Page 16 of Locked Souls
Lights flash in my eyes from the other vehicle’s headlights against the night sky.
I look up at the stars, and pray that for once in my life, something goes right. That my baby is okay.
“Almost there. You've got this, little girl. You're so strong, just like your mama. I am so sorry. So so sorry. I just wanted to keep my little one safe.”
Snake is babbling, and I know we still need to discuss the elephant in the room—err, car—but it's going to have to wait.
I need time to come to terms with the fact that the man who raised and abused me my whole life wasn't even my father.
But right now, I need to hold on for my babies. I refuse to leave this little one, Eli, and Angel without a mother.
I know how hard it is to not have one, even if I did have eight amazing years with mine.
Though I know Tempest would step in and help to raise my babies, I'm not ready to give up.
“Hurry,” I whisper, and Snake sniffles. Is he crying?
“God, fuck, I haven't prayed in a lifetime, but if you're there, or baby, Charity, if you're watching over us… Please, save our baby, and grandbaby. I'll do better. Be better,” he continues to pray as I keep my hands on my belly.
I must black out because loud noises and bright lights rouse me.
“What do we have here?” someone asks, but I don't have enough strength to turn my head.
“Twenty-one-year-old female, thirty-seven weeks, active labor, stalled due to a breech birth.”
“Okay, let's get her into OR four. Are you the father?” a man asks Snake, and he shakes his head.
He looks like he just went on a killing spree. His arms, hands, and shirt are covered in blood.
“I'm her father. Her husband is on the way.”
They wheel me down the hall before I can hear anything else, but those last words bring me peace.
Levi is coming. My boys will arrive, and everything will be okay.
Chapter 5
Pulling up to the Emergency Room, I leave the engine on, barely putting the car into park before I'm opening the door and rushing to the automatic entrance.
“Don't worry, I’ve got it,” Tempest shouts from behind me, turning the car off and grabbing the keys.
“Oh, shit. We don't have Chas’ labor and baby bag,” Bast mutters as he keeps pace beside me.
“We will grab it later. Right now, I need to know that she and the baby are okay,” I say, shoving through a crowd of people to get to the front desk.
“Chastity Madden. Where is she?” I bark at a nurse who is typing on a computer, then take in a breath. “I'm sorry, my wife is in labor, and I was told she will be here. Please,” I add on for good measure.
“As you can see, Sir, we are overcrowded and understaffed today. Bear with me,” she mumbles, while still typing.
A man approaches me. He’s covered in blood and tattoos. “Are you Levi?” he grunts, and I cross my arms. I haven’t seen this man in a long time, but I know who he is.
“I should knock you the fuck out right now, Snake, but I won’t because I refuse to get kicked out of this hospital while my wife and child are in trouble.” He nods and points at the receptionist.
“She won’t be able to tell you anything yet. They rushed Chastity into the OR. Your baby is breech, and they are going to need to do a C-section,” he says, and my heart drops.
“I…”
“You should be allowed back there since you’re her husband,” he mutters and I nod. Yeah, I need to be there. My mind is spinning, and I still haven’t slept in almost two days. So much has happened, but that’s not important right now.