Revenge (Phoenix Undercover Book 3) (8 page)

Chapter 20

Gabby

I could hear them whispering. They would just smile and pretend everything was okay but I knew different. I was well aware of the tension and unsettled looks upon their face.

I was pregnant, not completely blind or stupid.

I let them all continue with the charade of all around us being perfect and peaceful.

I knew it was their way of keeping the stress off me, but what they had not yet figured out was that I was so on edge, I constantly felt like I was being watched.

It wasn’t like we were on the first or even the second floor, yet I refused to leave the blinds on the windows open. It was just too creepy.

Every night since my baby shower I woke with the feeling someone was in the apartment. Yet I knew the chances of that were slim. I had two FBI agents living in the same apartment and could not forget a third one had setup a constant surveillance feed pointing at my front door at all times.

Josh had even gone as far as having an alarm system installed that took a special series of numbers in order to deactivate.

It all made him feel better, but me—it just made the reality of the situation that much more tangible.

All the neighbors outside my parents’ were questioned and interviewed. Josh and Gray had gone door to door asking if anyone had seen anyone who may have left the message on the Lincoln Josh drove.

But there was nothing that could lead them to the culprit.

For Leo to do it himself would have been a risk we all knew he wouldn’t take, which meant it truly could have been just about anyone.

And that thought alone was terrifying.

There was no way to know who Leo had reached.

No way to know who I could trust.

And no way to know when that person would strike again, or the extent they would go to appease Leo.

***

I woke from a nightmare to a darkened room. A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my stomach and around to my back as I gripped my stomach, squeezing my eyes together tightly.

“Josh,” I said through gritted teeth, fighting through the pain.

But there was no answer.

Immediately I felt the bed beside me as yet another pain ripped through my abdomen. It was empty.

“Josh,” I hollered out, louder this time.

“Oh fuck,” I gasped as a rush of liquid seeped into my pajama pants and ran down to the mattress below.

Just then the bedroom door came open and a stream of light from the hall lit the room.

A look of panic covered Josh’s face as he searched the room before settling his gaze on me.

I watched as he took in my position, hunched forward, holding my stomach.

“My water broke,” I whispered as my stomach tensed once again. “I’m having contractions,” I continued as he moved closer, a look of confusion on his face.

“But it’s not time,” he replied.

“I’m pretty sure your son doesn’t give a shit if we’re ready. It would appear he is.” I began moving off the edge of the bed, and Josh’s eyes widened.

Reality sunk in and he quickly reached out and helped me from the bed.

Just then Brook appeared in the doorway, looking as if she had just gone through a wind tunnel. Her hair was everywhere and her t-shirt hung halfway off her right shoulder. Oh…and it was on backward.

When Grayson stepped up behind her wearing only a pair of loose shorts, I could imagine what my screaming in agony had interrupted.

The two of them were like god-damn horny ass rabbits going at it every chance they got.

The next fifteen minutes was like a whirlwind of crazy as they all three sprung into action.

I could only imagine what the four of us looked like as Grayson and Josh attempted to carry me around from room to hallway. Hallway to elevator. And finally from the elevator to the lobby where Russel, the night watchman, watched in amusement.

Brook trailed behind, holding my bag close as she barked orders to both men.

If I wasn’t in pain and feeling extreme pressure between my thighs, I may have laughed at her bossiness.

Once I was placed in the waiting car that somehow Josh and Grayson had arranged, I looked in the front seat to find Trevor smiling wide. “You ready to have a baby?” he asked.

I could only nod as Grayson jumped in on my left, Josh on my right, and Brooklynn piled in the front seat.

It was absolutely absurd. I was like the god-damn coming attraction and they all had front-row seats.

The ride to the hospital was filled with each one of them directing Trevor on the best, fastest route. Poor guy.

But the greatest part about it was that he remained calm and took it upon himself to choose his own route, yet never stopped the three maniacs from telling him to turn left when he chose right.

If I wasn’t trying to hold back from screaming, I might have laughed at the entire display.

Once we arrived, Josh jumped from the vehicle before it even came to a complete stop and began yelling at the paramedics walking out of the doors toward their waiting vehicle.

“My wife is in labor,” he barked, and that comment was rewarded with a small smile.
His wife
.

The woman paramedic turned back toward the doors and stepped just inside before a nurse came out pushing a wheelchair.

Chapter 21

Josh

“Gabriella, I need you to listen to me.” A nurse leaned in toward Gabby in an attempt to get her to focus solely on the words she was speaking. “Your blood pressure is extremely high, and it has created some concern. We’ve called Dr. Bali, and he’s on his way but has directed us to prep you for a caesarean.”

