Page 184 of Mended Hearts

“No, sir,” we all answered at once.

He nodded. “We think it was targeted. Looks clean on your end. Active manhunt for the last guy.”

Then louder, to all of us: “Alessandra and the kids are safe. I’ll take you to them—but we gotta follow protocol.”

“Where are they?” Ollie asked, his tone teetering on begging.

“Ambulances by the garage.”

A sob tore up my throat as Greyson and Ollie took off. I ran after them.

“Go slow!” Riviera shouted after us. “They’re pretty rattled!”

We skidded to a stop between two white ambulances. Alice sat on the bumper of one. Our babies were inside the other.

Grey ran to Alice.

Ollie and I went for the kids.

Tillie flew into her dad’s arms with a cry the same instant Beau leapt into mine. I cradled him, settling his legs across my belly as he wrapped his sweet monkey arms around my neck.

The tears came hard and fast as I buried myself in his shoulder, breathing him in. He curled into my hair, his tiny body trembling. I couldn’t tell if it was his sobs or mine shaking us—but I wasn’t letting go. Ever.

This. This is what they meant when they said parenthood was like having your heart walk around outside your body.

Would it be even worse with my biological baby?

Ollie reached out, one arm wrapping around us both. His other hand cupped the back of my head, and the four of us folded into each other, sobbing against his chest.

They were okay. They were really okay.

“Miss Rhodes? Mr. Hart?” an officer asked gently. “I have a few questions.”

I turned toward him—stone-faced, trying not to let the scene get to him. We nodded in unison.

“Can we stay with the kids?” Ollie asked, not letting go.

“Of course. I just need to run through a few things.”

But just then, that dull pressure in my back surged. It wrapped around my sides and settled deep in my belly, intensifying until it clenched hard and sharp.

I grimaced.

“Baby?” Ollie said, a second before a hot gush soaked my tights and splattered on the concrete.

I looked down. My mouth dropped open. “Oh no. No, no, no…”

The officer blinked. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He waved someone over, but when he looked at me again, his tone softened like I was a skittish horse. “Easy, Mama. We’ve got you, alright?”

Dread and embarrassment flushed hot up my chest.

I carefully set Beau down—which, unfortunately, gave him a direct line of sight to the evidence.

“Mommy, did you pee your pants?”

A wild, hysterical laugh burst from my chest. “No, sweetheart.” My voice wobbled. “We’re gonna have a baby.”

I pressed both hands to my belly, heart pounding, searching for movement.

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