THIRTY TWO

Alecia's eyes flew wide open as she grasped her stomach. She tried to catch her breath, but she couldn’t as a sharpness grew in her. What was happening? “Ryder,” she pushed out when the pain subsided just a little.

“Alecia.” Ryder leaned over her. “What’s wrong?” He placed his hand on her stomach.

She rolled over on her side pressing the gown in between her legs. Another pain ripped through her. “The baby,” she shouted.

“What baby?” Ryder rolled her back over and grabbed her hand. He pulled his hand away from her, a darkness covered it. “You’re pregnant.”

Ryder sprang from the bed and ran to the living room coming back in a couple minutes.

He swept her into his arms, running down the stairs of the apartment to the bottom floor. Alecia clenched his shirt, digging her fingers into his skin each time she felt a cramp. Once in the car, he drove through the streets to the nearest hospital. The fading lights of the street sped past them in the oppos