Lethal Game (GhostWalkers 16)

“Put your knees up and open them, baby,” Trap instructed. He had moved slightly; although he stayed tightly against the mattress, it was clear he was trying to see what Zeke was doing.

Ezekiel had always had that expressionless mask and it stood him in good stead. “Amaryllis, I need heated towels. Can you get them for me? Joe can hold the light. I need them fast as well as hot water. When I say fast, I mean hurry.” There was no urgency in his voice, but coming from Ezekiel, Malichai—and everyone who knew Zeke—knew he was declaring an emergency.

Amaryllis handed the flashlight to Joe, and Cayenne nearly came off the bed. If Trap hadn’t put his hand on her chest to hold her down, she would have made another run for it.

“No, she can’t leave!” Cayenne protested.

“Cayenne, she has to get the things we need for the baby,” Trap said patiently. “Tell Amaryllis it’s all right. She’ll be back immediately. In the meantime, you have me right here, and Malichai. You know him. You know he’d fight for you. So would Zeke and Joe. We talked about getting upset over nothing. That isn’t logical. It’s your hormones.”

Malichai winced. Most women didn’t want anyone talking about hormones being the reason for anything they did. “Honey, I’m right here. I would never allow anyone to take your child from you or harm you in any way,” Malichai assured.

“Is it all right if I leave?” Amaryllis asked. “If not, I’ll see if I can get someone else to get the heated towels we need.”

Cayenne began to pant but she lifted a hand and waved it toward the door, her gaze going from Trap to Malichai just for a moment. Amaryllis took that as a signal to leave.

“How much is she dilated?” Trap asked.

Ezekiel held up his gloved hand. There was blood and other liquids coating the fingers. “She’s at eight centimeters, Trap. She’s in transition and the contractions are long and very hard.” He used his stethoscope to find the baby’s heartbeat. It wasn’t easy with the shield of silk protecting Cayenne’s insides. Ezekiel was patient, slowly moving the amplifier over her until he suddenly stopped.

The room went silent as he listened. Everyone waited to see if the baby was managing the difficult part of labor without a problem.

“This one is strong. Baby wants out and you’re doing an excellent job, Cayenne,” Ezekiel encouraged.

So far, Cayenne hadn’t made a sound other than to pant quietly, her gaze still clinging to Trap’s. He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her forehead. “We’re close, baby, so close. Everything is fine. Whitney isn’t going to get our child. No one is. No one will take him from us, and they won’t get a chance to kill him.”

Malichai realized why Cayenne had refused nearly all treatment. She was terrified of someone wanting to kill her child. She had been scheduled for termination. Her experience had been watching others die. She wanted no paper trails following her child. She didn’t want any documents anywhere that Whitney or one of his other scientists might have found. She had very real concerns. He wished she’d told them all, but Cayenne had lived her life in a cage, with no family or friends, no relationships. She was just coming out of her shell and beginning a fragile trust with them.

“No one will get to your child, Cayenne,” Malichai added his word. “We’re a family. You’re part of that. Your children will be ours as well.”

Cayenne barely nodded her head, but she did it. She reacted in a positive way, although she never took her eyes from her partner. It was Trap she trusted. Trap she loved. Trap she believed in. Trap was right when he’d said he could never afford to break that trust with her.

“Take another breath now, baby, and let it go,” Trap instructed. “We watched a ton of videos, and you know what to do. You’re doing great. I’m so proud of you.”

His eyes kept straying to Ezekiel. Malichai noticed his face was a little paler than normal. That made him want to smile. Trap was always so removed from the world around him, but clearly, Cayenne having his baby was a huge thing he couldn’t quite separate himself from.

Gonna tell this to you straight, Zeke, Trap said, his voice going to all three men. Anything goes wrong, anything at all, you save Cayenne. I can’t live without her. You save her. I’m compatible with blood type. I know Bellisia is Rh-null. She can give blood to anyone. Just letting you know where your priority has to be. She’s going to say save the baby . . . but . . .

Nothing is going wrong. She’s going to be fine and so will the baby, Ezekiel shot back. Cayenne is totally reliant on you, Trap. You can’t panic. Slow your breathing down and stop thinking of all the things that could go wrong.