I could see the alarm in Gabby’s eyes. I did all I could to remain calm, showing her that everything was going to be okay. But my own stomach was in knots. I felt nauseated at the thought of something happening to Gabby or our son.

When she looked at me I nodded my head and reached out to take her hand in mine. “It’s gonna be okay, sweetheart.”

I watched her close as her eyes remained focused on mine.

“I promise, baby.” I squeezed her hand for reassurance. “We’re gonna…” I began, only to stop midsentence as I watched her eyes roll back in her head just before her body began to jerk.

“What’s going on?” I asked in a panic as I was pushed aside. Alarms began to ring throughout the room as a mass amount of frenzied activity took place.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked once more, and it was then that a nurse that stood back placed her hand on my forearm. “We need to move her, sir. She is seizing and we need to get her blood pressure down. Until we deliver your child, we cannot safely do so. Please let them do what’s best for your wife and your baby.”

I couldn’t argue. I couldn’t find one reason why I should.

I just needed them to be okay.

***

“Any word?” Audrey asked as she sat down in the chair at my side and held out a cup of coffee.

I only shook my head, leaning back and taking the cup from her.

The warmth felt good on my hands, yet I had no desire to actually drink it.

I found myself wondering why in the fuck nothing could go as planned for Gabby and me. Everything had to come with some major fucked up whirlwind of crazy.

It had been over an hour since I was forced out of the room as they whisked the woman I loved toward the operating room.

I was left to wonder and worry.

The waiting area was now full of friends and family as we all waited for any news. Every one wore a look of defeat.

Gabby was just over thirty four weeks pregnant. Early, yes, but not so early that it was considered extremely high risk.

“Mr. Phoenix?” I heard my name called out and my heart felt as if it lurched in my chest.

“Yes.” I stood quietly and moved across the waiting area toward the older woman in scrubs. “I’m Joshua Phoenix.”

She smiled up at me. “Would you like to meet your son?”

Her words made my knees feel weak.

“He’s strong and healthy,” she assured me with a gentle nod. “And your wife is in recovery, doing very well.”

My shoulders sagged in relief as I let out a deep breath. The tension of the last two hours turned into what felt like exhaustion.

I nodded, allowing myself to follow her as she led me from the waiting area.

After washing my hands and arms with antibacterial soap, I dried them and was then led through a set of double doors. Just beyond those doors was a long hallway with rooms on each side every ten to twelve feet.

As we passed each room I looked through the doorways to see rooms with incubators along the walls. Some held parents with looks of joy on their faces as they looked in on their child.

The entire thing seemed surreal.

I had imagined more than once holding my son as Gabby and I both together shared the joy of becoming parents. I had never planned to meet him alone.

It wasn’t fear I was feeling, I knew that, but it was overwhelming.

Without any further time to prepare, the nurse stepped into a small room on the left, and my gaze immediately shifted toward the small bundle in the incubator, a blue cap covering his head. The closer I got the more my heart raced.

“Is he okay?” I asked. “Breathing on his own and…” I paused as I swallowed past the instant fear that developed within me.

“He’s perfect,” she added before I got the chance to panic any further. “He’s just a little small—four pounds, seven ounces.”

“Can I…” I motioned toward the contraption that held my son and she nodded her head.

“Don’t be alarmed by the machines. It’s just a precaution. You won’t hurt anything by touching him. You can even hold him.” I turned to face her and she smiled. “Do you want to hold your son?”

Again that overwhelming rush of something unknown ran through me. I felt as if I was doing something I shouldn’t, like I was taking away from Gabby, as if I was robbing her of something we should be sharing together.

But the desire to hold my child close outweighed those feelings and I nodded. “Yes,” I whispered, feeling the words burn my throat.

I watched in awe as she opened the side of the incubator and carefully removed my son, before turning to face me. “If you want to, have a seat and grab that pillow.”

I did as she asked, sitting in the rocker as I placed the pillow on my lap. “Prop your arm with the pillow on the side you wish to hold him.”

I placed the pillow beneath my right arm and found myself holding my breath as she lowered him to my arms.

And in that moment, when his face came in to view, I melted. Never in my life have I ever felt what I was feeling at that moment. It was an indescribable love that left me feeling drained and weak.

There wasn’t anything anyone could say or even do in that moment to take my focus off this beautiful child that Gabby and I created together.

Perfection didn’t even begin to describe him. He was so much more than perfect.

“Hey, Asher,” I whispered, and tears clouded my vision. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.”

He made a little grunting noise and I couldn’t help but laugh.

I was so in love within seconds, an instant connection I knew nothing could break.

