"What are we going to do now?" I whisper, but my eyes dart wide in fear. Mitch and Ella also look back at me with freezing gazes, massive glints of fear and shock ruling their expressions.
"Where are we heading?" Ella asks, her gaze shifting among the three of us.
"I'll call a backup." Zed pulls out his phone from his back pocket without wasting a second.
"Sir, we screwed up. When we reached the clinic, Ella was already in an ambulance. But an enemy has taken the driver's place."
"Whose ambulance?"
"From the hospital where her OB-Gyne is affiliated."
"Where's Monster?"
"At the clinic. But the key is with me."
I realize that the monster they are talking about is the car we used in coming to the clinic. But, perhaps, it got that name because it is heavily tinted and bullet-proofed, aside from the ammunition loaded inside.
"No worries. I have spare keys."
"You're following?" Zed asks.
"Yes."
"Thank you."
I heave a sigh of relief, knowing that Zed has people backing us up. And they are people from the government who are tasked to investigate James' involvement in illegal transactions in the country.
"Aaahhh!" Ella groans in pain, and we all shoot her our gazes. She bites her lips to hold back her groaning sound, but the grimace on her face speaks of excruciating pain. Mitch immediately reaches out to her, massaging her lower back.
My heartbeats sound like the gallops of thousand horses. They're too loud that each thud already hurts. If Ella can't hold before Zed's backup can find a way to rescue us, it will be a huge problem. She will cause delay and hassle, and our escape may be too late.
"We are going to the hospital," Zed declares.
Mitch and I throw him a look together, guessing his next action. He is going to sacrifice for her. Tears brim at Mitch's eyes, mirroring the pools that have also gathered in my eyes. Zed's love is always selfless. And when he loves, he is always giving his entire self. But why can't he be happy?
"We're almost there," Mitch also butts in as she peers through curtain cracks in the window.
Zed immediately swipes a contact list on his screen. "Sir, change of plan. I'm going to take Ella to the hospital. I can't put her and the baby at risk."
I burst into tears right away. I have already created the worst scenarios in my head. Zed might not even have the chance to see Ella delivering her baby because the enemies are all waiting for him.
Suddenly, Zed's phone vibrates. He stares at the screen for a second, and his brows pull upward. Then, seeing our gazes as he glances at us, he turns the speaker on.
"Yen."
"Zed, where are you?"
"Kim's men have seen James boarding a car. They are now following him. And according to them, they are now close to the Seaside's Hospital." Oh, my goodness! It is where we are heading…
Zed glances at Ella, who is now relaxing temporarily. "Where's your husband?"
"His phone is out of reach."
"OMG!" I exclaim. Yen is just confirming that Kim is indeed one of those after Zed.
"Zed, be careful."
"Thank you."
Ella groans again, and now she sobs. Zed immediately lifts her and lets her lean against him.
"Deep breath, love," he says, comforting her. But I can no longer define the fear and worry on his face.
"Doc Mitch, I think the baby is coming out!"
Mitch moves lightning-fast and settles at the foot of the stretcher. She spreads her legs, and glints of fear reflect on her face.
"She's crowning! Tell the driver to drive faster."
Mitch pulls a rectangular pack from her box while I rush to the partition between the driver and us. I knock, and someone opens the window. My heart seems to stop beating as I see his face. He is indeed Mr. D!
"Drive faster! Ella is crowning already!"
Instead of increasing the speed, Mr. D pulls over to the side.
"What the hell! Why are you stopping?" I yell at him. Even if I can't see myself, I know my face has already turned beet red.
Mr. D turns to me and smirks instead. He looks at me like I've just lost my wits. "The average adult human brain weighs 1300 to 1400 grams or about 3 pounds. Yours is 700 only."
Wow! How dare he insult me? "You fool! What are you saying? I'm telling you to dash off!"
"You say Ella is crowning. When a woman is crowning, she can even reach and touch the baby's head. That means the car's movement makes it difficult for both the doctor and the patient. I'm just being kind."
"You-"
"He's right, Ella," Zed cuts me off.
Mr. D swiftly closes back the partition. I expect he'll come down and come to Ella's side, but he doesn't. So, it only confirms our intuition that their engagement is only part of the revenge.
Ella groans again, and it's louder this time. Drops of sweat trickle down her temples as she tries to shift into a position where she can push.
"Ara, Zed, come over here and hold Ella's knees. So, that she can push harder." I notice that Mitch has already donned her gloves and the set at the side is now open.
We both move to the side where we can hold her knees. Ella relaxes for a while, but another wave of contraction hits her.
"Push harder, Ell! The baby head is almost out."
Ella holds her breath, tightens her grip at the sides of the stretcher. Then together with the pressure we give at her knees, she grits her teeth and lets out a long groan.
"That's it! Well done, Ella."
The baby's cry then pierces my ears as Mitch holds him in her hand.
"Beautiful one!" coos Mitch, her eyes full of admiration. "You're so cute, baby boy!"
"How cute, Ell!" I exclaim, looking at her. She bites her lips and cries silently, but Zed cups her face and seals her mouth, kissing her tenderly.
"Our baby is fine. Look, he's so beautiful!" says Zed smiling, lifting Ella's face.
"My love, come here!" Ella chuckles but suddenly cries the next second. I am also tempted to cry with her.
"May I hold him?" asks Zed.
"Of course. Hold him while I cut his cord. So that Ara and I can clean Ella afterward."
I watch as Mitch gently cuts the cord and clamps it. She then cleans the baby and wraps him with a nappy before handing him to Zed.
Zed's smile reaches his ears as he holds the tiny bundles in his arms. Judging from his elated expression, he looks like he has momentarily forgotten that his life is in danger.
I look away as Mitch does vaginal exploration. So much blood scares me. I don't even know if she does some stitching. Ella's pain tolerance must be very tough if ever she did because I never heard her groan in pain again. I also didn't dare to look at Zed because I knew he was as uncomfortable as me.
Just as Mitch tosses out her gloves after cleaning Ella and dressing the baby, the ambulance begins to move. Zed hands the baby to me, and then he gathers Ella in his arm. Watching them makes me feel emotional again that my tears began to pool at the corners of my eyes.
Zed is bidding her goodbye.
I peer outside and look at where we are heading. We are indeed going to the hospital where James and Kim's men are waiting.
"We're here," I announce, moving my eyes among the three of them. Zed smiles sadly but says nothing.
I peer outside again when the ambulance turns to the block leading to the hospital. I see cars lining the sides of the road, most of them identical. They look suspicious, indeed!
When the ambulance finally pulls to a stop, I begin to shake. The door opens from the outside, exposing us to the people’s view. Several men are standing outside their cars, watching us with intense gazes.
Just when we are all preparing to go out and Zed preparing for his doom, Mr. D suddenly slams the door close. The car then zooms off the exit road, leaving us stunned!
"What's going on?" we simultaneously exclaim before looking around.
"Mr. D is taking us away?"