Page 22 of Ravaged From Fate

“All good.”

“Suit yourself.”

And then he starts the truck and speeds up the road in the direction where the gang members went.

I turn on my heels and head straight back down towards East Springs. It was a fucking bad idea to have fought those guys in the bar the other night, but I did have no choice once they’d threatened Elsa.

I have a sinking feeling that I can’t shake that this isn’t the last time I’ll see Sword Face and his goons.

11

ELSA

I get the call as I’m at the clinic making a coffee in between patient appointments. I have my mug ready to pour. I’m reaching over the kitchen counter. And then there’s the alarming buzzing in my pocket. I scramble through my nurse’s uniform to find the damn thing.

People only ever contact me if there’s an emergency.

And this turns out to be the biggest one of all.

“Elsa, Simone is having the baby.”

I gasp.

Holy shit.

It’s Liam, Simone’s husband, on the other end of the line. I gave him my personal number in case anything happens with his wife’s pregnancy.

Well, it now seems like she’s having the baby.

A hell of a lot earlier than planned…

“What? Right now?”

“It sure looks like it, Elsa.”

Right. Righto. Action mode time.

We had booked the couple to visit the nearest hospital in a few weeks to have the baby there – or at least get everything checked up properly - but the little one seems to want to get out now.

And I ain’t prepared for this.

“Okay, make sure she’s comfortable and stay by her side,” I say down the phone to the panicking husband. “I’m on my way as fast as I can. Tell her to breathe.”

“Will do. Please hurry, Elsa. We need you.”

I hang up and immediately let out a very creative string of curse words. Luckily, I have the clinic’s kitchen door closed, otherwise my patient poor old Mr. Winterbottom next door might’ve had a heart attack thanks to the colorful language.

I am pretty justified in my swearing; Simone and Liam live on a remote property outside of town, miles away from any kind of place that’s equipped to deliver a baby. East Springs’ medical clinic is the best they have, and the resident doctor here is currently visiting another town on the other side of the valley and is, therefore, hours away.

That means I’m the best Simone and Liam have. The only option they have.

I give the doctor a quick call to tell him the news. He tells me he’s on his way as well, but yeah, it’ll take him a few hours to make it.

“I don’t think I can do this,” I tell him.

“You’re the only one who can, Elsa.”

So. This is all down to me.