Sure, with the way my emotions had been all over the place lately it was very likely that I could have responded to this scene differently. I could have been too pissed and disappointed by finding him with another woman lying across his bare chest and the smell of alcohol filling the air to even consider that Drake was innocent in all of this. It looked bad. Really, really bad.
I guess it was just too bad for this crazy-ass bitch that I loved my husband as much as he loved me. So even though another strong, gut-twisting contraction had me pausing for a moment to catch my breath, the next minute found me across the room in three steps and pulling that skank off my man.
Her shriek as I grabbed handfuls of her hair and dragged her toward the door echoed through the room, making Drake stir. “Angel?” His voice was rough from his cold and sleep. “Fuck!” he roared when he spotted me struggling to open the door while I held on to my prisoner.
“I’m going to kill her,” I screamed. “She was…” I couldn’t say the words. He had been violated enough and I didn’t want him to ever think of that again. And this bitch had been about to do the same thing to him! Yeah, I was going to kill her.
The door opened without warning, slamming against my shoulder. Cole and Axton stood in the doorway, concern wrinkling their brows but their mouths were wide open as they took in the sight of a pregnant woman ripping another woman’s hair out by the handful.
“What the fucking hell is going on?” Cole burst out, finally finding his voice. “Jesus, Lana!”
I still had hold of Bethany’s hair, tugging back and forth until I ripped handfuls free. She screamed again and if my belly wasn’t in the way I would have punched the psycho in the vagina. I tossed her head aside, feeling a satisfied thrill when her head made a loud thump as it bounced off the floor. I straightened and kicked what I wanted to punch, getting a high-pitched wail from her.
“How dare you touch my husband?” I screamed as I kicked her again. “Taking advantage of him while he’s sick. Trying to hurt him by setting him up to lose me. Messing with his head by making it look like he had been drinking.” Another kick, this one to her ribs as she huddled into the fetal position to try and protect herself as much as possible. Damn, I wished I’d worn my boots. I’d have stomped this bitch into dust.
“You’re sick!” It came out a shrill shriek that hurt my throat I screamed so loud, and more people filled the open doorway. “And if you thought I would let you get away with it you thought wrong, bitch. I protect what is mine. I…” I nearly stumbled as another contraction made me double over in pain.
No one had tried to stop me as I had kicked Bethany into a bleeding, pitiful mess on the floor. Not one person had stepped forward to intervene. Either they were too stunned or they just didn’t care. Now, as I whimpered in pain, Drake’s arms caught hold of my waist to steady me. Axton stepped forward at the same time Cole did, ready to help me at the first sign.
“Angel?” Drake’s voice soothed me as I tried to breathe through the pain. “What’s wrong? Are you in labor?”
“Looks like it.” I leaned into him, welcoming his warmth and strength.
Things moved fast after that. Drake lifted me into his arms, barking orders for Axton to get the car. Cole pushed through the crowd at the door that went all the way down the hall, making a path so that Drake could carry me out. People were whispering all around me, making assumptions—some of them true, others huge whoppers, like Drake and I had been having a threesome with the executive producer’s assistant when I had gone into labor. Wow, really?
A limo was waiting outside with Axton holding the door open for Drake. As soon as Drake was inside with me on his lap, Axton and Cole climbed in behind him. They moved to the other bench seat and Axton yelled for the driver to go. Drake pulled his cellphone from his pocket and tossed it to Cole. “Call her doctor,” he ordered. “Ax, Emmie.”
Both men nodded as the limo sped through the busy New York streets. I had two more contractions in the ten minutes that it took us to get to the hospital. Both had me in tears as I clung to Drake’s neck and buried my face in his chest. Oh shit, this hurts!
The limo pulled to a brake-screaming stop in the ER entrance to the hospital and the door opened with a nurse who had a wheelchair beside her. I blinked. “Dallas?”
She grinned and helped Drake place me in the chair. “You didn’t think I was going to miss my niece’s big appearance into the world, did you?”
Tears clogged my throat and I shook my head. “I’m so glad to see you.”
