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Sofia nodded, leaning into him as they walked.
“Here!” Ian called to the paramedics, wanting Sofia checked out as soon as possible. He gave a succinct sit rep to direct them, then allowed the man and woman to help her into the back of the emergency vehicle, while he stood guard.
Sofia answered their questions, demonstrating no mental confusion. Her breathing sounded a little shaky, but some of that might have been adrenaline, and she wasn’t coughing. Her voice didn’t sound hoarse, either, and she shook her head at the offer of oxygen.
“The fire truck’s here.” Sofia tried to see what was happening in the road, and Ian, still keeping an eye on her, filled her in on what the crew was doing to save her house. He had to leave her to speak to them and when he returned to her side, Sofia had a probe on her earlobe, measuring her blood oxygen.
“That’s fine.” The woman attending her slipped the probe free and stood. “Within normal levels. You’ll have to take it easy, but—”
“I’m pregnant,” Sofia blurted out, her eyes on Ian as she spoke. “I have to know the baby’s okay.”
“Pregnant? Why didn’t you say? You’ll need to go to the ER then, just to be safe.” The EMTs glanced at each other, conferring without speaking, showing the depth of their partnership.
“Sir…” the man said to Ian. “We’re taking the patient to hospital.”
And there was no room for him in the ambulance. “I’ll follow.” His tone made it non-negotiable. Sofia’s eyes, fixed on his, were the last thing he saw as the team closed the ambulance door.
Baby. Sofia and the baby.His baby. The image filled his mind, and he wasn’t paying the amount of attention he should have been to the road. As he accelerated to catch up to the ambulance, another car pulled out in a hurry from where it had been parked, further up the road, and Ian had to swerve around it. It snapped his attention into focus as nothing else could have done at that moment. He would have liked to know who the driver was, and why he—or she—had been watching Sofia’s house, but he couldn’t stop to follow the other car.
This journey seemed to take twice as long as the one he’d made a few days ago for his son, even though the roads were free of traffic and the ambulance ran stop lights. Ian had to park, cursing the time it took to grab a coat from his trunk and race into the ER. If he missed Sofia—
He didn’t. She was on a gurney, waiting while the male EMT handed her over to hospital staff. As Ian joined them, the paramedic’s radio crackled and he answered it. The guy put out a hand, stopping them from taking Sofia.
“That was the fire crew. The house isn’t a total loss.” He smiled at Sofia, and Ian stepped closer to her and draped his coat over her shoulders. “But it seems you won’t be able to stay there while the repairs are being made.” The paramedic’s expression showed sympathy.
“Oh!” Sofia blinked and her eyes were glassy, as if she were holding back tears.
“Not a problem.”
“Ian?” Sofia turned to him at this statement.
He took her hand. “You can stay with me and Gavin.”
“Th-that’s not necessary,” she stammered. “I can get a hotel or something.”
“That sounds expensive—and not very secure,” Ian pointed out. He bent low, speaking so only she could hear. “Think about what’s been happening. The vandalism to your car, and now a fire in your house? It can’t be a coincidence. I’d rather you were somewhere safe. Wouldn’t you?”
“I…I… Yes.” Sofia bit her lower lip. “Thank you. Yes.”
