Chapter 3 - The Breaking Point“Elise!” Julian barked, dropping to his knees beside her chair, his massive hands finally making contact with her trembling frame.
He gripped her shoulders, his touch surprisingly gentle for a man whose hands were known for dismantling criminal empires.
“What’s wrong? Is it the baby?” he demanded, his eyes scanning her pale, sweat-slicked face for answers.
“It’s just... Braxton Hicks,” she panted, squeezing her eyes shut as another wave of pressure radiated through her pelvis.
“It happens when I get too stressed out,” she added, trying to breathe through the discomfort, willing the contraction to fade away.
“I’m taking you to a hospital,” Julian declared, already sliding one arm under her knees and the other around her back to lift her.
“No!” Elise shrieked, swatting weakly at his chest, terrified of being exposed in a public medical facility where his enemies might be watching.
“I can’t go to a public hospital, Julian, they have people watching the ERs looking for me.”
Julian froze, processing her words with the calculating speed of a master tactician, his expression turning to stone.
“Who is 'they', Elise?” he asked again, the dangerous edge returning to his voice.
When she refused to answer, he cursed viciously under his breath.
“Fine,” he growled, standing up and pulling his encrypted cell phone from his inner jacket pocket.
He pressed a single button, raising the device to his ear while keeping his unwavering gaze locked on her pained face.
“Marcus,” Julian barked into the phone, summoning his lethal second-in-command.
“Clear the penthouse medical suite immediately and have Dr. Aris waiting.”
“Lock down the entire building; no one enters or leaves without my explicit, verbal authorization.”
He hung up without waiting for a response, pocketing the phone before turning his full attention back to his estranged wife.
“You are going to my private suite, and you are going to let my personal physician examine you,” he ordered.
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“I don’t want your help,” she whispered defiantly, even as another cramp forced a whimper from her lips.
“You don’t have a choice anymore, Elise,” he said softly, leaning down to effortlessly scoop her heavy, pregnant body into his arms.
