Page 17 of Locked Souls

“Okay, Mr. Madden, I just paged a nurse, she will come to collect you and take you to your wife,” the receptionist says, handing me a badge, and I look at it in confusion. How did they make a copy of my license?

I look around and Jonas is holding my wallet. He gives it back to me, and I can tell he’s as worried as I am. “I’m sorry,” I begin to say to him, Temp and Bast, but he waves me away with his hand.

“Do I wish we could be with you? Of course, but we understand, Levi.”

Nodding, I wait for the nurse to come get me, and I grab Tempest’s arm, pulling her aside. This place is crazy. Crying babies, people fighting and complaining. There is a man with a nail straight through his foot, bleeding everywhere.

I don’t know why I’m hyper-fixating on that right now, but it seems important, for some reason.

“Levi?” Tempest says, pulling me back to the present. She’s rubbing her arm, and I cringe at the red mark. Shit, I didn’t notice how hard I was gripping her.

“Sorry, I need you to keep the guys occupied. I don’t know what I’m going to find when they take me to the OR, and Jonas is already on edge.”

I look around, but Ash isn’t there. “Also, find that asshole and make sure he stays. Chas hasn’t seen him yet, and he needs to talk to her before taking off on us again,” I grumble and she nods.

“This place is loud. I’m going to take the guys to get some food and coffee, then we will hang out in the car. Let me know when we can come see Chas and the baby. It’s going to be okay, Levi. Breech births happen all the time.”

Tempest pulls me into a hug, and I squeeze her in return, then I take a few deep breaths.

I can only imagine how scared my Little Sinner is right now. I need to be strong, for her and our family.

“Thanks.” I hand her my wallet and she laughs, accepting it. Tempest has been an amazing stay-at-home mom, living with Jacob and Otto, but she doesn’t have a job. Not that we all don’t support her, and spoil the shit out of her and Romeo. She’s family.

“Levi Madden?” a voice says from behind me, and I turn to find a nurse in her mid-thirties, holding a pair of bright pink scrubs.

“Yeah, that’s me,” I say, taking the clothes from her and following her to a sterile changing area, so I can wash my hands and change into the surgical scrubs.

When I’m done, she gives me a friendly smile. “Your wife is doing great. She’s lost a significant amount of blood, but we’ve given her a transfusion, and your child’s heartbeat is still strong and steady. You got here just in time.”

“She’s okay?” I breathe, feeling a huge weight fall from my shoulders. I continue to follow her to a door, she reaches out and opens it with her badge, and I rush over to my baby girl.

“Hey, baby,” I coo, moving up to Chastity’s head. There is a blue sheet covering her lower half.

“What took you so long?” she whispers, and I can hear how exhausted she is. I know this is no time to joke, and I blame my lack of sleep for my reply.

“Traffic,” I say, and she rolls her eyes, but gives me a tiny smile.

“I hope you know that after we leave here, we’re not letting you out of our sight ever again. Including bathroom trips,” I grunt, and she laughs this time.

“Deal,” she mumbles, and I wipe a few tears from her eyes. “I’m scared, Levi.” I take her hand, squeezing it, then lean down and kiss her lips.

“It’s going to be okay, Baby Girl. Just keep your eyes on me.”

“Okay, Mommy and Daddy, are we ready to meet your little one?” the nurse says with a huge smile on her face. I listen to the monitors, and can hear the baby’s little heart beating.

“Yes, please,” Chas says in exasperation, and I chuckle.

The past two days have been pure hell, but right now, in this moment, I feel peace. And when they hand us our little girl, I may be shedding a tear or two.

BASTIAN

“It’s a girl! Chas was right all along,” Tempest says with a smile. I clap my hands, grinning as I finish my burger and Jonas groans.

“Damn, I owe you a hundred bucks.” I give him a wink, then stand.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go meet our daughter.” I laugh and Temp shakes her head.

“Levi said that she won’t be able to have any visitors for a few more hours. So sit back down and finish your milkshake.” She holds out her phone and shows us a picture of our little cherub.