His Dirty Bargain (Dirty Billionaires 3)

“Okay.” Her hand wraps around my arm. I cover her hand. “Everything is going to be fine.”

She nods but doesn’t say anything.

The receptionist is a hell of a lot nicer than she was on the phone, directing us down a hallway. I open the door to find a middle-aged woman with a smiling face waiting.

“Hi, I’m Aileen. I hear we have a stubborn little man today.”

Bethany runs through her fear. Aileen nods, understanding. “Let’s take a look.”

I move away, expecting Bethany to want privacy, but she doesn’t let go of my arm. I nod and move closer. There’s no hesitation as she lifts her shirt and tucks it under her breasts. Aileen apologizes as she squirts out a clear, jelly-like fluid on Bethany’s bump, which seems much larger now that I’m really looking.

“Okay, you hear it, Mommy? There’s his heartbeat nice and strong.”

“Is that normal?” It sounds too rapid to be right.

“Yes, perfectly normal. Ah, there he is he’s turned, and from the notes here it looks like he’s grown a whole two inches from your last appointment. He’s head down now and he doesn’t have as much room to move. He likely moved overnight and is still wondering what happened. No more doing flips because there’s not enough room.”

Bethany sighs, and starts crying. “I’m sorry. I just...”

“Oh now, no worries. I saw in your file what you went through. It would make anyone gun shy. Have you tried this?” She goes to a standing cabinet. Taking a large box out, she brings it back to Bethany. “

You can listen to the baby’s heartbeat anytime you want.”

“Please, can I have this?” Bethany looks up at me hopefully.

“Of course, anything you want.”

Aileen smiles. “we’ll just add it on for the visit.”

Clutching the box, Bethany smiles as she wipes her eyes. “Thank you, thank you so much.”

We’re on the sidewalk outside of the medical building as I hail a taxi.

“Enzo?”

“If you tell me thank you or you’re sorry one more time, I’m not going to help you get Dante with the Peeps.”

“No, I was going to ask if we can stop for some food. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten in hours.”

“Yeah, of course. What do you want?”

The cabby is driving with glee clear up north for a specific burger place, then back downtown to the condo. Bethany wasn’t kidding: she’s so hungry she finishes her food before we get home. She’s beginning to sag as we get into the elevator. I remember now Dante talking about how once she’s tired she just crashes, pretty much where she stands. Considering she’s been on adrenalin for the last hour or so, it makes sense she’s crashing now. By the time the elevator opens, I have to heft her up in my arms. Damn she’s small.

I manage to get the door open and her down the hall. Chloe is waiting at the end of the hallway. “What’s the matter?”

Laying Bethany on her bed, I look to Chloe. “Can you get her comfortable? We’ll talk outside.”

It only takes a few minutes before Chloe is back. “Is she okay?”

“Now she is. She got scared because the baby didn’t move all day. I got her in to get a sonogram so she could see and hear everything is good. She’s exhausted from all the worry.”

Her nod is stiff. “It’s a good thing you were here. Okay, I’ll see you later.”

“Where are you going?”

“Russell needs me. He’s having a hard time right now. He asked for company.”

“We had dinner plans.”