“Okay,” Kerry said at last. “Okay.”
Tia grinned at Nathan. “You can thank me later,” she whispered.
He grinned back and indicated the four men waiting patiently behind him. “These guys are professionals, the best in the business. They'll pack all your things and deliver them in perfect condition.”
Tia rubbed her hands gleefully. “Let's start with my stuff then. We don't really have that much stuff, so we should be done in an hour. Kerry, don't just stand there and glare at Nathan! It's moving day! So let's get moving!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Kerry helped Tia out of the car and smiled at Nathan. “Thanks, honey. I'll call you later, okay?” She saw him frown and knew that he was thinking of canceling his meeting so he could stay with them at the hospital.
“Go,” Kerry said firmly before Nathan could open his mouth. “Don't miss your meeting. We'll be fine. This is a hospital, and the hospital is a pretty safe place, don't you think?”
Nathan gave a crooked smile and nodded. “All right. But make sure you call me. I want to know everything.”
Tia grinned at him. “Thanks for the ride, Nathan. I really appreciate that you took time off your busy schedule to drive us to the hospital. Really, I mean it. But—we could just as easily have jumped into a cab...”
“I'll be here to pick you up,” Nathan said sternly. “You are not to take a cab by yourselves.”
Tia giggled and elbowed her sister. “Your mate is sooooo protective. He really loves you.”
Kerry blushed and made a face at Tia. She closed the car door and waved as Nathan drove off. Nathan glanced in his rear view mirror and grinned when he saw her mouth the words: I love you.
She did. She did love him.
He was sweet, caring and protective, and family was everything to him. Despite his packed schedule, he always took the time to come with them for Tia's weekly injections and check-ups. Tia had been taking the new drug for ten weeks now. There were no side effects but the doctor couldn't tell how well her body was responding to the drug until after she had taken all ten doses. Well, today was the day.
Kerry's phone buzzed and she smiled when she saw the message from Nathan. I love you more. Call me once you're talked to the doctor.
They were seeing Dr. Arun today, and they would find out for sure if Tia was improving under this new treatment.
Tia put on a brave front and appeared cheerful and nonchalant but Kerry knew that her sister was terrified inside. This new drug had proven effective on eighty per cent of the patients, but there was still that niggling twenty per cent. This new miracle drug didn't work its magic on everyone. There were many factors at play, and Dr. Arun had explained the probabilities and risks to them. But this was their last hope.
Kerry held her sister's thin hand and walked silently along the corridor. The hospital wasn't too crowded today, and there weren't many patients in the waiting area.
“Kerry,” Tia whispered as they sat down outside the doctor's office.
“Yes.”
“You're crushing my hand.”
“Oh! Sorry.” With a start, Kerry released her death grip on Tia's hand and offered a weak smile.
“Hey, wanna hear a joke?” Tia said brightly.
Kerry nodded, and Tia cleared her throat. “A giraffe and an elephant walked into a bar and...”
But before she reached the punchline, the door to Dr. Arun's office opened and the nurse called them in. Tia and Kerry shot to their feet and walked briskly into the room. Kerry squeezed Tia's hand as they sat in front of Dr. Arun's desk and waited.
“Tia, Kerry,” Dr. Arun greeted them and glanced down at the opened file in front of him. He wasn't smiling, and Kerry heart twisted painfully in her chest.
“What is it? Please, just tell us.” Kerry could hear the panic in her voice, and she fought to keep her pitch and volume down.
Dr. Arun closed the file and said, “I'm sorry. The drug isn't working on Tia.”
He took a deep breath and continued, “In fact, the drug couldn't even contain the cancer in Tia's case. The cancer cells in her body seem to have multiplied at an accelerated rate, and now the cancer has spread to...”
“What? What the hell are you saying?” Kerry demanded. “You said that eighty per cent of the patients...”
“Every patient is different,” Dr. Arun tried to explain. “Tia's body didn't reject the drug. But the drug didn't work the way it was supposed to in her body either. Not only is there no improvement in her case...”
