Page 36 of Trapped By the Cartel

Hunter's expression softened, but his professional demeanor remained. "Sir, they're already inside the compound. They're targeting the research labs. We need every able body to defend our territory."

I cursed under my breath. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not like this.

Elliot let out a strangled cry, clutching his stomach even tighter. The contractions were coming relentlessly, each one stealing his breath.

"Damon…" He groaned, his eyes clouded with pain. "I… I don't think I can…"

Ignoring Hunter, I threw myself over Elliot, cradling him protectively. "We'll manage, love. We'll get through this."

Suddenly, the lights flickered, plunging the room into near darkness. A low hum filled the air, followed by a crackling sound.

"What the hell was that?" I muttered, my senses on high alert.

Before I could react, a voice crackled through the comm system implanted in my ear. It was Marcus, my second-in-command.

"Damon, we have a code red! The Serpents have deployed an electromagnetic pulse. All electronic devices are offline. Including… communications and medical equipment."

My stomach dropped. No phones. No internet. No contact with the outside world. And no monitoring equipment for Elliot's labor. We were completely on our own. The Serpents were going to pay.

Another contraction hit Elliot with brutal force, and I felt him stiffen beneath me. He started to murmur, a low, guttural sound escaping his lips.

"Push, Elliot," I urged, remembering snippets from the birthing classes we'd reluctantly attended. "Push with all your might."

He didn't respond, just continued to groan, his body wracked with pain. Then, a thin stream of blood trickled from between his legs.

"Elliot!" I yelled, panic rising in my throat. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

He shook his head weakly, his face pale. "I… I don't know. The pain… it's overwhelming."

Just then, a deafening explosion rocked the house. The windows shattered, showering us with glass. The room plunged into complete darkness.

I instinctively shielded Elliot with my body, praying that none of the debris had struck him.

"Damon!" Elliot screamed. "I can't… I can't feel anything!"

My heart hammered against my ribs. Something was terribly, terribly wrong. He was losing consciousness, and I had to do something about it before it was too late.

With a surge of adrenaline, I fumbled for my lighter, the small flame filling the darkness. As the flickering light illuminated Elliot's face, I saw his eyes were unfocused, his skin clammy. This wasn't good at all.

"Stellan's coming," I whispered, more to myself than to him. "He's coming now." That was the most alarming thing about all this.

Another pain ripped through him, more intense than anything I'd witnessed before. And then, with a final, shuddering gasp, Elliot's body went limp in my arms.

"Elliot!" I cried, shaking him gently. But he didn't respond.

Chapter 17

Elliot

As consciousness slowly returned, I found myself lying on my back, staring up at a stark white ceiling. The scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils, and the hum of machinery surrounded me. Where was I? And why couldn't I feel… anything below my waist? What was going on?

I turned my head stiffly, looking around the strange room. It wasn't a hospital; there were no sterile beds or white coats in sight. Instead, it appeared to be some kind of makeshift infirmary, filled with medical equipment and supplies haphazardly strewn about. IV stands stood sentinel next to my bed, dripping a steady stream of fluid into my veins. Monitors beeped softly, tracking my vital signs—vital signs that seemed eerily stable considering the chaos from earlier.

"Damon?" I croaked, my throat dry and scratchy. "Where are you?"

I hoped he was okay. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do.

No response came, save for the soft hum of machines. Panic began to rise inside me as I realized I was alone—completely and utterly alone—in this cold, antiseptic room.

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