Page 81 of Revenge
“Ava, how can I help?” Max asks from the bathroom door.
“You can leave,” I bark.
“I deserve to be here just as much as you, if not more. I’ve been here for her.” I am about to stand when she grabs my arm.
“Viktor, another one.” I start the clock.
“Breathe.” I walk her through the breathing exercises. I hate seeing her in pain.
“I’m here,” I hear Oliver yell from the front of the apartment.
“Bathroom.” Before I know it, he’s standing by the bathroom door, ready for orders. I point toward Max. “I want him gone.”
“You don’t get to make that call,” Max says.
“Fuck, it hurts,” Ava cries out, her nails digging into my arm.
“Breathe, baby girl.” Her nails continue to dig into my skin until her contraction stops. “You’re ten minutes apart. We need to go.”
“There’s a delivery gown on the bed. Help me get dressed, please.”
“Oliver, clear a path,” I order.
“Let’s go,” he barks at Max.
“Can you walk?” I ask Ava.
“I think so.”
I grab the towel and help her out of the bathtub. As she stands, I see how beautiful she is. She’s glowing. Then her water breaks. “I believe it’s time to go.” I pull her into my arms.
“I think you might be right.” She gives me a small smile.
Five minutes later, we’re in the car in the middle of a contraction. Oliver is driving as fast as he can. Ava squeezes my hand so hard that my knuckles crack, but I don’t mind. I’m loving every second spent supporting her. The excitement swells inside of me. My son will be here soon.
“Viktor,” she wails.
“We’re almost there. Breathe.”
“I want this baby out of me,” she cries in pain.
“Almost there,” I soothe.
It doesn’t take long to rea h the hospital. Ava looks out the window when Oliver stops in front of the Emergency Room entrance.
“Where are we?”
“St. Mary’s Hospital.”
“This isn’t where my doctor is.” There’s a slight panic in her voice.
“She’ll be here. Oliver called her. This hospital has the best maternity unit in the state.”
“You didn’t have to arrange this,” she says as she looks at me.
“I want nothing but the best for you and my son.”
“How?”
