a call when you get this.” Hanging up the phone, Jessica blew out a breath. This was turning out to be a long day.
****
“Wait, what do you mean?” Devil asked.
“We need to prepare her for an immediate C-section. The baby, it’s in distress, and Judi’s deteriorating. If we leave it too long I fear she will end up in a coma,” Milford said.
Glancing through the window into the hospital room, Devil saw Judi’s pale face. She was resting against the pillows, but she was too weak to even hold the oxygen mask to her mouth.
“It’s ten weeks too soon,” Ripper said. “The baby could die?”
“We have a brilliant neonatal unit here. I promise you. Your child would be taken care of.”
Devil looked toward Ripper. He saw the pain, the confusion, the fear all play across the man’s face. This was not a decision he had to make.
“Is there a chance she’ll just get better?” Ripper asked.
“There’s a chance. It’s very slim, and in her condition, it’s unlikely. I can leave it another couple of hours—”
“What could happen in those couple of hours?” Devil said.
“Like I said, she could get worse.”
They didn’t have time for her to get worse. It was a fifty-fifty chance. Closing his eyes, he rubbed them, feeling years older than he actually was.
“I’ll give you a moment to make a decision.”
“Devil, I can’t do this.”
“She’s your woman. Your life is lying in that bed. You’ve got a choice here, do the C-section or don’t.” Devil swallowed past the lump forming in his throat. “Neither of those choices gives you a great outcome. You could lose Judi or your kid, or both.”
Ripper turned away, slamming his fist against the wall. “I can’t do it. I can’t lose them both, Devil.”
“Then make a choice. This is your choice.”
Devil knew what he’d do. He’d never risk his woman. Lexie knew, and hated him for it, that if it ever came down to a choice, save his baby or save his woman, he’d save her. They’d argued about it enough times.
“I can’t lose her. I don’t care about the kid if I don’t have her.”
“Then make the call.” Devil contained his relief as he watched Ripper call the doctor back.
“Do the C-section. You save my woman, do you hear me?”
“We’re going to have to do this now. Bernie, take this man and prepare him to be seated with his wife.”
Devil pulled Lexie away from the crew as they worked on Judi. Their girl was fading, growing weaker because of the baby inside her.
“I get what you mean,” Lexie said.
“What, baby?”
“I know I’m not much older than Judi, but she’s ours. I wouldn’t let Ripper kill her for the baby. I couldn’t do it.”
“Then you better stop arguing,” he said. Kissing her head, he watched the nurses start to prepare Judi. He couldn’t lose her now. She deserved to live a full life, one with kids.
Chapter Three
The whole of the hospital was tense as Devil had given them all the news. Judi was going in for a C-section. Snake’s hands were shaking as he started to pace the hospital. It was past seven, and they hadn’t heard any news.
“What happens to the baby?” Mia asked. “It’s ten weeks early. This is going to break Judi’s heart if anything happens to it.”
They didn’t know the sex of the baby as they wanted it to be a surprise.
“She’ll get through this. She’s strong.” This came from Dick, who was sitting in the corner.
They were all tense as they waited to find out what was happening.
When he couldn’t stand the silence, Snake left the hospital to have a smoke. The cold hit him, and once he stared up at the sky, he forgot all about the smokes.
“Have you heard any news?” Jessica asked.
Opening his eyes, he watched as the woman who refused to give him the time of day moved toward him. She held a large box in her arms.
“What are you doing?” he asked. She wasn’t wearing her scrubs. Her hair was down, spilling around her in luscious waves.