Page 51 of Medical Malpractice

Nico didn’t let up, his animalistic growls becoming heavy as he elbowed me deep in the ribs. I absorbed the hit, but was unable to restrain his loose arm in that split second of movement—to my eternal regret.

Using that moment of opportunity, Nico extended his hand, and an instant later, a gunshot rang out, singular and almighty.

That’s all he got.

Adrenalin spiked, and my muscles grew taut as I wrestled the gun out of his grasp, wrapped my limbs around his back and positioned my arm to lock his neck in a rear naked chokehold.

His fight was dwindling as his lungs spasmed from the lack of oxygen. I didn’t let up, refusing to relent until he passed out completely.

Then and only then did I let go, his body slumping to the side, comatose and limp.

With the immediate threat taken care of, my surroundings soon bled into awareness, bringing with them a signature pain that could no longer be ignored.

The last thing I processed was Gabriella’s broken pleas… And blood. So much blood.

Chapter 29

GABRIELLA

“I’ve missed you, wife,” Nico said with genuine affection. Something was off about him, like he was on the verge of tipping over the edge. Into what, I had no idea. But I wasn’t willing to find out.

Stay calm. Don’t let him see your panic or sense your fear.

I automatically switched to survival mode, assessing the threat, searching for any weakness or vulnerability. He has my baby in his arms!

Step one: get Celeste to safety.

Step two… didn’t matter. As soon as my girls were clear, I’d worry about the latter.

So, despite my instincts screaming at me to retreat, I stepped closer to my ex-husband, my former best friend, and replied, “I missed you too.”

His eyes flared with longing as the glimpse of a horrid smile tipped the edges of his lips before his deranged thoughts spilled out in quick succession.

“We can start over, babe. I promise, this time, everything will be different. All of it will be up to you. We can keep the girls, if you want them, or maybe just the baby so she will grow up only recognising me as her daddy. Or we can make our own family, our own babies…”

Keep them? He spoke as if Angelina and Celeste were mere possessions, not the entire fucking make-up of my world. He was deluded, irrational and unpredictable, which meant he was more dangerous than I had imagined.

Stay calm. Tread carefully.

Celeste fussed in his arms as he awkwardly repositioned her against his shoulder in an attempt to soothe her. It didn’t work, her little eyes fluttering, on the verge of waking.

I used the excuse to pitch forward and offered my hands in an open gesture, giving him the option to transfer her to me.

“I-I don’t want her to wake yet,” I said. “I want to spend some time with just you for a little while longer. It’s been so long, Nico.”

His mask softened at my gentle tone, clearly missing the underlying terror lacing my words.

I took another step closer. “Let me put her down in the cot, then we can go somewhere quiet to talk.”

He visibly sparked up at my suggestion, nodding before transferring Celeste into my embrace. As soon as her solid weight settled in my arms, I nearly broke down crying. I hid my face in her soft, fluffy hair, sniffing her perfect baby smell, taking those small, precious moments to refocus.

I was desperate to get him as far away from there as possible and would sacrifice anything to keep them protected.

Bending over the cot, I settled a sleeping Celeste on the mattress and spared a chaste kiss to her temple. “I love you,” I whispered before spinning for the door.

I didn’t get far, Nico enveloping me in a tight hug, anchoring us in place. His breathing was harsh as he stroked down my hair, neck and spine, his touch simultaneously reverent and creepy.

Goose bumps raised on my skin wherever he made contact, disgust causing bile to rise to the back of my throat. But as soon as I tried to extricate myself, he’d squeeze tighter, his hold borderline painful.