Page 291 of Wild Card

“No, the doctor makes the call. And seeing as this boy is already in position and I’m in active labor, it’s probably a good thing you removed your taser and gun.”

“Why?”

“Because if you piss me off, the impulse to neutralize you may take over.”

I can’t help but chuckle at her lingo. “Not happening.”

“Then behave. Hold my hand, rub my head, let me scream at you, and don’t hold it against me.”

“I can do that.”

A nurse comes in, rolling the portable baby bed. “Sounds like we’re ready to have a baby.”

Willow’s eyes mist over, the glistening green orbs shooting straight into my soul.

“We’re ready,” I answer, bending to kiss her gently.

“We can arrange the recliner for your comfort.”

I glance at the nurse in confusion. “I’m not leaving her side.”

Her eyebrows shoot up and she does a once-over of my body. “Sir, our concern is for your wife.”

“As it should be.”

“Which means we shouldn’t worry about you.”

“Why the fuck would you worry about me?”

“Oh no,” Willow whispers before bursting into giggles, hurling forward.

The poor nurse looks between us with alarm. “Mrs. Simms, please don’t push yet.”

“This is too too much.” Willow holds her vibrating stomach.

“What is happening?”

Willow motions for the nurse to go on, wiping her eyes.

“Your friends warned us you have a tendency to faint, so we’d prefer if you weren’t in the vicinity of the mother in case of an episode.”

A growl rumbles low in my chest at the same time Willow cackles again.

First up: help my wife deliver our son.

Second: kill my friends.

I drop my keys on the table and secure my gun in the drawer as Wolf comes barreling through to greet me.

“Hey, buddy, let’s get to our girl.”

He takes back off, leaving me to trail behind him.

I stop in the living room to review the pile of boxes delivered earlier today. The security monitors showed four trucks coming and going. I have picture proof each box was placed on the porch.

Which means Willow hauled them in herself.

Another half-dozen shopping bags sit close, all courtesy of Stacy’s earlier visit.

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