Page 25 of Dark Reunion

Dean shot to his feet, heart slamming against his ribs. Ricco stood in the doorway, chest heaving, eyes alight. Something was wrong.

“It’s Yasmine,” Ricco said, breathless. “She’s in labor.”

Dean’s world tunneled. The phone, the warning, the entire poisoned empire he lived inside…gone in a heartbeat. All that mattered was his beautiful wife.

He bolted from the office, right on Ricco’s heels.

The compound halls blurred. Dean barely registered the guards who turned to watch him storm past. The steel doors hissed open at his approach, the scent of bleach and ocean salt in the air.

They reached the medical wing, tucked away at the far side of the compound.

“The children are with Ava,” Ricco said, pointing into a nursery. A servant girl in a pale dress sat on the floor with the boys and Isabella in her arms. The boys were clutching carved soldiers, Isabella smiled as she played with a doll.

He stepped into the room and squatted. The boys ran at him. “Dad!”

Dean was quickly enveloped in their hugs.

“Is Mommy okay?” Tate asked.

“Yes, she is going to be fine, but I need to go be with her. Are you boys going to be good and help look after your sister?”

They nodded in unison.

Standing he walked over to Isabella and took her from Ava, kissing his baby girl’s head. She smiled and squealed with the attention. He had the best kids. He’d die on that statement. Handing Isabella back to the girl, he touched Tate and Aiden’s shoulders.

“You stay here,” he told them, voice firm but not angry. “I’ll be back soon.”

Dean grabbed Ricco’s shoulder as he stepped out into the hallway once more. “Keep an eye on them for me.”

“Will do.”

Dean found the room Yasmine was in and pushed through the door. Yasmine lay on a narrow bed, sweat plastering strands of hair to her forehead. Jesus, why didn’t she send for him before now? Her face was pale but fierce, her hands clutching the sheets as another contraction ripped through her.

Dean was at her side in an instant, his hand covering hers. “I’m here,” he whispered. “Breathe with me. That’s it, cariño.”

Her eyes opened, wild, glassy, and locked on him. The panic there eased, just slightly.

“I didn’t want to bother you too soon,” she offered even though he hadn’t asked.

“You are never bothering me. I love you more than anything.”

Yasmine’s lips curled up. “Don’t you dare leave me,” she gasped, squeezing his hand as she silently screamed. She slumped into the pillows, panting hard.

He didn’t remember the other kids being this difficult for Yasmine to deliver. Fear prickled along his skin.

“Not a chance.” He brushed his thumb across her knuckles, anchoring them both.

The doctor muttered in Spanish, the nurses moving with mechanical efficiency. Dean stared at the man who had two nurses by his side, not liking the look on his face.

“Is something wrong?” Dean asked.

“We should be good now, but the baby is large and the shoulder was stuck. Okay, Yasmine, push again,” the doctor ordered.

Yasmine bore down, voice breaking into a strangled cry. Dean wanted to tear the world apart for her, hating that despite the miracle of their children that it caused her any pain. He never wanted her to suffer.

“We are going to need one more push with the next contraction,” the doctor informed, his voice even and steady.

Yasmine looked up at him, tears running down her face. “I can’t do it anymore,” she cried.