She ignored everyone but me as she pushed me inside and into a waiting elevator. Drake, Cole, and Axton stepped on behind her and we rode up to the maternity floor. I wasn’t sure if it was because Dallas worked there or if maybe Emmie had called and started handing out orders but I was put in a private room without the fuss of paperwork. Ten minutes later I was in a gown, hooked up to several monitors and had an IV in my wrist. By the time the doctor arrived, declaring me only dilated to a six, I was feeling a little more relaxed between contractions.
Doctor Conrad stood at the end of my bed, looking serious. “You’ve dilated pretty quickly, Lana. And your contractions are coming faster and faster. I need you to decide right now if you want an epidural or if you are going to stick with the birth plan we talked about.”
Here was my chance to ask for the drugs. To get rid of this pain that felt like it was going to rip me apart. But when I opened my mouth I told him no. “I’ll stick to the plan,” I told him and felt relieved with my decision. I could do this. I could do it.
He grinned and patted my leg. “That’s my girl.” Winking at me he turned to Dallas. “You work in the emergency room, right?”
Dallas shrugged. “I’d just finished my shift when I got the call. I’d like to stay if you don’t mind.”
“Works for me. They are short -staffed up here tonight anyway.” The doctor left with the promise of returning in an hour to check me again.
I glanced over at Drake who had been noticeably quiet. He was sweating pretty badly and I wasn’t sure if it was completely from how sick he’d been lately. I caught his hand, offering him a reassuring smile that he didn’t return. “What?” I whispered. “What’s wrong?”
“You don’t think that I…” he broke off, a mixture of emotions crossing his face. Disgust, anger, fear… Shame.
I glanced over at Axton and Cole who were standing by the window. I was okay with them both being here for the moment, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted either in the room when it came time to push. “Can you give us a few minutes?”
Dallas didn’t give them time to decide and started pushing them toward the door. “We will just be down the hall.”
As soon as the door was closed behind them I grabbed Drake’s shirt—when had he pulled one on? I had been so distracted kicking the shit out of Bethany I hadn’t even noticed. Giving it a few tugs he finally sat down on the edge of my hospital bed. I cupped his face, making him meet my eyes. “As soon as I walked in I smelled the whisky. And the first thing that crossed my mind was the obvious. But just as quickly, I called myself an idiot. Drake Stevenson is too strong to let himself slip up.”
“I’ve been having cravings lately…” He closed his eyes. “For months I’ve been fighting them.”
“Look at me,” I commanded and after a small hesitation he assaulted me with those blue-gray eyes I hoped our daughter would inherit. “You’re probably always going to have those cravings, babe. It’s part of being in recovery. We’ve talked about it and even your sponsor says they never go away. The real problem comes when you give in, let the cravings become more. And you haven’t done that. You’re so strong, Drake.”
“Only because of you.” His hands covered mine and pulled my palm to his lips. “You keep me strong, Angel.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Yeah, I know.” He laughed at how conceited it sounded, making me grin. “I love my Demon, and my Demon is never going to do something like that to hurt his Angel.”
His
eyes darkened. “Truer words have never been spoken, Angel.”
Chapter 29
Drake
Six hours.
From the moment we arrived at the hospital to the moment I heard my daughter’s first cry it took six hours and twelve minutes.
The hours of worry, of torture watching Angel cry in pain... All of that flew right out of my head the moment I set eyes on that perfect little creature. A full head of thick black hair, chubby, red cheeks. Twenty inches long and eight pounds, nine ounces of beauty personified. I was going to remember this moment for the rest of my life.
With a shaking hand I cut the umbilical cord as the doctor instructed and then Dallas was taking her across the room to clean her up and check her over while the pediatrician stood beside her. Angel was sobbing, happy tears instead of pain-filled ones now. Tears were flowing unashamedly down my own face and I dropped a kiss on top her sweat dampened head.