“No improvement?” Kerry was yelling now. “You're lying! How can there be no improvement at all? This is a miracle drug, right? It's supposed to work miracles! You...”
“Kerry,” Tia said, putting a hand on her arm. “Kerry, calm down. It's...okay,” she said in a broken whisper.
“It's not bloody okay! It's not,” Kerry snarled, flinging her sister's hand away. She pressed her palms on Dr. Arun's desk and stood up. “You promised me my sister would be well. You said...”
The doctor shook his head. “I made no such promise. I told you there was no guarantee that...”
“No! You...you promised that my sister would be cured! You said...there was a really good chance...” Her words tripped over one another as she fought down a wrenching sob.
“I explained the risks clearly to you and...”
“You are a liar! Liar!” Kerry screamed as she launched herself at the doctor.
Tia jumped up and grabbed her. “Kerry! Kerry, don't do this. Calm down...”
“Don't tell me to calm down,” Kerry shrieked. She glared at Tia through her tears. “Don't tell me to fucking calm down!”
Tia valiantly tried to hold Kerry back as Kerry gripped the edge of the table and attempted to overturn it.
“You told me my sister would get well.” Her voice cracked as she came to grips with the facts. She didn't want to believe what Dr. Arun was saying but the truth was sinking in.
The cancer was spreading. The cancer was winning.
The drug had failed.
She had failed her baby sister.
Dr. Arun stood up slowly, careful not to make any sudden movement.
“Look, we can discuss other options and...”
Kerry let out a hysterical, derisive laugh. “You just made my sister a whole lot worse. You're supposed to cure her. Instead you made her sicker. I...I'll sue you and the whole goddamn hospital!” It was an empty, hollow threat and they all knew it. They had signed all the waivers and indemnity forms. And what bloody good would suing the hospital do? Her sister still wouldn't be cured.
There was no one to blame, except herself. She had ignored Tia's protests and signed Tia up for this new treatment.
Kerry turned to her sister and tried to tell her how sorry she was. Her voice sounded faint and far away, and she registered the alarm on Tia's face.
“Kerry!”
Kerry swayed and her legs gave out completely. The last thing she heard was Tia screaming her name as she collapsed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Kerry opened her eyes and blinked up at the fluorescent lights above her. She tried to push herself up but a pair of big, strong hands held her shoulders firmly but gently.
“Kerry, don't move,” Nathan said softly. “Just relax, okay?”
She turned and saw Tia and Nathan sitting by her bedside, their faces wearing identical expressions of fear and worry.
“Nathan, Tia...” Kerry reached for them and they took her hands immediately. She looked at her sister and her eyes filled with tears. But they were angry tears this time.
“We will win,” she said, gripping their hands. “We will win this together. We're not giving up!”
Tia nodded and swiped at her eyes. “The drug didn't work on me, but the fight isn't over. I won't give up, Kerry. I will keep fighting, because...I want to be around to see my little niece or nephew.”
Kerry gave a start. “What?”
“I'm going to be an aunt,” Tia said, her eyes shining.
Kerry looked at Nathan as he pressed her palm to his lips. “The doctors said you're pregnant, Kerry,” he whispered. “We're going to have a baby.”
“A...a baby,” she murmured in wonder.
“Yes, a little pup of our own,” Nathan said, putting his hand over her belly.
“Is your kid going to be a wolf shifter, like you?” Tia nudged Nathan.
He nodded and gave her a lopsided smile. “Shifter genes are dominant, so you're going to have a werewolf niece or nephew.”
“Cool! I can't wait,” Tia exclaimed. “Aunt Tia...doesn't that sound so cool?”
Kerry listened to their banter as she ran her hand up and down her stomach. She was carrying life in her womb. A very precious little life. She closed her eyes and turned away so that her mate and sister wouldn't see her tears.
She had received the crushing, devastating news from Dr. Arun, and learned that she was pregnant all in one day. Her joy at her pregnancy was marred by the news of her sister's worsening condition. How could life be so cruel?
Tia was so young, so loving and amazing. She deserved to live a long, wonderful life. Instead, she had to endure countless trips to the hospital and have needles and tubes stuck into her.
