Do Or Die [Nuworld 4] (31 page)

Gilroy’s arms.

“She asked for you,” Gilroy responded and gestured toward the door with his

head. “The doctor said you could see her now.”

Ana looked small under the covers. Andru couldn’t believe the transformation.

Long blonde curls lay soaked around her head on the pillow. Her cheeks were flushed

and her skin pasty white, but her eyes glowed.

“Did you see him? Isn’t he beautiful?” She reached a thin hand up to him and he

took it eagerly. The doctor stood over by Darien and the rest of the family at the foot of

the bed.

“The most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.” Andru’s voice cracked and he buried his

head next to Ana’s. “I love you, my dear sister,” he whispered and she wrapped her

arm around his neck.

Just then a low cramp started in her abdomen and Andru pulled away quickly.

“Doctor, is she supposed to still be in pain?”

“Are you in pain?” The doctor moved to Ana’s side.

“I,” she breathed. And then another, more severe cramp lunged through her lower

body.

“Hell yes, she’s in pain, severe pain,” Andru barked, as he held her one hand in

both of his.

“Okay folks, looks like the Bryon tradition is at hand again. We’ve got another one

coming out. Everyone out.”

The room emptied quickly but Andru couldn’t move. He rode every high and every

low with her. His eyes closed when hers closed and his expression contorted as hers

contorted. The doctor didn’t say anything but focused on the delivery. Their actions

distracted him, though. He’d never seen anything like it. When her eyes opened, so did

Andru’s and they focused on each other, not speaking, noticing no one in the room but

each other. Simultaneously, they took a deep breath and she put her other hand into his

two larger ones.

“Okay Ana, I need you to push now. The baby’s head is right here.” The doctor

spoke quietly and watched the twins as they focused on each other.

Ana pushed and she felt the bulge pass through her, and the release of pressure

when the baby was out. It was quiet then, incredibly quiet. Ana closed her eyes and

relaxed her body, breathing slowly. It took her a second to realize she didn’t hear the

baby.

“Oh no,” she whimpered, when she opened her eyes and looked at the small, still

child, as the doctor cut the umbilical cord.

“It looks like he didn’t make it much past the fifth cycle,” Dr. Digo said solemnly.

“He looks just like Lara’s…”

“Don’t,” Andru spoke quietly and then buried his face into hers when she started to

cry. His pain was right there with hers. He’d taken the life of another woman’s child,

possibly his child, and at the same time one of his children died.

Chapter Eighteen

Ana mourned her dead child for many days. She fell into an incredible depression,

and a nursemaid was brought in to help with Darien. It took incredible encouragement

from Gilroy to get her out of bed and wash herself. He bathed her daily, sat with her

while she nibbled at food brought to her, repeatedly told her how beautiful she was,

how much he loved her, and how adorable Darien was.

Darien was almost two weeks old when Ana was able to hold him and feed him.

She stood on her balcony, her long nightgown and thin robe moving gently around her

with the breeze. The yard was vacated, everyone busy with the day’s activities. It was a

beautiful day and she felt somewhat uplifted by the warm sunshine and sweet smell of

blooming flowers.

“What do you think, Darien?” She smiled down at the tiny face swaddled in

incredibly soft blankets. He blinked soft gray eyes at her and she stroked the pale-

colored peach fuzz on his head. “You will rule all the Runner clans some day, my love.

All of this will be your home. There isn’t a luckier baby alive.”

“I daresay this is a sight for sore eyes.”

She turned to see Gilroy leaning in the doorway. He grinned crookedly at her as her

long blonde hair fell around her and her thin nightgown swept over her large breasts

and flat tummy. “There isn’t a more beautiful woman in all of Nuworld. I would swear

to that.”

She smiled at him and walked into his arms. He held her carefully so he wouldn’t

crush Darien and kissed her head and forehead with gentle, alluring kisses.

“I want you,” he growled with such ferocity she looked up at him wide-eyed.

“Right now?” Her expression was one of innocent surprise but her soft gray eyes

danced enticingly.

“Soon, woman. Very soon.” He took advantage of her upturned face and kissed her,

aggressively and possessively. The heat from his mouth scorched her and sent electrical

currents shooting down her midsection. The heat settled in between her legs and she

pushed her hips into him letting him know his kiss was successful. Her lips tingled

when he released her. “Right now, I have something to show you. Come on.”

Gilroy held Darien while Ana dressed. His heart leaped with hers as she pulled on

her old Runner pants and discovered they fit. She turned around in front of the full-

length mirror grinning fully and giggling with delight. Gilroy insisted the wet nurse

take Darien and follow them in a jeep as he pulled Ana onto his glider. She felt so good

snuggled in front of him. He’d missed this.

