Wanted (Hostage Rescue Team Series Book 8) (17 page)

“Well, I’m ready now. And I’m here for both of you.” He slid one of his big hands to her belly and rested it there, fingers splayed out across her abdomen. That protective gesture made her want to cry. The heat of his palm sank into her skin, loosening the knot of anxiety in her gut. He gave her a reassuring smile, so handsome it set off a bittersweet ache inside her. “I’m sure everything’ll be okay.”

She nodded, mostly because she needed to stay positive and didn’t want to say the unthinkable aloud.

Footsteps approached, along with the sound of something being wheeled across the linoleum floor. Clay straightened and a moment later the curtain swished aside to reveal a doctor and nurse with an equipment cart.

The doctor smiled at them. “Ms. Renard? I’m Doctor Fisher. I understand you had a bit of a scare tonight?”

A bit? Yeah, I was kidnapped, held at gunpoint, almost killed and now I could be losing my baby.
“Yes,” Zoe murmured, thankful the doctor was looking at her and didn’t notice the lethal look Clay was giving him.

“And is this your husband?”

A beat of awkward silence followed. “Yes,” she answered, because it was easier that way, and because Clay was her husband in every way but under the eyes of the law. “This is Clay.”

The doctor nodded at him then continued. “Well the good news is the cramping has stopped and the bleeding was minimal. Your vitals all look fantastic, though of course your blood pressure is a little high right now.”

He slipped on some gloves while the nurse prepared what looked like some kind of probe. “You’re still not very far along, so a transabdominal ultrasound won’t tell us much. We’ll use a transvaginal instead.”

Zoe moistened her dry lips. “Okay.”

Clay sat beside her like a statue, holding her hand tight while the nurse helped get everything ready, but Zoe could tell he was keeping vigil on the proceedings. If either of them did anything he didn’t approve of, he’d be all over them.

The nurse handed the doctor a tube of lube and the probe, then pushed the blankets up Zoe’s legs and draped a towel over her lower half. Then she left the enclosure.

“Ready?” the doctor asked.

Zoe nodded and willed herself to relax. Her hand tightened on Clay’s as the doctor reached underneath the towel to insert the probe. She tensed, not because it hurt, but because she was scared they would find out their baby was dead.

Clay set his free hand on the top of her head, stroked his fingers through her hair. “It’ll be okay, Zo.”

Fear sliced through her, sharp and raw. She bit down on her lip, held her breath. God, she didn’t know what she’d do if the doctor confirmed her fears.

The doctor noticed her distress, because he glanced up at her and gave her an encouraging smile. “Just relax and breathe. This won’t take long.”

Willing herself to relax, she focused on the ceiling, the strength of Clay’s fingers locked around hers. He was solid and strong, like a rock, and she knew he wasn’t going anywhere, no matter what the outcome.
This
was the man she’d fallen in love with. The protective warrior.

The doctor reached behind him to switch on the device, then adjusted the probe. At first there was nothing but static. Then silence.

The awful, dead sound beat against her eardrums, pounded in her skull.

Oh my God, it’s dead. My baby is dead.

She knew it was Clay’s too, not just hers, but it was growing inside her. She’d caused the accident tonight so she felt like this was her fault. The baby had depended on her protecting and taking care of it, and she’d
failed
.

Her throat closed up. She couldn’t breathe, the guilt smothering her.

Her fingers dug into Clay’s hand, every muscle in her body tightening in horror. She shouldn’t have crashed the car like that. If not for that lap belt ramming into her abdomen, the baby would still be alive.

Numbness and grief crashed over her, followed by a heavy layer of guilt choking her.

Then, over the roar of blood in her ears, a faint sound registered. A dim whooshing noise.

Fast. Very fast.

Even with her heart pounding the way it was, the rhythm was too fast to be hers.

Her gaze shot to the doctor, who smiled kindly at her. “There it is. Your little one, safe and sound.”

At those words, Zoe lost it.

She burst into tears, put her hands over her face and cried, venting all the fear, the guilt and the sorrow. But mainly, relief.

The doctor removed the probe and covered her back up but she barely noticed.

Alive. Their baby was still alive.