“Kerry, everything will be fine.” Nathan kissed her temple. “I'll find another specialist for Tia. They'll find a way to cure her. She's a fighter. And we are going to fight the good fight with her, every step of the way.”
Kerry nodded as a tear rolled down her face. She dried her eyes hurriedly and looked up at Nathan and Tia. Giving them a brave smile, she asked sweetly, “Are shifter babies a lot different from human babies? I've never been pregnant with a shifter's baby before.”
Tia stifled her chuckle when Nathan growled dangerously. “You are my mate. You can never be pregnant with another shifter's baby, ever!” he roared.
“Relax, big guy.” Tia elbowed him. “My sister's kidding. She does that sometimes. You know, yank your tail.”
The doctor chose the wrong time to enter the room. When Nathan saw the male doctor approaching Kerry's bed, he leaped up with his claws and fangs showing.
The doctor froze in shock and raised both hands in the air. “I'm just going to check her vital signs. If everything is okay, she can be discharged and you can take her home,” the young doctor said quickly.
Growling, Nathan reluctantly stepped aside while Tia and Kerry tried to smother their laughter. Kerry glanced at Nathan and saw him wink at her.
Nathan was acting the possessive, jealous neanderthal on purpose. She knew her mate inside out, and she could feel his emotions as though they were her own. Nathan was so proud and happy that he was going to be a dad, but at the same time, he was very worried for her and Tia.
He wanted to lighten the mood and make them laugh. Forget about the negative news and focus on the positive for now.
She had to admit that Nathan had great comic timing.
He had Tia in stitches with his caveman act. He stomped around and snarled like a big, bad beast. The doctor was in such a hurry to get out of the room he didn't even stop to pick up his pen.
“You made the poor doctor drop his pen. Twice!” Tia scolded, shaking her head as she tried to control her laughter. “You are a very bad wolf, Nathan!”
Kerry held on to the sound of her sister's tinkling laugh. She hadn't heard Tia laugh in such a long time. And it was the most beautiful, magical sound.
“Listen,” Kerry whispered to her baby. “That's your Aunt Tia. Isn't she lovely?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kerry glanced at her watch again, her frown deepening. It wasn't like Simone to be late. She hadn't seen her friend for some time and she was looking forward to a nice long lunch with her. She had so much to tell her.
Simone had called to ask about Tia, but Kerry simply told her that Tia would have to take a few more doses of the drug before any conclusive results could be seen. She just couldn't bring herself to accept the fact that the drug had failed.
But Kerry knew that she had to face the truth for her sister's sake. Tia had put on a brave front and remained cheerful and upbeat, but Kerry knew that her sister was crushed inside. Nathan was encouraging and supportive, and he even brought Tia to see the best doctors and specialists but no one could come up with any revolutionary new treatment that would get rid of her cancer once and for all.
Kerry had been so busy and worried about Tia that she hadn't made time for her friend. She hadn't seen Simone in a while, and she wanted to tell Simone everything. She wanted to break the news of her pregnancy to Simone face-to-face.
Kerry placed a hand over her tummy and sighed. Her slightly rounding tummy wasn't obvious under her flowing dress but her breasts felt heavy and tender all the time. Nathan had ordered her to stop working and stay home to rest, but Kerry insisted on coming in to the office. In the end, they managed to reach a compromise. She would work half-day every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
It was Wednesday today, and Kerry was off work now. Tia was in good hands so she didn't have to rush home. Her full-time nurse, Nelly, was great. Nelly had taught Tia how to paint, and the two of them had done quite a few beautiful paintings together. Nathan had the artwork framed up and displayed them proudly in their penthouse and in Tia's apartment.
Kerry planned to have a leisurely lunch with Simone, then go grocery shopping so she could prepare something special for Tia and Nathan tonight. Tia used to come up to the penthouse but now she seemed to tire easily, so they would be going down to Tia's apartment for dinner tonight.
The three of them always had dinner together without fail.
