Breathless (Steel Brothers Saga #10)(15)

“Marj!”

I turned back to her. She held out the white tissue.

Streaked with red.

“Talon!” I screamed. “Hurry!”

A few seconds later he appeared fully dressed, his hair still dripping wet.

“She’s bleeding, Tal. You need to go quickly.”

“Damn!” Talon rushed to her. “Did you call the doc?”

“Not yet. I’m on it.”

“I don’t want to lose this baby,” Jade pleaded.

“You won’t, blue eyes. Not if I have anything to say about it.” Talon scooped her up again and raced toward the door.

“You call me as soon as you know anything!” I yelled.

Talon nodded as I closed the door behind him.

My heart was pounding like a bass drum against my sternum as I called Jade’s OB and alerted her.

This was not happening.

Talon and Jade had been through so much.

I couldn’t even let my mind go there.

I sat down on the couch Jade had vacated and breathed in. Out. In again.

Steady, Marj. Steady.

After a minute or two, I rose.

I had two boys to feed.





Two hours.

Two freaking hours ago Talon and Jade had left.

And not a word. I’d forced myself not to call Talon’s cell. His attention needed to be focused on Jade. I hadn’t called Joe or Ryan either. I had no news.

The boys had taken their baths and were in their bedroom. Talon and Jade had given them separate rooms, but that hadn’t worked out. They needed each other right now. They could change bedrooms when they were older.

Eight thirty was bedtime, but they were both fighting it.

I didn’t have the strength to force them to go to sleep. The light still shone under the doorway of their room, and Donny chatted, with Dale answering in short sentences. Dale talked the most to his brother, and I didn’t want to discourage it.

Besides, I was too worried about Jade to fight them.

I desperately wanted to talk to someone, but the person I always turned to when I needed to talk was Jade.

I still resisted calling Joe and Ryan. No need to worry them, and Joe and Melanie had just gotten such great news about their own pregnancy.

I fiddled with my phone as I sat in one of the recliners in the large family room.

A little before nine. Early yet. Not too late to call anyone.

Not too late to call Bryce.

His was the voice I wanted to hear. His was the voice I knew could soothe me. But he’d walked out on me.

I sighed. That didn’t matter. I needed him, and I knew, though he’d never admit it, that on some level he needed me as well.

My fingers hovered over his name in my contacts.





Chapter Ten





Bryce





Kissing Heidi was like kissing an ashtray—a sour marijuana ashtray.

I broke away. No need for kissing. I could keep my eyes closed and simply fuck her, pretending she was Marjorie Steel.

I jerked when my cell phone started playing Styx in my pocket.

“Ignore it, babe,” Heidi whispered huskily in my ear.

I pulled away, my heart beating faster. “Sorry. It could be my son.” I pulled my phone out.

Damn.

Marjorie Steel.

Why would she be calling me? I put the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Bryce?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s Marjorie. I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to someone.”

“Is everything okay?”

“No.” She sniffed. “Talon took Jade to the hospital. She’s bleeding and cramping. It’s been two hours and he hasn’t called. I have to stay here with the boys. They don’t know what’s going on. I don’t have the heart to tell them.”

“Did you call Joe? Or Ryan?”

A pause. Then, “No. I don’t want to worry them.”

“I’m on my way. You need to call them.”

“Okay,” she said timidly.

I looked at my watch. “I should be there in half an hour. You call me if you hear anything, you got it?”

“Yeah,” she choked out. “Thank you, Bryce.”

“I’d do anything for you. All of you,” I clarified. “I’ll see you soon.” I ended the call and shoved the phone back in my pocket.

“What’s going on?” Heidi asked.

“I have to go. Family emergency.” That had sobered me up quick. So much for the four bourbons. “Damn!”

“What?”

“My car is still at the bar.”

“You want me to drive you over there?”

“Yeah, if you don’t mind. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. But you owe me.” She gave me what she no doubt thought was a naughty, seductive smile.

To me, it was kind of disgusting.

I didn’t say much during the short drive.

When she leaned in for a kiss before I got out of the car, I turned, letting her lips brush my cheek.

I wanted desperately for Jade and the baby to be okay, but I was reluctantly thankful for Marj’s call. It had stopped me from making a big mistake.

I quickly left Heidi’s car, got into my own, and began driving.