Doctor Conrad was doing something to her and told her to push one more time. I was freaked out, thinking that it was another baby but instead she delivered the afterbirth and then laid back, completely exhausted. Across the room, where she had commanded Axton and Cole to stand if they wanted to stay for the delivery, I heard Ax congratulating Cole on being a grandfather.
Finally Dallas appeared with a pink bundle. She was wiping her own tears and smiling as she handed the baby over to Angel. “She’s perfect, Lana.”
Hands shaking with a mixture of exhaustion and pure joy, Angel held the baby against her chest. “Hey there, princess.” Her voice was rough with tears. “I’m so glad I finally get to hold you.”
“So what am I calling my grandbaby?” Cole asked from his spot by the window. “Or don’t you know yet?”
Angel’s eyes widened and she looked up at me. “Yeah, Daddy. What are we going to call her? Have you decided yet?”
I looked down at my world, my heaven on earth. In that moment I knew I had found paradise. Bending my head I kissed the top of my angel’s head. “Nevaeh,” I told her, “Nevaeh Joy Stevenson.”
Her eyes filled with tears all over again. “Perfect,” she whispered. “Completely, absolutely.” She lifted the baby, offering her to me.
I took her willingly and as soon as I touched her my heart felt like it was going to explode. How could anyone be this happy and not die? I kissed the top of her head, then reluctantly handed her back to her mother, terrified I would get her sick. The cold that had been kicking my ass hadn’t even crossed my mind during the hours of labor, but now that Nevaeh was here I was starting to feel the sore throat, chest congestion, and all over body ache.
Dallas turned to the two rockers standing across the room as the doctors left the room. “Out. Momma needs to breast feed and I know Demon man isn’t going to welcome you witnessing that.”
“Fucking right,” I growled. “Get lost, assholes.”
Laughing, Axton and Cole crossed the room. Cole dropped a kiss on his daughter’s forehead then one on his granddaughter’s. “I’ll be back in the morning, darlin’. I’ll bring lots of presents.”
“You don’t have to do that, Dad,” Angel protested.
Cole stilled, not used to being called ‘Dad’ by her, but seemed to enjoy it. A huge grin split his face and he kissed her on top of the head again. “See you, darlin’.”
Axton hugged her, then pulled me into a bear hug. “I’ll be in the waiting room, man. Congrats on the new addition. She’s as beautiful as her mother.”
I pounded him on the back a few times. “Thanks for being here.”
Ax shrugged. “You’re my family, bro. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.”
When he was gone it was just Dallas that remained. For the next half hour she helped Angel get comfortable with breast feeding. Her milk wasn’t in yet but Nevaeh showed how smart she was by latching on like a pro and getting what little Angel had to offer her. To me it was probably the most breathtaking sight I had ever seen in my life. My woman feeding our child like this. Fuck, it was both awe-inspiring and hot as hell.
After the baby had had enough, Dallas took her to the nursery so that she could get her settled. Another nurse and a CNA came in to get Angel comfortable. Helping her to shower and putting a fresh gown on her since we hadn’t brought anything with us. There was a bag packed in the closet at home, but I hadn’t wanted to leave her to go fetch it. There was plenty of time to do that later.
With her finally settled in bed once more the nurse and her aid brought in a jug of ice water and two cups, then left with the promise of bringing us something to eat. I wasn’t hungry, but my angel said she was starving so they promised to hurry.
We were alone for the first time all evening and I wasted no time before I kissed her like I had been aching to do. Her arms lifted, wrapping around my neck as she kissed me back. It wasn’t a passionate kiss. It wasn’t about lust. This was a kiss full of love and understanding. When I finally pulled back she had a sleeping smile on her face.
“Sleep with me?” she asked, already scooting over so that I could climb in beside her.
With one leg on the floor and the other on the mattress I laid down and pulled her head onto my chest. I sat like that for hours, rubbing my fingers up and down her bare arm. She fell asleep and when the nurses brought her tray I asked them to set it aside. Angel needed her sleep more than the food at the moment.
