bCaterina /bbfrowns/bb, /b“I’m bsorry/bb, /bbut I think bIt’s /bbstill /bbtoo /bearly bfor /bthat. Without a blood test, at leastb. /bI was looking bit /bbup /bbonline /b”

    “Either bway/bb, /bbI /bwant bto /bensure everything’s where It needs to be and bthat /byou’re healthy. In fime bTatiana /bbwill /bbe /baround.b” /bbNow /bI’m talking out of my ass, because the fact is can’t guarantee that. I bdon’t /bknow what it will take bto /bmake my daughter happy again.

    b“/bbThis /bdoesn’t look like a doctor’s office,” Caterina points out when we pull to a stop in front of a small, nondescript building that could easily go unnoticed bif /bsomeone wasn’t looking for it. The rest bof /bthe officeplex was once a part of what was torn down years ago, with only this single structure remaining

    “He works alone,” I exin. “And he only sees a few private patients.”

    She looks at me, understanding dawning on her. “Is he some sort of shady doctor you pay off? Is that where we’re going?”

    “He’s not shady. I trust him,” I counter. “He’s never steered me wrong, and he specializes in obstetrics. You’ll be in good hands–I would never let anyone touch you if I didn’t trust them. You know that, right?”

    “Of course.” Still, it does nothing to erase the anxiety in her features. What I don’t want to mention, what I would rather not burden her with, is I’d rather not take her somewhere we could be spotted. Somewhere Jack might be able to pay off some dipshit nurse for Caterina’s records. Is it likely that would happen? Probably not, but it is a possibility.

    “Come inb, /be in.” Doctor Oscar waves us into the small, outdated waiting room with paneled walls and faded carpet. Do I not pay him enough to renovate? After introducing himself and shaking Caterina’s hand, he says, b“/bbI /bunderstand you’re here for an ultrasound today, Caterina.”

    “That’s what I’ve been told,” Caterina jokes with a nervousugh. True, this was my idea, but I hate seeing her so

    nervous.

    He offers a grandfatherly chuckle that matches his general appearance and demeanor before patting her shoulder. “You’ll be just fine. Nothing wrong with making sure everybody’s healthy. Gianni here wouldn’t be the first father who wanted a little extra peace of mind.”

    We end up in a typical exam room: white walls, a tiled floor a tableplete with stirrups, and an overhead light. The machinery beside the table is, I assume, what will be used for the ultrasound. It’s clear the money he hasn’t put into renovations has gone to equipment, and I can’t pretend to disapprove. The room might be cramped, but my little bird will receive good care and that’s all that matters.

    He gestures to the folded gown waiting at the foot of the table. “Take your time and make yourselffortable. I’ll need you to strip from the waist down, and you can use the gown for modesty. There’s also a sheet you can drape over your legs.”

    “Thank you.” She eyes me, but I shake my head. I’m not leaving her alone in here. Not with her looking so jittery and shifting her weight from one foot to the other while her gaze bounces over the instruction posters on the walls. The typical sort of thing you’d find in the doctor’s office–anatomy and the like, this time focused on fetal development and the mother’s health.

    Is she overwhelmed?Still feeling touchy after the conversation with Tatiana? No matter the reason, I’m staying with her. The doctor seems to get the hint, offering a small smile before stepping outside and closing the door. He can y the benevolent doctor all he wants, but he knows who pays his bills and keeps him in this office after his penchant for writing scripts for cash got him in trouble.

    Once we’re alone, she lets out a shaky breath. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” she confesses with a softugh,

    15 BONUS

    wringing her hands together.

    b“/bbYou’re /bbgoing /bbto /bbbe /bfine. bThis /bis bmore /bbfor /bmy bpeace /bbof /bbmind /bthan banything/bb. /bbI /bbknow /bbthey /bsaid byou /bbwere /bbdoing /bbokay /bat bthe /bbhospital/b, bbut /bbI /bwould like bto be /bsure. And heyb, /bwe still bdon’t /bbhave /bba /bdue dateb./bb” /b

    “bThat’s /btrue.” bShe /bbgoes /bthrough the motions bof /bremoving her shoes and leggings, bthen /bfier thongb. /bOnce bshe’s /bbseated /bbwith /bbthe /bgown covering herb, /bshe stares down at her p and fidgetsb, /bpicking at her nails.

    b” /b