Chapter 10 - The Allied Nurse
The private clinic looked more like a luxury spa than a medical facility, complete with marble floors and velvet curtains.
A team of doctors and nurses descended upon us immediately, whisking me into a private delivery suite that locked from the outside.
Julian stood by the window, his arms crossed over his chest, watching the medical staff work with a predatory, calculating gaze.
He didn't offer me his hand or whisper words of encouragement; he simply stood there making sure I remained completely silent.
The pain of the contractions was becoming unbearable, tearing through my body like waves of pure, white-hot fire.
Despite the agony, my mind was racing frantically, trying to figure out how to contact Sarah before Julian locked me away completely.
A new nurse stepped up to the side of my bed to adjust the IV drip, and my heart completely stopped.
It was Elena, the compassionate trauma nurse from the first hospital, wearing the dark blue scrubs of this private clinic.
She offered no sign of recognition, keeping her face perfectly professional as she checked my rapidly climbing blood pressure.
"Her heart rate is far too high, Mr. Vance, she needs an epidural immediately, but the anesthesiologist is scrubbing in," Elena announced firmly.
"I need everyone out of this room for exactly two minutes so I can prep the sterile field."
The lead doctor nodded in agreement, ushering the remaining staff out the door, and Julian reluctantly followed them into the hallway.
The heavy door clicked shut, and the second we were alone, Elena's professional mask completely vanished.
"What are you doing here?" I gasped out, grabbing her wrist with a sweaty, trembling hand.
"I picked up a double shift here because the pay is excellent, but I didn't expect to see you," she whispered urgently.
I pulled the hidden burner phone from the pocket of my ruined silk gown and shoved it desperately into her hand.
"My friend Sarah was supposed to go to the FBI tonight, you have to text her and tell her where I am," I pleaded, tears streaming down my face.
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Elena shoved the phone deep into her pocket just as the door handle began to turn from the outside.
"I've got you, Clara," she murmured softly, stepping back and holding up a sterile needle as Julian walked back in.