Dallas stuck her head in to tell me goodbye. I wanted to hug her, to thank her for being here. She had helped not only Angel through the labor, but me as well. She, like Emmie would have done if she had been here, had made sure I kept my shit straight. I’d always be indebted to her for this night. “Dallas…”
She shook her head. “Shut up. Don’t you dare thank me, asshole. I love you guys. That’s the only reason why I was here.” With a wink she was out the door without another word.
Angel stirred and lifted her head. Her sleep-filled eyes took a moment to adjust and then she was glancing around. “Where’s Nevaeh?”
“She’s spending the night in the nursery so you can sleep, Angel.” I stood and pushed the table with her meal on it to the bed. “Sandwiches, salad, and lots of milk and water. Eat up.”
The few hours before dawn were all we had to ourselves over the next two days. Emmie and Nik arrived with Shane and Harper following soon after. My father and stepmother made an appearance, having driven up at Jenna’s insistence. Natalie dropped by and Linc was with her. Through it all Angel had a huge smile on her face, but I could see the sadness in her whisky brown eyes.
We were missing a big chunk of our family who were still in California. Layla, Jesse, and Lucy hadn’t been able to come out to New York. The twins were unfortunately still in the hospital. Thankfully they no longer had tubes and monitors attached to them, and Emmie had said that if the sleep apnea alarm didn’t go off tonight then the twins would finally make it home the next day. That was great news, but Angel was still missing her sisters.
The morning that my girls were supposed to be released from the hospital, two detectives showed up. They questioned both Angel and me for two hours about Bethany and what had happened on Friday night. I didn’t have much to offer. I’d taken two cold tablets during the show that night and fallen asleep not long after going backstage with everyone else. I’d been out pretty hard until the chick had started screaming in pain.
After they questioned us they filled us in on a few things themselves. Bethany really was a psycho. An obsessed psycho. They’d found an entire wall with pictures of me. Some of them had been from magazines, tabloids, and posters. Others had been pictures she had taken herself. She had been stalking me for over a year and I hadn’t even known it. My having her fired as a stipulation for my returning to America’s Rocker next season had pushed her over the edge. Not because she had lost her job, but because she wouldn’t have been able to get as close to me as she was used to. The detectives suggested we file for a restraining order immediately.
“Am I in trouble?” my angel final
ly asked, looking more than a little worried as she set on the edge of the hospital bed.
They both shook their heads. “She wanted to file charges, Mrs. Stevenson… But someone convinced her that it was in her best interest to drop it.”
“Who?” I asked, wondering if Emmie had been working her magic as usual.
“Cole Steel was at the police station around the same time as Miss Johnston, sir. He spoke with her for about ten minutes then she informed us that she wasn’t going to be filing charges on your wife after all.”
Angel gasped but didn’t say a word as I showed the two men out. I watched from the doorway as they stepped onto the elevator down the hall before stepping back inside. She was biting her lip. “He paid her off.”
I shrugged. “Most likely.” It was what a father should do, something I would gladly do for Nevaeh should the situation ever arrive. No way would I let anything hurt her. “We can file for the restraining order tomorrow.”
“He really does love me, huh?”
I wrapped her hair around my wrist and pulled her head back until our eyes met. “He’d be an idiot not to.” I kissed the tip of her nose. “Ready to go home?”
“So ready, babe.”
Epilogue
Shane
We were going to be late, but I had to make this stop.
Harper sat beside me in the front seat of the Ford Raptor that I had gotten a few weeks ago. Drake had turned me on to trucks and really I needed one if all things went as I was hoping they might in the next hour or so. When I pulled to a stop in front of the little farm house just outside of LA and I cut the engine, she frowned, glancing around us. “When you said we had to pick up a few things before the party I didn’t think we would be driving out into the middle of nowhere.”
I let my eyes eat her up. Since we had found out we wouldn’t be able to have kids, Harper had been seriously depressed. A few times she had let old fears invade our lives and try to wedge us apart. That wasn’t going to happen on my watch. I’d been talking to a few people about how she was handling everything and they had suggested giving her something else to love and cuddle since it wasn’t going to be our child. It had taken me weeks, but I had finally found the perfect thing.