Clay wound a powerful arm underneath her to lift her torso up a bit and pulled her into a tight hug, one hand cradling the back of her head. She buried her face in his chest, her hands going to his shoulders.

She clung to him, unable to stop trembling. She was vaguely aware of Clay murmuring something to her, the doctor somewhere in the background saying he’d leave them alone now.

Hard, tight sobs ripped through her, making her chest and throat ache. Her eyes were already swollen.

“It’s okay, baby,” Clay said softly against her hair. “Everything’s all right now.” His voice was rough with emotion. “God, I love you so damn much.”

Zoe held on and fought to get control. The sobs quieted and the tears dried up, leaving her hitching in little breaths every so often. She leaned into Clay’s strength, physically and emotionally exhausted, thankful he was here to bolster her. “I want to go home,” she whispered.

“I know you do.” He eased her back down against the bed, wiped the tears from her face with his hands and tucked the blankets around her. His smile and the sheen of tears in his eyes filled her heart to bursting. It was more than relief. It was pure joy. “You’re okay. And we’re gonna have a baby in May.”

She smiled back, elated by his reaction. That smile told her everything she needed to know. All her secret worries and insecurities about the baby melted away. It was pretty clear he was already attached to the baby, and maybe even looking forward to being a daddy in a few more months. “I know. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Yeah. It is.” There was pure awe in his voice. He bent and kissed her, his lips warm and tender on hers. Then he lifted his head. “Hang tight. I’m going to see about springing you outta this joint, so I can take you home.”

“Yes. Please.” She was dying to go home and unwind with him, rest in his arms and begin the healing process.

He closed the curtain behind him. Zoe lay back against the pillow and rested a hand on her abdomen, feeling warm again for the first time since that first bullet had pierced the shop window.

“You’re a fighter, aren’t you little one,” she whispered to the baby. It would be weeks and weeks until it could hear her, but she knew he or she could understand her just the same. A little smile tugged at her lips, an overwhelming sense of gratitude filling her heart. “Must be in the genes.”

****

Clay glanced over at Zoe, asleep against the passenger-side door, and reached over to stroke her hair as he steered the truck into the underground parking. “Zo, wake up. We’re home.”

He’d gotten to the hospital as soon as humanly possible after meeting with his team. And he didn’t plan on leaving her side for the rest of the night unless they got called out to hunt the bastard that had tried to kill her. It was the only thing that could pry him away from her.

She opened her eyes, straightened. He saw the moment when it all came back to her but she relaxed a second later, sent him a small smile. Her strength and resilience amazed him. “It’s good to be home.”

Zoe loved being at home more than anyone he’d ever met, so he knew how important it was to bring her here instead of the FBI-designated safe house he’d been considering. She needed the comfort of familiar surroundings and their building was one of the most secure in Northern Virginia.

He’d made absolutely certain no one had followed them here and he’d alerted the security staff to be on guard before they arrived. No one was getting up to their place unannounced.

After parking and shutting off the engine, he hurried around to her side and opened her door for her, then lifted her into his arms.

She pushed at his shoulders. “Don’t be ridiculous, put me down. I can walk.”

“Nope,” Clay said as he hauled her out of the truck and shut the passenger door with his hip. “The doctor said you’re supposed to stay off your feet as much as possible and rest tonight.”

She linked her hands behind his neck and looked into his face. “He didn’t say I wasn’t allowed to walk at all.”

“
I
say you’re not allowed to walk at all.” The cramping and spotting might have stopped but he wasn’t taking any chances with her or the baby.

He was not to be messed with right now. He’d come too close to losing the most precious thing in the world to him tonight. Taking care of Zoe was his top priority right now.

She huffed out a reluctant chuckle and settled against his chest, laid her head on his shoulder. It felt good to hold her this way, to be able to give her physical comfort. She might think he was being overprotective right now but he didn’t care. After tonight she’d be lucky if he let her stand up at all for the next few days.

“Well, I do love it when you get all alpha and romantic with me,” she murmured.

“Perfect. Let’s go with that.”

Smothering a laugh, she rested quietly in his arms as they entered the stairwell. He was glad she seemed to be in good spirits. Finding out the baby was okay had lifted a huge weight off him, so he could only imagine it was probably even more so for her. He was going to spend the rest of the night giving her TLC, showing her with actions how much he loved her.

