Page 59 of The B-Team

It was all he needed to hear. He ended the call and brushed Rachel’s hair back from her face. There was sweat on her brow.

“Princess,” he said. “We’re going to the hospital. You’re having our baby.”

Feral eyes flashed with fury. “No,” she snapped. “This baby isn’t due for another two weeks. I made an appointment.”

“I know,” he cooed, “but I don’t think the baby got the memo.”

She glared at him before turning her attention to her belly. “You will not come early,” she ordered. “Do you hear me?”

It was very formidable but not particularly helpful.

“We have to go,” Harvard said.

“No. I won’t go. This isn’t happening.” She grabbed his hand and groaned as the pain overwhelmed her.

Harvard could tell there was no way in hell he’d reason her into doing this, so all he could do was take over and deal with the fallout later. He stood, swept her into his arms, and headedfor their private elevator. Once inside, he set her on her feet and held her steady while calling down for their car.

“This is kidnapping!” She stamped her bare foot and pointed a finger at him. “You can’t take me to the hospital just because you think I’m in labor. This is my body, and I’ll know when I’m in la—” She grabbed his arm and let out a strangled wail.

“Just breathe, Princess. Try not to tense; just relax through it.” Damn, the last time he’d felt this helpless was when his team had been wiped out during a mission. He clenched his jaw.Nothingbad was going to happen to Rachel.Nothing.Not if he could help it. And he’d damn well die trying to stop anything from going wrong.

The wave of pain passed as the elevator doors opened into the ground-floor lobby.

“I am not in labor,” Rachel shouted. “It’s those fake birthing pains, or contractions, or whatever the hell they call them. They’ll go away. Everybody has them. You’re overreacting and forcing me to do something before I’m ready. Take me back up to our home right now!”

The doorman took one look at them, summed up the situation, and ran for the main entrance. He held the door wide. “Your car’s just pulling up, Mr. Carter,” he said, sounding a little scared.

“Don’t let him take me,” Rachel ordered the man. “This is kidnapping, and I’ll have your job for this. Do you hear me? What kind of doorman are you that you’ll stand back and allow someone to be forcefully removed from their apartment? Call the police! No. Don’t call them. They’re all corrupt and annoying. Call my father.” She glared at Harvard. “He’ll sort you out.”

“I’m sure he will.” He scooped her back into his arms when another contraction hit. She curled her fingers into his shirt, anda stifled scream escaped her. “Breathe, Princess. Don’t panic. This is all perfectly normal.”

So why did it feel like it was all going wrong?

Sweat pooled in the small of Harvard’s back as their driver jumped out of the car and rushed around to open the door for them.

“Hospital?” he asked Harvard.

“Break the speed limit; we’ll deal with the cops later.”

“Got it.” The man shut the door on them before hurrying back around to the driver’s seat.

“I’m firing you too,” Rachel shouted at him. “This is aiding and abetting a kidnapping. This baby isn’t due for another two weeks.”

Panicked eyes met Harvard’s in the rearview mirror.

“Put your foot down,” Harvard told him as Rachel struggled to escape his lap.

“Unhand me!” she yelled.

“Rach, listen to me,” he said, working hard to sound calm when he felt anything but. “If this is all a big mistake, I’ll take you straight home after the doc has checked you out, okay?”

“No. I want to go home now.” She turned to the driver, who was weaving through the traffic. “Turn this car around immediately.”

“Don’t even think about it, Jason,” Harvard said.

“Why are you doing this to me?” Rachel rounded on him.

“Because I love you?” Yeah, it sounded weak, even to his own ears.