Il suo zaffiro

chapter 35

SAPPHIRE POV

I pressed the bread together, the smell of freshly sliced turkey and mustard filling the kitchen. The counter was littered with the remains of my sandwich-making process—crumbs, a knife smeared with mayo, and the wrapper from the cheese I'd just opened. Logan had been in his office all morning, head buried in work, and I thought maybe this would get him to take a break.

The babies kicked—hard—making me pause mid-movement. I rubbed my swollen belly, whispering, "Settle down, little ones. I'm almost done here."

Then it hit.

A sharp pain shot through my abdomen, stealing my breath. My hands gripped the counter for support as I doubled over. It wasn't the usual ache or discomfort I'd grown used to. No, this was different. Intense. Unforgiving.

"Okay, that's new," I muttered, trying to breathe through the pain.

The contraction faded, and I straightened, brushing it off as a fluke. Maybe I moved wrong, or maybe one of the babies was in a bad position. I grabbed the plate with Logan's sandwich, intending to head to his office.

But then another contraction hit. Harder. Longer.

The plate slipped from my hands, shattering on the tile floor. I leaned against the counter, gripping it so tightly my knuckles turned white. The pain rolled through me in waves, and panic started to creep in.

"Oh, no. No, no, no. Not now," I whispered, beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

I fumbled for my phone but realized it was upstairs. The next contraction left no room for rational thought, just raw, overwhelming pain.

"Logan!" I screamed, my voice cracking.

I heard his office chair scrape against the floor and the sound of hurried footsteps. Within seconds, Logan appeared in the doorway, his face pale and eyes wide.

"What happened? Are you hurt?" His gaze darted to the shattered plate, then to me.

"They're coming," I panted, clutching my stomach. "The babies... they're coming."

Logan froze for a fraction of a second, his usual composed demeanor completely gone. Then he sprang into action, stepping over the glass and wrapping an arm around me.

"We're going to the hospital. Now." His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed the panic he was trying to suppress.

"I can't—" I gasped as another contraction ripped through me. "It hurts so much, Logan."

"You can do this," he said firmly, his grip tightening. "I've got you."

With one arm supporting me and the other grabbing the car keys, Logan led me toward the door. Every step felt like an eternity, each contraction growing closer and stronger.

"Breathe, Sapphire," he urged, his voice softer now. "I'm right here. Just keep breathing."

As the pain wracked my body, I clung to Logan's steady presence, knowing that somehow, we were going to get through this together.

~

Logan practically carried me to the car, his movements quick but careful. He opened the passenger door and helped me inside, buckling the seatbelt over my enormous belly. My breathing was uneven, the contractions relentless now, each one a tidal wave of pain crashing over me.

"Hold on," Logan said, his jaw tight as he slid into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life, and we were speeding down the driveway before I could even get another breath in.

"I can't—Logan, I can't—" I gripped the armrest and doubled over, the pain nearly blinding.

"You can," he snapped, his voice more commanding than I'd ever heard it. "You have to. You're strong, Sapphire. You've got this."