Page 79 of Fierce Hearts

"I can't lose this baby," I whispered. Despite everything, I wanted this child. Our child. "Gray, I can't lose our baby."

His arms tightened around me. "You won't. I promise."

But we both knew it was a promise he couldn't keep. How could he possibly stop it?

I closed my eyes against the tears threatening to spill, praying to whatever higher power there was to have mercy on me amongst this chaos.

I'd lost too much, I didn't want to lose this too.

Before I knew it, we were speeding through city streets, Gray's arms still tight around me as horns blared.

The hospital loomed ahead, its emergency entrance lit up against the night sky. Roman pulled up to the doors with a screech of tires.

"I've got you," Gray said, sliding out of the car with me still in his arms. "Roman, park and then secure the perimeter. Meredith?—"

"I'm right behind you," she assured him.

"I've got a team already getting stationed around the hospital," Roman said through the open window of the car. "I'll see you inside."

The automatic doors slid open, and the familiar antiseptic smell of the hospital washed over me. For years, this had been my domain, my workplace. Now I was on the other side.

"We need help!" Gray called out, his voice echoing in the waiting area.

A nurse looked up from the desk—Tanya, who I'd worked with countless times.

"Sofia?" Her eyes widened in recognition. "What happened?"

"I'm pregnant," I managed through another wave of pain. "About four weeks. Bleeding and severe cramping."

Coming to my own place of work was not ideal, but I knew it was my best chance. Besides, these people were my friends, my work family, and I knew they'd do their best for me.

I was one of their own.

Tanya's professional demeanor took over immediately. "Get her to bay three," she instructed Gray, leading the way through the double doors.

Gray laid me gently on the gurney, his face rather pale. Tanya was already pulling the privacy curtain closed.

"I need to examine you," she said, pulling on gloves. "Are you family or?—"

"He's staying," I said firmly, gripping Gray's hand. "I want them both to stay, please."

Meredith moved to the other side of the bed, taking my hand. "I'm here, Sof."

As Tanya began her examination, more staff appeared—Dr. Kenner, one of our OB specialists, and Lisa, another nurse I knew well.

"BP's stable,” Lisa announced, wrapping the blood pressure cuff around my arm as Meredith gave her room.

"Sofia, when did the bleeding start?" Dr. Kenner asked, her voice calm and professional.

"About thirty minutes ago," I answered, wincing as she pressed on my abdomen. "The cramping started before that."

"We need a transvaginal ultrasound," she ordered. "And type and cross for two units."

The words sent a chill through me. They were preparing for the worst.

Gray's hand tightened around mine. "What's happening?"

Dr. Kenner's eyes met mine, and I saw the concern there. "We need to rule out an ectopic pregnancy or a threatened miscarriage. The ultrasound will tell us more. We need to get her pants off."

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