Through the window of the stairwell door, one of their neighbors saw them coming. Mrs. Flannigan’s wrinkled face filled with alarm when she saw Clay carrying Zoe, and pushed the door open for them. “Is she—”

“She’s okay,” Clay answered. “Had a little scare tonight, that’s all, and I want her off her feet for a while.”

“Oh, you poor dear,” Mrs. Flannigan said to Zoe, hurrying to get her walker out of their way. “Can I do anything?”

“No,” Zoe said, “but thanks.” She smiled up at him. “We’re having a baby.”

“A baby!” A huge smile wreathed her face. “That’s so lovely to hear, congratulations! Here, let me, dear.” She nudged her walker forward to call the elevator for them, nearly fell when she tried to get out of their way.

Clay swung the arm around Zoe’s shoulders out to steady the old gal. “Careful there. I don’t want to have to carry the both of you upstairs.”

“Actually, I bet you’d like it, Mrs. F,” Zoe told her, a wicked smile on her face. “His muscles feel so incredible.”

“Oh, you,” Mrs. Flannigan laughed, making a shooing motion at Zoe, her cheeks turning bright pink. “When’s your next book out, by the way? I’m dying to find out what happens to Garret.”

Clay stopped and stared at their neighbor with raised eyebrows. Mrs. Flannigan, the head of her church circle, read Zoe’s books? Now
he
was the one blushing.

“I’m just about done with his story,” Zoe answered. “Should be out in a few months.”

Mrs. Flannigan’s pale blue eyes filled with glee. “I can’t wait.”

The elevator dinged.

Their neighbor shuffled her walker backward a few steps to make room. “Well, don’t let me keep you, dears.” She aimed a sharp look at Clay. “You take good care of her. And she’s eating for two, don’t forget, so make sure you feed her well.” She patted her ample middle. “Had five kids of my own, so I know a thing or two about these things.” She waggled her eyebrows at Zoe. “Including how fun it is to make them.”

Shocked speechless, Clay hurried Zoe into the elevator while she laughed at his expression. “You’re so cute when you’re embarrassed,” she told him.

“I can’t even believe what I just heard.” Zoe’s books were beyond steamy. Not to mention graphic. “I feel a little dirty, thinking about her reading your stuff.”

She nuzzled his neck. “Ooh, you know I love it when you get dirty.”

He growled and tightened the arm he had around her back. After what she’d been through tonight he completely understood why she’d want to have sex right now, but it wasn’t going to happen, no matter how badly they both wanted that physical reassurance. “No sex. The doctor said so. Not for a few days at least.”

She sighed, put on a pout. “I know, but I’ve just been through a traumatic experience and need to physically reaffirm the joys of being alive.”

Much as he was dying to give her just that, he couldn’t risk it. “Which is why I’m going to pamper you hand and foot,” he answered.

She looked intrigued by that. “What’s that entail, exactly?”

He kissed her upturned lips. “You not having to lift a finger for the rest of the night.” He hoped longer, but it depended on what happened with the hunt for Grande and whether his team was called out for the arrest. Part of him hoped they would be, because he wanted to be there when they nailed the sonofabitch.

Upstairs in their apartment he settled her on the couch with the quilt decorated with little bats and one of her favorite movies, then went and drew her a bubble bath. When it was ready he carried her into the bathroom, undressed them both and slid into the tub with her. It was a large soaker tub, but it was still a tight squeeze with the both of them in it.

In the water she rested against his chest while he ran a sponge-thing she liked to use over her wet skin. In the quiet he checked over every inch of her and kissed each scrape and abrasion he could see on her soft skin, wishing he could heal the marks with his touch.

He ordered himself not to get aroused while he did it, but the resistance was futile. He’d almost lost her again tonight, her and the baby, and the most primitive part of his brain demanded that he get inside her as soon as humanly possible to ease that deep psychological fear.

The sight and feel of her damp, naked body in his arms had predictable results. By the time he was done washing her, he was rock hard and aching, gritting his teeth every time her lower back rubbed against him.