Vik (Shot Callers 2)

“I don’t hear anything,” I hurried out.

Dr. Henley reached out to turn a nob, and suddenly, the sounds of fast-paced whooshing hit me. And my lips parted in awe as it hit me.

There was a baby inside me. And that baby had a heartbeat. A strong heartbeat. It was growing and forming every second of every day. And it was mine.

I laughed, but it came out watery.

Dr. Henley handed me a tissue, smiling softly.

“Wow,” I whispered, dabbing at my eyes.

She began to nod herself. “Yeah. Never gets old. It really is a miracle.”

I thought I was badass until this moment. Turned out, there was no room for badassery when it came to being pregnant. My emotions were a mess.

“Holy shit.” My smile stretched and wobbled as I glanced at the screen. “That’s my baby.”

A whole freight of emotions rushed through me at once. Love. Fear. Pride. Terror. Tenderness. Dread. But mostly… wonder.

Dr. Henley snuffled out a laugh. “I’m happy with how everything looks, Nastasia.” She removed the device, then left me to clean and dress. Once I was done, I walked around the curtain to find her sitting at her computer, typing away. I sat, and she talked. “I’d like for you to start taking these.” She tapped on the bottle beside her. “Prenatal vitamins. I’d also like for you to eat well and get a decent amount of sleep.” I frowned, and she spotted it before asking a careful, “Is that going to be a problem?”

I ran the bar at a nightclub. I also didn’t cook. Yeah, it was going to be a problem. “No. No problem.”

“Good. I’d like to see you again in four weeks to see how everything is coming along. Eat well, sleep well, do moderate exercise. Nothing fancy. Walking is great. And if you start spotting, head to emergency room and call me immediately, okay?”

“Spotting?” I asked, suddenly fearful.

Dr. Henley was kind but forthright. “Spotting is generally not a good sign when it comes to pregnancy. It can indicate a miscarriage.”

Cool.

“Right.” My stomach turned. “Right.”

“I’ll see you in four weeks,” she said in a reassuring way.

She walked me out, and I saw the relief in her face to find Anika sitting with her hands in her lap, wearing a void expression. I thanked her and watched as my friend stood without a word, picked up her purse, and followed closely behind the good doctor.

As she had done for me, I waited.

Fifteen minutes passed, and Anika came out with a small plastic bandage inside her elbow, with the doctor saying, “I’ll call with the results.”

When Anika didn’t bother to wait for me, I walked after her. “Hey.” Her speed rose, and then I was jogging. “Hey!”

Halfway down the block, with a glower to end all glowers, she spun on me before taking something out of her purse. “You left these behind.” She held up a white paper bag, and when she shook it, I knew what was inside. “The doc asked me to give them to you.”

Her attitude was overkill. And then realization hit.

Resentment sliced over me like slow rolling waves of lava flowing down a volcano. My eyes blazed, and I ground out, “You looked in the bag?” What an asshole. “You asshole!”

“Prenatal vitamins?” she hissed in return, clearly as pissed at me as I was at her. “You’re pregnant?”

And I opened my mouth to respond, but all that wanted to come out were sour words from a bitter heart, so I said nothing.

Some of the anger fell away. Now, she just sounded sad. “Is it Vi—”

Oh my God. She did not just attempt to ask me that. She did not.

My hackles rose. “Finish that question, Ani, and I will hack your hands off with a rusty spoon.” Her silence was a blessing. I glared as I said, “You know I’ve only ever slept with the one man unprotected.” My stare was deadly. “Of course it’s his.”

Well, by the looks of her loosening posture, she looked relieved. “Are you planning on telling him?”

“No, what I thought to do was wait ’til I got as big as a whale, then give birth on the edge of his bed, like a cat,” I deadpanned.

Anika scowled at my sarcasm.

“Well, that’s what happens when you ask stupid questions. Yes, I plan on telling him.”

“When?” Oh, she was resolute.

“Jesus. I only just found out, okay? I need time to adjust.” I paused. “And he’s already got so much going on. It’s still early. I thought to wait, just a little while.” I blew out a short breath. “I don’t even know what to say, or how to say it. I need a moment here.” I glanced at her with dejection in my eyes, pleading with her to just give me some time to breathe. “I’m trusting you not to say anything, Ani.”