Page 84 of Cartel Devil

If I didn’t already know this stranger didn’t belong in here, that confirmed it. The woman rushes forward, a scalpel in her hand. I have nothing to shield myself with or to fight back with. The cramping nearly steals my breath. It’s not the movement. It’s stress.

That’s what’s causing it.

I’m not fucking losing my baby because of this bitch.

I reach behind me and grab the pillow at the last moment. I didn’t think of it at first, but it’s the only thing I have to protect myself. She drops the scalpel and tries to smother me, but I’m far stronger than I look. I grab a hank of her hair and tug as hard as I can. Her head snaps back, exposing her neck. I toss the pillow aside and drive my fist into her throat.

There’ve been many people I’ve wanted to throat punch but never got the chance. This is as satisfying as I always assumed.

She gasps and stumbles backward, but I still have hold of her hair. She flails, her hand bumping into my IV stand. She wraps her fingers around it and pulls. It rips the needle from my arm, making me scream.

“Tre!”

Joaquin’s no avenging angel. His dark hair and dark eyes make him the devil in disguise. His custom-tailored suits create an aura of a wealthy businessman and belie the truth beneath the material. He’s a towering six-feet-four of muscles who’s crushing the woman’s windpipe with one hand. His other hand pries hers loose from the pole. He swings around and slams her into the wall.

“Who are you?”

He eases his hold enough for her to respond, but she doesn’t. It’s not because she can’t. She won’t. Her mutinous glare earns her Joaquin’s fist to her sternum. She doubles over. He immediately releases her when we hear people rushing toward the door. Before anyone enters, he drives his knee into her kidney.

A doctor and three nurses burst into the room. One nurse falters and stares at the woman now curled on the floor. She glances at me then takes a step toward my assailant.

“Leave her. She attacked my girlfriend. I’ll deal with her.”

It’s clear Joaquin’s already dealt with her. That’s why the nurse still hesitates. Joaquin turns and looks directly at her. His shoulders go back, and his chest broadens.

“Look after my girlfriend.”

His tone has the power of one of those alpha commands in my shifter romances. No one can defy it. Certainly not this mere nurse. She nods and rushes forward, noticing the IV tubes now resting on the floor. She hurries to gather supplies to clean my arm and to put in a new line.

“Ms. Vizzini, are you cramping again?”

“Yes, Doctor. But it’s sharper than it was before.”

As though thinking I was miscarrying once today wasn’t enough. This is even worse. Joaquin blocks the door, so the woman can’t slip out. But I know he’s torn between that and being near me. We both need to be close, but I don’t want that bitch going anywhere. I focus on Joaquin while the doctor presses on my belly. One nurse is inputting something into the computer she wheeled in with her. The other is checking my monitors. Joaquin’s texting someone.

Before the first nurse gets the IV reattached, a guard knocks on the door and sticks his head in. Neither he nor Joaquin say anything, but my boyfriend nods toward the panting woman. The guard grabs her and yanks her to her feet. I watch Joaquin while he watches the guard drag her out.

The moment the door shuts, he spins on his heel and marches to me. He squats beside the bed, bringing him eye level to me. His hands engulf mine. As always, they’re warm without being clammy.

“Hang on, chica. Hang on, little one.”

I’m not sure if he’s speaking to me or the baby. Maybe both.

“Joaco, I’m scared.”

“Me too, Tre. But it’ll be okay.”

“Ms. Vizzini, I don’t know what happened in here, but your body can’t withstand all the bursts of adrenaline. I put you on bed rest for a reason. You’re not in enough danger to warrant any kind of drug intervention. But you need to keep your heart rate and blood pressure down.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

It’s Joaquin who answers. He reaches into his pocket, pulls out his phone, and furiously types something with just his thumb. He tucks the phone away and kisses the back of my hand just like he did before leaving me alone with my family. I clamp my hand around his.

“Don’t go.”

His face shows his surprise. “I’m not going anywhere, Tre. Nobody can make me.”

I rest back against the bed but shift uncomfortably. Joaquin looks around and spots my missing pillow. He stretches to grab it, then tucks it behind me.