Gloria's Forever (Gloria Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

were the most I could muster. Another loud wince did nothing to assuage the thud in my heart, lump in my throat, or flutters in my stomach. I was a fucking train wreck.
    “C’mon. Lie down,” I urged.
    “No, baby,” she gritted. “I need my cell phone. I need to make some calls.”
    “Angel, just relax. I’ll handle everything once we get you checked in.”
    She jerked. “Oh, Jaime!”
    These two words were not the cries of a woman having a mega orgasm but rather those of one in mega pain.
    “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?” Desperation pierced my voice.
    “Just hold me,” she repeated.
    She was still seated on my lap, her knees bent upward on the backseat. I tightened my grip around her as she sunk deeper into me, resting her head against my chest and holding my hand. Her long platinum braid cascaded over her shoulders and curled over her tummy. With my free hand, I stroked her scalp, relishing as always the pure-silk of her lustrous hair.
    Ty expertly maneuvered the car, making great time and running every red light. Now at Wilshire and Roberston, we weren’t far from Cedars. Tense silence prevailed, interrupted only by Gloria’s gasps and winces. They seemed to be coming more frequently. With each contraction, she squeezed my hand harder.
    The silence was fucking killing me. A terrifying avalanche of worries bombarded my brain. What if we didn’t get to the hospital soon enough? Was there going to be something wrong with the babies? Was something bad going to happen to Gloria? Why was this happening? Guilt lanced through me. Maybe it was all my fault…I mean, fucking her this morning. I told her I didn’t want to fuck her anymore with the babies’ arrival so close, but she’d insisted, telling me that her doctor said it was perfectly fine to have sex right up to the last minute. Damn it! Why didn’t I trust my instincts? If something happened to Gloria or the babies—or both!—I’d never forgive myself. Never!
    Gloria gazed up at me. I was chewing my lip. She sensed my distress. “You okay, baby?” Despite her pain, there was deep concern in her voice. Oh my angel! How I loved her!
    I nodded and dusted her chin with the tip of her braid. “Yeah.” Gloria and I had promised in our wedding vows never to keep secrets from one another. Well, I had just broken mine. I was the furthest thing away from all right I’d ever been. I was full of remorse and fucking scared shitless. But I couldn’t let Gloria know this. I needed to be strong…strong for her. Everything’s going to be okay , I tried telling myself. Except I wasn’t falling for it. Not one fucking bit.
    A sudden halt and another loud screech—this one from Gloria—catapulted me into the moment. Gloria’s body jolted, and I felt her nails dig into my hand. I pressed my lips against her head. Both to comfort her and keep my foul mouth shut.
    “Oh, God,” she shrieked as yet another contraction assaulted her. Tears were now leaking out of the corners of her eyes. The contractions were intensifying and coming more frequently.
    Fuck. “Angel, hang in there. Remember what your yoga instructor told you. Breathe. We’re almost there.”
    Except we weren’t moving. We were at the intersection of Robertson and Beverly Boulevard. The entrance to the hospital was just around the corner off Beverly.
    “What the fuck is going on?” I called out to Ty, my voice frantic. I looked out the window. Ahead of us was a police barricade. Dozens of policemen were manning it as a swarm of police cars and black Escalades zipped down Beverly.
    Ty put on a headset. “I’m finding out from my network.” He turned to face us. “The President is in town. He and his entourage are heading up Beverly Boulevard.”
    I slapped my forehead. “Fucking-A!” I had nothing against the President, but why today of all fucking days had he chosen to come to LA? Stressed out as I was, I just didn’t need this cluster fuck.
    Gloria clapped her hands against