“Your mommy’s gonna adore you, sweet boy,” I assured him as I watched him close, committing every noise and movement to memory so I could share them with Gabby later.

I truly couldn’t wait to introduce Asher to the woman who had given me everything I could ever ask for in a very short time. I wanted him to know just how much she loved us both and how that love was something that would forever keep his head above water, just as it had my own.

Chapter 22

Gabby

“He’s beautiful,” I whispered as I looked up at Josh through the haze I was in. I was still medicated and drowsy, but alert enough to see Asher.

Josh sat on the side of my bed as we both watched him sleep in his arms.

“And he’s okay?” I asked. It was the biggest fear I had from the moment I realized my water broke.

“He’s amazing, baby,” he assured me. “Small, but perfect.”

I could feel the instant relief wash over me. I could barely keep my eyes open. I fought against it, but it was pretty close to impossible.

“We’re gonna let you sleep, okay?” I heard Josh whisper, but all I could do was nod. Darkness had begun to take over as my body went completely limp.

***

When I woke the next time, I wasn’t sure how much time had passed. It was dark out and my room was quiet.

Turning my head to the side, I found my father sleeping in one recliner, while Josh slept in the other.

I found it funny that they both guarded my bedside.

My father had a hard time letting go, and with everything happening with Leo, he was even worse.

My heart was so filled with love as I continued to watch them both. The two men I loved with my entire heart both did all they possibly could to keep me safe.

A light filtered in as the door to my room was gently pushed open and my mother stepped inside. “Hey, sweetheart, how are you feeling?”

“I’m good,” I replied.

“Do you need anything?” She stepped up to the opposite side of my bed and placed her hand on mine.

“No,” I whispered. “Have you seen him yet?”

I watched as her eyes lit up and she nodded her head. “I just came from there. Your sisters are with him now.”

I loved knowing that if I couldn’t be with Asher at all times, my sisters and mother were able to be there. It gave me a sense of security.

“He’s eating now,” she added.

“Good,” I said before looking back toward my dad and Josh.

“Let me guess, they both insisted on sleeping here.” I already knew the answer, but when my mom laughed, I had no doubt.

“They went back and forth for about ten minutes before Josh left the room. You should have seen the look on your father’s face.” My mom smiled wide. “He thought he had won. That was until Josh came back into the room pulling a second recliner behind him and placed it right next to your father. He then looked over at your dad and with a straight face said, ‘I snore, Marshall. If that bothers you, then there’s the door.’”

I could imagine Josh doing that very thing; he was so hard-headed.

“I think that was the moment your father gave in and accepted that Josh deserved you.” I looked from the two guys back toward my mother. “I could see it in his eyes Gabs. He knew in that moment that his little girl would no longer need him.”

“I’ll always need him,” I told her, because it was true. I would forever adore my father and his overbearing ways.

“Yeah, that’s true. But now you have Josh, and your dad is going to have to learn to loosen the reins. Plus, he still has two other daughters to torture.” We both knew Brook and Audrey would just love his attention being redirected to them.

***

It was so hard to believe Asher was two weeks old already.

After I was released it was hard to leave the hospital without him, but we had to make sure he was maintaining his weight. Plus, after day four he became jaundiced and they were watching that as well.

Today we were on our way to the hospital to bring our son home, all four pounds thirteen ounces of him.

It was still so hard to believe he was here.

“You ready?” I looked over to my left and smiled as Josh placed the car in park.

“More than ready,” I replied.

Every single moment away from Asher was torture. It always left me feeling like part of me was missing. And today that feeling would come to an end because never again would I have to leave the hospital without him.

Both Josh and I could hardly contain our excitement as we held one another’s hand tightly. I had spent half the night going over everything in the nursery two or three times making sure we had everything we needed, until Josh forced me to go to bed. And even then I lay awake staring up at the ceiling, making mental notes of those things I may need to get more of.

This morning I even woke before the alarm and was ready to go before Josh had even stepped out of the shower.

Once we stepped off the elevator on the fourth floor, I practically drug Josh toward the nursery as he chuckled at my eagerness. I knew, though, that he was feeling the urgency as well—he just hid it better than I did.

After checking in and washing up, Nurse Kelly handed Asher over to me and I snuggled him close. “He just ate and has been changed,” she said with a smile as she stepped aside and allowed Josh to get closer.

Without a second thought he leaned in and placed the sweetest of kisses against Asher’s forehead, and I felt my heart flutter.

There was just something about the sight of Josh with Asher that made my whole body feel weak and gooey. It really was something that triggered the greatest of feelings.

He looked up at me and my heart melted just a little more when he spoke.

“Let’s take our boy home.”