Page 41 of The Count
We watched from our hold up in the corner, and I held on to his arm to keep him from surging to his feet. He wanted to take care of Villefort himself. That was obvious by the look in his eyes. I wrapped one arm around his bicep and the other around his waist the best I could. It wouldn’t do to keep him still, but my presence seemed to calm him enough.
The detective spoke to Villefort in low tones. We couldn’t hear anything they said. Finally, she brandished her handcuffs and he took a step back. It was interesting watching a conversation from so far away. All body language. The detective hated his guts. Fear poured out of Villefort despite his aggressive posture.
I missed the sign, but Will didn’t. He pushed me behind him the second the gunshot report echoed through the old building.
All the cops assembled pulled their weapons and aimed them at Villefort. The detective as well. I watched from over Will’s shoulder. He sat coiled, ready to drop us to the ground at a second’s notice. I should be scared but with Will, I wasn’t.
Villefort shouted and waved the gun around. The police shouted at him. I thought the detective would have talked him down, instead, he grew more agitated.
“We need to get out of here,” Will said.
He crouched low, keeping me behind him. I did an amalgamation of a crab walk and a duck walk to stay low enough. But we drew Villeforts’ attention. I had a second to see the gun pointed at us before a sharp crack, and Will’s heavy weight on top of me.
He covered every part of me. Both our hearts slammed heavily in our chests, his against my face as he protected me.
More gunshots rang out and then silence. No. Ringing. a soft tone echoed in my ears painfully. He pulled away and scooted so he could look at my face. “I’m fine.” I said, and sat up.
He sagged in relief and then lurched to his feet and scooped me. “What, Will. I can walk.”
But I glanced down and red bloomed at my calf. He carried me out of the building. Ambulances were already stationed outside and he immediately commandeered one of the medics standing at the rear. To their credit, they didn’t flinch at his shouting toward them.
He sat me on the stretcher and one of the men started questioning me. “I’m fine. Please. It stings, but I don’t think I was shot. Probably just a graze.”
The medic prodded the wound and I jumped. Will lurched forward, and I placed my hand on his chest. The medic turned to his partner and motioned. In seconds, I was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Will trailed behind the gurney. A strange sight. This pillar of strength and masculinity looking so very fragile as they forced him to remain outside the doors.
After a million tests, and twenty stitches, I complained at the fact they still held me hostage. While I didn’t involve myself in day to day criminal activities, I also didn’t want to speak to the police when they came asking questions.
No doubt, Will didn’t want to do so either.
The doctor came in one more time. She looked over my file, and asked me if I was pregnant. “No of course not.”
She eyed me a moment. “No, Ma’am. I’m telling you. You’re pregnant.”
I stared at her. Her words made sense, and yet, my brain couldn’t bring itself to unscramble them. I sat up straighter and tried to remain calm. “Can you repeat that one more time.”
“You are pregnant. It’s very new.”
“But,” I held my hands out trying to make her understand. “I’m 41 years old. I can’t be pregnant.”
She shook her head at me likeso. “I’m not saying your pregnancy will be easy and safe. But there is no reason why you can’t have a healthy baby at your age.”
I slid off the bed and she grabbed me by the elbows. She was a foot taller and wider than me. Easily, she propped me back up. “Are you okay?”
I tried to drag in oxygen. I couldn’t get enough. She forced my neck down toward my knees and I focused on breathing. Just because I was pregnant now didn’t mean I’d stay that way. A healthy baby was a possibility, but far less likely over 30-something. Or so I read, years ago.
“I need to go.”
She held me back. “We need to process you out. Do you want me to get your husband?”
I let myself have that one. I nodded, and she left to go hunt him down.
He came in before her, immediately bellying up to the bedside. “Are you okay? I’m sorry you had to be alone back here. They wouldn’t let me in until you were settled.”
The doctor started to speak and I pointedly raised my voice. “The doc here was just telling me I’m fine and we can leave now.”
“I’ll take you come,” he helped me off the bed and grabbed my heap of clothing. Then he scooped me up easily and carried me out to the car. With the care of a bomb squad agent holding a grenade he sat me in the vehicle and closed the door.