“Where are we going?” She turned to look at him.

“You’ll see.” His face was void of expression. She scowled and he allowed a small

smile.

Ana’s mouth fell open as they stopped in front of the finished two-story stone

house that was their new home. He pulled her long blonde hair out of the way so he

could enjoy her initial reaction.

“I had all the furniture brought over earlier this week and Syra took care of hiring a

few servants for you.” There was pride in Gilroy’s voice.

“I’ve been out of commission for a while, haven’t I?” She felt bad that other people

picked up the slack in her absence.

The jeep pulled up and she got off the glider to go to Darien. Gilroy grabbed her

arm once he was off the glider.

“Let the woman do her job for a while,” he said and then scooped her into his arms.

“I daresay you’re quite a bit lighter than the last time I picked you up.”

“What are you doing?” Ana twisted so she could see her son.

“Taking my claim into our new home.”

Ana was thrilled with the large kitchen that had been built to her specifications. She

ran her hand across the stone countertop and opened one varnished cabinet after the

other. Each was stocked with everything needed to feed a family.

Ana walked through the dining room and admired the embroidered tablecloth that

fell over her dining room table. It was long and narrow with enough room to sit over

eight people if needed. The woodwork inside the house smelled fresh and someone had

arranged cut flowers in vases throughout the living room and in the upstairs bedrooms.

They returned downstairs after Ana oversaw the care of Darien and was satisfied

that he was happy with his nanny. A stout middle-aged woman greeted them when

they returned to the kitchen.

“Ah, I see you have brought the lady home, you have.” The woman straightened

and ran her hands over her dress, as if waiting inspection.

“Ana, Poli is our new housekeeper.” Gilroy’s expression showed he didn’t feel it

was his duty to do more than introduce the woman. Dealing with servants was

women’s work.

“M’lady, it’s nice to know you, it is.” Poli smiled and laugh lines showed at her eyes

and on either side of her mouth.

“Aren’t you Fulga’s sister?”

“Yeah, is true. I worked in Taratown before your mama-in-law contacted me at my

sister’s suggestion. I’m a might bit appreciative to be living back here, I am.” The

woman straightened her simple dress. “I’ve taken the liberty of making a menu. If

you’ll take a look then I can make any changes you wish, I can.”

Ana accepted the crudely written chart that displayed the meals for the next few

weeks. She realized she was lady of the house and now had many more responsibilities.

The tiny comm in her shirt pocket beeped and she wrapped it around her ear.

“Ana, I heard you had a baby boy.” Meah spoke cheerfully into her ear.

Ana hadn’t spoken to her since she’d given birth. Part of her knew she needed to

resolve the feelings that had stirred when she discovered Gilroy and Andru had taken

her and part of her knew she’d simply been too out of commission to handle her

responsibilities.

“Yes, his name is Darien.” Ana felt Gilroy’s gaze on her and discomfort bubbled in

her gut. Somehow, she needed to overcome the anger she felt over Gilroy taking Meah

if the Runner was to be her first assistant.

“I can’t wait to see him.” Meah sounded cheerful.

She bit her lip and felt her heart race. Looking up at Poli she whispered that she’d

have to discuss the menu with her later and turned toward the living room. Gilroy

followed her and she knew he wouldn’t give her privacy. She took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you over the past couple of weeks.” Ana couldn’t look

at Gilroy but knew his blue eyes were watching her like a hawk. She felt incredibly

uncomfortable.

“From what I hear, you were a little busy.” Meah laughed easily. “Tara has been in

contact with me but I haven’t talked to her in a couple of days.” Meah was quiet for a

moment. “Ana, I’ve been driving all night. I got her. She’s knocked out and strapped to

a trailer. I’ve had to drive the entire time.”

“You got her?” She looked up at Gilroy in spite of herself and caught his concerned

expression before it changed and an eyebrow shot up. He pulled out his comm as she

spoke. “How far are you from here?”

“I should be at the clan site in about thirty minutes. I did it. I was starting to doubt

my abilities, but I did it. I’ll tell you everything when I get there. Where should I meet

you?”

“I’ll meet you at the jail. It’s on the far west side of the clan site.” Ana pulled off her

comm and could tell Gilroy was talking to Andru. He stopped talking and looked at her

carefully when she met his gaze.

“Tell Andru that I want to meet her alone at first.” She struggled to sound

composed although she could feel a cold sweat break out across her body. “I’ll contact