Kerry looked out the window of the cafe and shook her head at the shiny Jaguar parked at the side of the curb. Nathan had wanted to drive her here but he had an important lunch meeting. When she told him that she would just hop into a cab, he had pressed the car keys into her hand and snapped, “Take the Jaguar. It's parked beside the Porsche. If you don't take the car, I'll drive you myself!”
Kerry had never driven such a big, posh car before but the Jaguar was surprisingly easy to maneuver. The powerful engine was silent and it felt like the car was simply gliding on air.
She looked up when the door of the cafe opened. But it was an elderly lady who walked in. There was no sign of Simone, and no message or call from her either. Kerry sent another message and waited, drumming her fingers on the table. After half a minute, she dialed Simone's number but Simone wasn't picking up her phone.
Grabbing her bag, Kerry paid for her drink and left the cafe quickly. She drove straight to the restaurant and asked for Simone. But the manager said that Simone hadn't come in today.
“No, she didn't call in sick. She just didn't show up today,” the manager said.
Kerry knew that Simone would never miss a day of work without good reason. Something wasn't right.
She ran back to the car and sped straight to Simone's house. Her imagination went into overdrive, conjuring up all sorts of horrific but not entirely impossible scenarios.
Could Simone have had a nasty fall in the bathroom and knocked herself unconscious? Did she electrocute herself by accident? Maybe she'd cut herself and was bleeding to death...
A million accidents could happen around the house. Simone didn't have any health problems, but you never know. She'd heard too many stories of young, active individuals just dropping dead from a sudden heart attack. Life was just so unpredictable, and so unfair.
Kerry pulled the car to a screeching stop in front of Simone's little house. She got out of the car and rushed up the front steps. “Simone!” she cried, pounding on the door. She jabbed the doorbell repeatedly and continued hammering the door with her fist. “Simone! It's me, Kerry!”
She jiggled the handle but the door was locked. Panting, Kerry pressed her ear to the door and tried to listen for any sounds in the house.
She thought she heard something. Her eyes widened and she kicked frantically at the door. “Simone! Simone! Are you in there?”<
br />
Stumbling down the steps, Kerry ran to the window and tried to peer in. But the curtains were drawn and she couldn't see anything. She scrambled towards the back, hoping to find an open window. One of the side windows was slightly open and Kerry tried to push it further open but it was stuck. “Shit! Come on, dammit!” Kerry strained and cursed but the window just wouldn't budge.
It was Simone's bedroom window and Kerry saw Simone's phone lying on the floor. The screen was cracked, as if someone had stomped on it.
“Simone!” Kerry shouted through the window. “Simone, are you okay?”
Kerry froze when she heard what sounded like footsteps. They were muted, like someone was trying to move about quietly in the house. She gulped and pricked her ears.
There was a muffled, shuffling sound. Kerry looked around desperately. The street was quiet and deserted, the houses sitting silent and sullen in the hazy afternoon heat. Her neighbors didn't seem to be home. Kerry fumbled for her phone. Nathan would be able to get into the house and find out what was going on. He would know what to do.
Kerry froze when she heard a soft cry. It was Simone's voice.
Something crashed to the floor and she heard Simone's broken voice again before it was abruptly cut off. The sounds seemed to be coming from the kitchen.
As Kerry scrambled frantically to the back of the house, her phone slipped from her hands and thudded soundlessly into the grass.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Kerry yanked viciously at the back door, praying that it wasn't locked. To her shock and relief, the door swung open and Kerry stumbled into the house.
She spun round when a shadow moved behind her. A man was standing between her and the door. Raising a bloodstained knife to his lips, the man smiled and locked the door behind him. “Shhhh,” he said.
Kerry made a strangled sound and backed away.
“So, you're Simone's friend,” the man drawled, stalking towards her. “Kerry, right?” He chuckled and continued, “You're the one who kept calling and texting. Simone's phone rang and buzzed every few minutes. You just don't give up, do you, Kerry? I had to smash the phone to silence the bloody thing!”
The Werewolf's Baby: A Billionaire Shifter Pregnancy Romance Page 7
