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with you, little sister.
    Kat bit her lip and smiled. She could always count on Gin. Crux’s boots pounded back up the stairs. He paused in the doorway, his perpetually mussed hair standing on end. She couldn’t help smiling and sending up a little prayer. If you’re listening God, give me a healthy baby boy that looks like his daddy.
    “You’re smiling. You must have gotten a hold of Gin.”
    “She said she’d meet us there.”
    “Does that mean I can go wait it out at the bar?” he asked with a shit-eating grin.
    “Not a chance. You put it there. You’re going to suffer right along with me,” she said, grinning back until another contraction took her breath away. The pain sobered her.
    Squatting down in front of her, Crux took her hands and encouraged her to squeeze. “It’s going to be okay, baby.”
    “Promise not to leave me. No matter what,” she whispered. “I mean it, Tommy. If things don’t go good, don’t let go of my hand.”
    He knew she was serious when she used his first name. He nodded.
    “I swear, baby. Heaven or hell couldn’t tear me away from you.”
    She squeezed his hands, staring into his eyes. Finally she nodded. “Let’s go.”  
     
    Crux raked a hand through his hair as he watched the doctor examine his wife again. Tension thrummed through his body. His leg jiggled impatiently. If he hadn’t been holding Kat’s hand he would have been pacing. Patience wasn’t a virtue he possessed. Feeling a slight tug on his hand, he looked down at her, praying the smile he offered was comforting.
    “Everything is looking good, Katrina.”
    “Kat. Please.”
    “I’m sorry, Kat,” the doctor said, giving her knee a pat. “You’re progressing normally. Everything is looking good right now.”
    “You don’t think we’re going to have to do a C-section then?”
    “The way you’re dilating, the cesarean isn’t necessary at this time. I’m going to continue to monitor your progress. If anything changes you will be the first to know. Just try and relax.”  
    “I was going to tell you that you should be enjoying your last hours of sanity, but then I remembered who I was talking to.” Ginny snickered.
    “There’s no doubt that ship has already sailed,” Kat agreed with a grin. She reached out and snagged a piece of hard candy from her gift basket. “I can’t believe this basket you brought. I’m so spoiled.”
    “All the girls wanted to be here, but someone has to run The Lantern. I promised to deliver the goodies, keep them updated, and Paparazzi the first pictures. Oh! Speaking of the restaurant, did I tell you that we tried Eva’s Alfredo lasagna as a special the other night and it went over really well?”
    “That stuff is sinfully rich. I want to make that sometime for Crux. It’s a nice twist on a winter staple, like the white chili.”   
    Crux flashed the Lord’s queen a thankful look. She was doing a good job of keeping Kat distracted from her fears. He didn’t know what the hell to say to her at this point. Everything in him was screaming to take her back home, lock all the doors and curl her up safe in their bed. It was irrational, but the feeling was consuming.
    He stroked his thumb across her knuckles. It worried the shit out of him that she was scared. Kat had good instincts. Women had freaky instincts. What if there was something wrong with the baby? It had seemed the past six months every time he’d picked up the paper or turned on the TV the headlines had screamed about atrocities committed against women and children. Crime shows had glorified their “Ripped from the Headlines” tales of everything from babies cut from the womb to horrific decisions of life and death. If it came down to Kat or the baby, there was no decision as far as he was concerned. From the day he’d made her his, he’d known he would protect Kat at all costs.  
    “What’re you thinking,” she asked softly.
    Shaking the cobwebs clear, Crux forced a smile. “Thinking how