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Oh, God, the anguish in his voice. No, she couldn’t afford to be fooled by that.
“How did you find me?”
He looked at her as if she were crazy. “You want to have this conversation now?”
“Yes,” she snapped. Needles exploded in her stomach just then. She stifled a yell and curled her hands around the stairs for support.
Viking cursed and stepped inside. The corridor seemed to shrink as he closed in on her. He hunched next to her.
“I need to get you to the hospital.”
“I’m not having this baby.” She took another set of deep breaths in a desperate attempt to keep the baby inside.
His eyes softened. “I think you are, Lena.”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “I’m not having a baby only for you to steal it.” Her son was staying inside her belly, forever. “And I asked you a question. How did you find me?”
He sighed. “I’ve known where you’ve been for months. There isn’t a place I can’t find you. I will always find you.”
There was no menace in his voice. She must be hearing things. Maybe it was another side effect of pregnancy brain.
“Don’t you dare threaten me.”
He cursed. “It’s not a threat. I mean—”
She didn’t hear what he said after that. Pain wracked her body as the baby told her he wasn’t staying inside much longer.
At her second outcry, she was lifted off the floor. Viking pivoted with her in his arms, going for the door.
“Wait!” She pointed to the bottom of the staircase. “I need my bag.”
Viking had caught her off guard. Never before had she felt so vulnerable. But if he thought she didn’t have a Plan B, he was mistaken.
***
Four hours later, Elena was holding their son in her arms. Compared to her firstborn, this birth had been a walk in the park.
Viking was taking a nap on an uncomfortable-looking chair next to her bed, looking exhausted.
She kissed her baby’s soft head. “That big guy sitting over there is your dad,” she introduced them. “The way he’s looking all worn out, you’d think he gave birth instead of me. This is why God has chosen women to give birth instead of men. Women are so much tougher.”
Viking had insisted on being in on the birth. By the time she was pushing, he had looked pale as a ghost. For a second, she’d feared he would pass out and leave a hole in the floor.
“You’re right about that.”
The sleepy growl startled her. “It is awake,” she mock whispered to her son.
Viking leaned over and placed his elbows on his knees. His gaze went to his son. “Women are much tougher, and your mother is the toughest of them all. She would give her life for the ones she loves. She’ll even marry another man to protect the brother of the man she loves.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “How—”
He looked at her with an apologetic smile. “Let’s just say I wasn’t that drunk.” Viking’s eyes went to her and her heart fluttered. “Thank you for our son, Lena. He’s perfect. After Vicky, it’s the greatest gift anyone could’ve given me. I have no words.”
“I…” Apparently, neither did she.
He scooted his chair closer and held her hand. “Forgive me,” he said in a throaty voice, and his eyes filled with sorrow. “Forgive me for everything I’ve put your through.”
He asked her for forgiveness over and over again, until she stopped him because she couldn’t take the pain in his voice anymore. He was here. They had another beautiful child. It was time to let the past go.
