Chapter 2. In for a Treat

Why?

Why now?

Of all the times to go into labor, now was definitely the worst. Valerie could already feel the first contractions coming on, a sharp pain that made her grit her teeth and clutch at her belly. The pain was intense, more than she had expected, and it came with a force that demanded her full attention. Her thoughts raced, worry intertwining with the realization that there was no turning back now. She’d prepared for this, rehearsed it a dozen times in her mind, but somehow, standing here in the midst of an unexpected moment, none of it felt like enough.

Antonio looked at her with raised eyebrows, his smug smile quickly disappearing. “Err…Valerie?” he asked, suddenly sounding less confident and more… worried?

She ignored him, breathing heavily as she tried to ride out the pain. Caught up in the moment, her mind focused only on getting through this ordeal. She couldn’t give birth in front of this man! What if he tried to kill her? She could feel the liquid seeping down her legs and onto his plus carpet.

It served him right for forcing her to be here!

“Is she…is she having the baby now?” one of Antonio’s goons stammered. He looked pale and terrified, his eyes darting from Val to his boss in panicked confusion. If Valerie wasn’t in so much pain, she would’ve giggled at his goofy expression. This man must've never had a child before. 

Antonio stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Get the car!” he roared at one of his men, who disappeared from the room like a shot.

Her brother’s man, Samuel, was by her side in a flash. “I… I will call Boss and take you away, Val.”

"Yes, please. Get me out of here!" Valerie said, gritting her teeth.

“There’s no time for that, you fool!” Antonio barked at him. “I am taking her to the hospital. You come with me so Foster doesn’t think I am harming his sister.”

Despite the pain, Val couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh at Antonio’s expense. His confident facade had wholly shattered, and he looked utterly helpless now. His intimidating aura now ceased to exist.

But damn…she could finally see how tall he was, and he was a motherfucking giant! She wondered how his mother felt while giving birth to him. Was he a big baby or was he…

“Ouch!” Val cried as another contraction interrupted her thoughts. She couldn't afford to stand here all day. 

“What’s wrong? Are you going to die?” Antonio squealed, holding her closer. 

Jeez…he looked like he was about to pass out.

“Is this your first time witnessing childbirth?” she asked through gritted teeth. A fresh wave of pain hit her then and her body convulsed.

Antonio looked at her with wide eyes and nodded mutely. “I have seen death,” he admitted quietly. “But never life.”

“Well,” Val gasped out between contractions, “you’re in for a real fucking treat.”

Antonio watched her for a moment longer before he stepped toward her hesitantly. He reached out slowly and placed his hand on her arm. It was a comforting gesture but not nearly enough to take away the pain.

And besides, Valerie wasn’t exactly expecting to be comforted by a murderous Italian giant.

“The car is ready, Capo,” Antonio’s goon informed them.

Valerie yelped as Antonio scooped her up in his arms and strode toward the front door. “Breathe, Amore,” he urged as he settled her into the car.

She held onto Antonio’s suit jacket, her fingers digging in as another contraction made her vision swim. His usually calm exterior was ruffled, his dark eyes wide and a frown creasing his usual smile lines. She leaned some more against his hard chest. He smelled nice, or whatever cologne he was wearing smelled nice. It had a hint of citrus like bergamot or lemon. Valerie never realized the smell of bergamot was comforting to her. But now she knew. 

Julian always smelled like cigarettes' and cheap vodka...

“Drive faster!” he barked at the man behind the wheel. He sounded even more distressed than before.

“I’m trying!” the man snapped back, urgency clear in his voice.

As the car sped through the streets, Valerie tried to focus on breathing as her doctor had instructed. Antonio’s hand had been warm against her shoulder, but somewhere between the hospital entrance and being rushed into a room, his touch left hers. The sudden absence felt strange, though she should have been relieved he wasn’t near.

A nurse leaned over her. “Oh dear, you made it just in time,” she said, smiling.

“Yeah, just in time,” Valerie gritted out, her breath hitching as another contraction rocked through her. She didn't know if she could make it out alive from this.

In a whirlwind of motion, doctors and nurses rushed around her. Valerie was lifted onto a gurney and wheeled down the hospital corridor at an alarming speed. The lights above her blended into one long, glaring strip as they whizzed by.

A doctor appeared in Valerie’s line of sight, her eyes full of kind concern. “You’re doing great, Valerie. Just keep breathing.”

Valerie nodded, clenching her teeth against the next wave of pain that roared through her.

Suddenly, the door burst open again, and Antonio was there. His face was red and his eyes glinting.

Wait…why was he here?

“You’ll need to gown up,” the doctor told Antonio, handing him a sterile set.

Antonio blinked at her, a look of bewilderment flashing across his face. But then he squared his shoulders and nodded. “Okay,” he said, disappearing behind a curtain to change into the sterile gown.

“Wai… wait…” Valerie tried to protest when another contraction hit her. Words failed her as she rode out the wave of pain. By the time she recovered, Antonio had reentered the room, garbed in sterile scrubs. 

Was he seriously planning on helping her deliver her child? No way. No fucking way!

Valerie cursed out loud. This could not be happening to her!