Bad Wolf (Wild Men 4)

And now I’m here, cold sweat running down my back, I don’t know what the hell to do. I hurry toward him, and he doesn’t notice me until I’m right in front of him.

“Gigi. You made it.”

Duh, I want to say but just nod. The relief in his voice is loud and clear. He’s stressed, he doesn’t need my sarcasm.

“Where are the kids?” Matt’s kids, Mary and Cole, are very close with my sister. They call her Mom now. It’s sweet.

“With my mother. Seeing Octavia in pain isn’t good for them.”

True. Not good for him, either, obviously. “Where is she? What’s going on?”

“She’s with Layla. They both kicked me out.”

Laughing now might not be the best idea. Also hugging him. He looks like a prickly bear someone woke up from hibernation.

Also, Layla is probably the best person to be with my sister right now. She’s Matt’s sister-in-law and has two kids, so she knows all about having babies, I guess.

“What did the doctor say?”

“Nothing new. Waiting, monitoring. They still think a C-section would be best, though. Dammit, Gigi…”

I give in and give my bear of a brother-in-law a hug. He engulfs me in his arms, and I hug him awkwardly back, patting his sides.

“She’ll be fine,” I whisper, and now it’s me giving reassurances. The world has clearly gone batshit. “Where’s your brother?”

“Kaden went to get us some coffee. He said we’ll need it.”

Coffee sounds good, even if my stomach is twisted in knots. I want to go see my sister, hold her hand, reassure her—but I have the same problem I imagine he has: seeing her in pain won’t be easy.

I take a bracing breath to ask which one is her room, or ward or whatever—when a doctor hurries to us, to Matt.

“Mr. Hansen.” It’s a young guy in pale blue scrubs and a kind, tired face.

“Yeah? What is it?” I’ve never seen him go pale like that, I swear. “Is something wrong?”

“We’re going to prep your wife for the C-Section. If you want to be with her…”

“Shit, yeah, of course.”

“Can I come, too?” I start after them as they hurry toward a set of white doors. “I’m her sister—”

“Just the husband, I’m afraid,” the young doctor says over his shoulder.

Well, crap. “Is she going to be okay? And the baby?”

“Yes, everything looks okay,” he says, although if that were true, why would they do a C-section?

Truth or lie, the doors close in my face, and I skid to a stop.

I didn’t even get to see her. Does she know I’m here?

Oh shut up, mind. This isn’t about me, it

’s about her, and I’ll be the first person at her bedside the moment she’s out. I’m here in case my sister needs anything.

Anything at all.

I call Mom to tell her what’s going on, and text Merc and Jarett about it, too.