Page 73 of The Photograph

“My baby… save my baby… please…”

“How far along are you?... Aelin? Is there someone with you? Aelin?”

She’s crying. And her voice already weak is barely a whisper.“No… No-one…My baby … eleven weeks … and one day … just need s-six days… pl-plea—”

Silence. Heavy, falls on the line. I shut my eyes while pain fills my chest, and my eyes burn.

“Dispatch, neighbor let us in, we’ve got her. Female, mid- twenties with extensive vaginal bleeding. Pulse is weak. What’s her name?”

“Aelin.”

“Aelin, Aelin, talk to me. There you are, keep your eyes open for me Aelin. Good, good.”

“My baby…

“Let’s take care of you, Aelin.”

“No… my baby … Nareen … Dr. Nareen Ahmed.”

“Dispatch we’re bringing her in. St Mary’s is closer, please contact her doctor, name

Nareen Ahmed.”

“James, I’ve lost her pulse.”

“Shit. She’s crashing. Prep the defib. Charging… Clear.”

At the muted whirring of the defibrillator, I slam my glass on the table.

“Charging… Clear. Okay we’ve got her back. Aelin, hang on for me…”

“Turn it off. Cal, turn it off.”

My brother wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Gabe, she’s okay now. You saw her. She’s okay.”

I stride out of the room.

****

The next morning, Mike’s heavy steps grate on the white tiles of the kitchen. Grunting low, he lifts his narrowed eyes to Cal and me.

Cal cheers him with his mug and scoffs. “Okay there, junior?”

Swallowing the last of my omelet, I thank the chef before twisting toward my brother.

“Amateur.”

Mike snarls and groans before dropping his frame on a stool next to us. “We downed three bottles last night, how are you so damn chirpy?”

“Big dicks,” Cal and I reply at the same time while Michelle chuckles.

She slides a mug of coffee before Mike before her face flushes when he winks at her.

When my cell pings, I exhale sharply. Aelin.She wants to talk.I type fast and get on my feet. “Aelin’s available and coming to the penthouse in an hour.”

Mike sits up and frowns. “She would be.”

I whip my eyes to Mike’s. “What?”

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